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SPHL Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs

Rail Yard Dawgs Game Notes: Rail Yard Dawgs (14-22-6) At Rivermen (23-10-9)

March 3, 2017 - SPHL (SPHL)
Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs News Release


ROANOKE RAIL YARD DAWGS

(14-22-6), 8th SPHL, 34 Pts

PEORIA RIVERMEN

(23-10-9), 3rd SPHL, 55 Pts

Friday, March 3 - 7:05 PM CST

Carver Arena - Peoria, IL

Broadcast: SPHL Live | Mixlr

LAST TIME OUT: Mike Baker scored in the third period to help the Rail Yard Dawgs avoid a shutout but Roanoke was defeated by the Fayetteville FireAntz, 4-1, Tuesday night at the Crown Coliseum. James Kruger made 35 saves on 39 shots in the losing effort.

THE OTHER GUYS: The Rivermen enter Friday's game alone in third place in the SPHL with 55 points. Peoria was the SPHL runner-up in 2015-16, falling in the President's Cup Final to the Pensacola Ice Flyers. The Rivermen average 3.2 goals per game, the third-best goal-scoring offense in the league.

SHOTS! SHOTS! SHOTS!: The Rail Yard Dawgs allow an average of 38.1 shots against per game, the highest mark in the league, and have been outshot in 21 of their last 22 games. Conversely, Roanoke averages 29.4 shots per game, the second-lowest average in the league. Newly acquired forward Riley Spraggs has recorded 130 shots this season, third-most among SPHL rookies.

BALANCED SCORESHEETS: Peoria has enjoyed evenly dispersed scoring this season as six players on its active roster have registered at least 24 points. The Rivermen are led by Cody Dion and Dakota Klecha, each of whom have 31 points, tied for 13th on the SPHL league leaderboard.

IT FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME: Friday's game marks the first ever meeting between the Rail Yard Dawgs and Rivermen and the first of five between the two teams this season. After Friday, the Rail Yard Dawgs will have faced every team in the SPHL at least once.

STRETCH RUN: The Rail Yard Dawgs have 14 games remaining in the regular season, nine of which will be played on the road. Roanoke currently occupies the eighth and final playoff spot and sits three points clear of the ninth-place Columbus Cottonmouths. The Rail Yard Dawgs play the Cottonmouths three more times this season, with all three games taking place at the Berglund Center

ROAD WARRIORS: Friday's game marks the fourth of eight-straight road games for the Rail Yard Dawgs. Roanoke will not have a home game for nearly a full calendar month, a gap that spans from February 18 to March 17, when the Dawgs host the Rivermen.

OLD FACES, OLD PLACES: The Rail Yard Dawgs employ three players who have spent time with the Rivermen in the past. Nick Schneider ('14-15) Mike Donnellan ('15-16) and Mitchell Mueller ('16) each donned the Peoria sweater before joining the Rail Yard Dawgs.

BIRTHDAY BOY: Rail Yard Dawgs defenseman Mike Donnellan turned 28 years old on Friday.

UP NEXT: The Rail Yard Dawgs and Rivermen will play the second of three-straight games against one another on Saturday at 7:05 PM CST.

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