Rank's Fourth Shutout Leads Rivermen Past Knoxville
January 31, 2014 - SPHL (SPHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
Kyle Rank stopped all 32 shots he faced on Friday as the Peoria Rivermen blanked the Knoxville Ice Bears 2-0 at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum. The shutout marked Rank's (10-5-0) league-leading fourth of the season and third for the Rivermen. In addition, Parker Stanfield scored the game-winning goal in his first game back with Peoria since his recent call-up to ECHL Florida.
With the victory, Peoria improves to 18-13-3 on the season (39 points) and extends its win streak to three games - all against Knoxville. Furthermore, the Rivermen are a perfect 3-0-0 against the Ice Bears this season.
Peoria struck first at 5:12 of the opening frame when Stanfield found the net on a delayed penalty. From the left side, Kory Helowka's backhand pass found Nick Prockow alone in the slot, who ripped a one-timer on goal from point blank. Initially, Knoxville netminder Bryan Hince was able to make the save, but the puck trickled behind him and Stanfield knocked it home for a 1-0 lead. Prockow and Helowka, in his Rivermen debut, earned assists.
After a scoreless second period, Adam Hartley added an insurance goal at 3:09 of the third period to give Peoria a 2-0 lead. Dean Yakura gained the zone and picked out Hartley, who hit one time re-direction past Hince for his third goal of the season.
The Rivermen were outshot 32-24 on the night and went 0-for-5 on the power play. However, Peoria went 6-for-6 on the penalty kill and is now a perfect 12-for-12 on the penalty kill against Knoxville this season.
Hince (13-11-4) suffered the loss after he made just 22 shots on 24 saves.
Peoria concludes its season-series with Knoxville on Saturday with a 6:35 CST puck drop in Knoxville, Tennessee. The game can be heard locally on CD Country 107.9 FM or online at www.cd1079.net . Fans can also follow along via the live video and audio stream at www.americaonesports.com.
SPHL Stories from January 31, 2014
- Third-Period Comeback Falls Short in Louisiana - Mississippi RiverKings
- Ice Flyers Derail Thunder 3-2 in OT - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- Ice Bears Shut Out at Home - Knoxville Ice Bears
- Thunder Drop OT Affair at Pensacola - Bloomington Thunder
- IceGators Survive, Edge RiverKings 5-4 - Louisiana IceGators
- Mississippi Surge Downs Fayetteville, 2-1 - Mississippi Surge
- Rank's Fourth Shutout Leads Rivermen Past Knoxville - Peoria Rivermen
- Rivermen Visit Ice Bears this Weekend - Peoria Rivermen
- Rivermen Sign Former Bloomington D-Man Kory Helowka - Peoria Rivermen
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