RAIL YARD DAWGS GAME NOTES: Rail Yard Dawgs (1-2-0) vs ThunderBolts
Published on November 5, 2017 under SPHL (SPHL)
Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs News Release
LAST TIME OUT: Riley Spraggs and Mitchell Mueller each netted goals but the Rail Yard Dawgs were defeated by the Evansville Thunderbolts, 4-2, Friday night at the Berglund Center. Evansville took control with three goals in the second and the Dawgs never led in the game. Brad Barone made 29 saves on 33 shots in the loss and Justin MacDonald scored two goals to pace the Evansville offense.
HOME COOKIN': The Rail Yard Dawgs are one game into a stretch of seven straight that will take place on Berglund Center ice. Roanoke will not play on the road again until it travels to Knoxville on November 24.
THE OTHER GUYS: Evansville's season has been a roller coaster in the early going, as it took three of a possible four points off Peoria in the opening weekend before being outscored a combined 11-5 during losses to Knoxville and Macon last week. The Thunderbolts strength has been the power play, going 8-for-27 on the man-advantage thus far this season.
POINTS IN BUNCHES: Roanoke forward Steve Mele put up a goal and two assists last Friday in Macon, one of four Rail Yard Dawgs to register a multi-point game. Three points are the most Mele has ever recorded in a Roanoke sweater, five times last season he tallied two in a game.
A STRANGE TREND: The Rail Yard Dawgs outshot the Thunderbolts, 34-33, during Friday night's loss, continuing a strange trend that dates back to the 2016-17 season. Roanoke has never won a game while outshooting its opponent. The Dawgs were 0-8-2 during such occasions during the inaugural season.
HOT START: Linemates Riley Spraggs and Evan Schultz have each gotten off to hot starts this season, registering points in all three Rail Yard Dawgs games. Spraggs leads the team with three goals and Schultz is tied for the team lead with three assists. Both men are even with Steve Mele with four total points to lead all Roanoke skaters.
A FAMILIAR FACE: Former Rail Yard Dawgs defenseman Cory Melkert returned to the Berglund Center Friday for the first time since being traded to Evansville in January of 2017. Roanoke received Phil Bronner in the trade, who also faced his former team for the first time on Friday. Melkert now wears the C as the Thunderbolts captain.
WORKING ON THE WEEKEND: Saturday's tilt marks the first Saturday game for the Rail Yard Dawgs this season. The contest in Roanoke is one of three games in the SPHL on Saturday night.
UP NEXT: The Rail Yard Dawgs will get back to work on Friday night at home for the first of two-straight against the Mississippi RiverKings. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 PM at the Berglund Center.
SPHL Stories from November 5, 2017
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- Viktor Tiutchenko scores first professional goal - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
- Marksmen Earn Hard-Fought Point in OT Loss to Ice Bears - Fayetteville Marksmen
- RAIL YARD DAWGS GAME NOTES: Rail Yard Dawgs (1-2-0) vs ThunderBolts - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
- Mayhem Sink RiverKings 7-3 on Titanic Night - Mississippi RiverKings
- Marksmen Can'T Capitalize, Fall to Havoc - Fayetteville Marksmen
- Marksmen Can'T Capitalize - Fayetteville Marksmen
- Mayhem Set Team Record for Goals in Game in Win over RiverKings - Macon Mayhem
- DAWGS COME UP SHORT AGAINST THUNDERBOLTS - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
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