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SPHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings Battle Back But Fall 3-2 to Roanoke

February 23, 2018 - SPHL (SPHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


SOUTHAVEN, Miss. - RiverKings battle back to tie the game at two, but a third period Rail Yard Dawg goal gives the visitors a 3-2 win against Mississippi at Planters Bank Ice at Landers Center.

The first period was all Roanoke as the RiverKings showed signs of a team that hasn't played in 10 days. Zach Tatrn would be the first to notch a goal in the game, sliding through the right circle and rifling a wrist shot past RiverKings netminder Tyler Green. Already down a goal, the RiverKings had a chance to tie things late in the first period when Shane Bennett was granted a penalty shot with under a minute to go. His wrister was stopped by Roanoke goalie Brad Barone to keep things 1-0 in favor of the Rail Yard Dawgs. It would only take 10 seconds for Roanoke to add to their lead when Daniel Vernace lofted a backhander up and over the right shoulder of Tyler Green. Moments later the horn sounded and with the first period in the books, the Rail Yard Dawgs led 2-0.

The second period was much stronger for the RiverKings as they managed to keep the visitors off the board. Midway through the second, Ryan Salkeld dangled his way into the slot freeing up enough space to get a shot off. The big rebound came out to a waiting Matt Harrington who was in the right place at the right time and cut the Roanoke lead in half, 2-1.

Planters Bank Ice at Landers Center got even more electric in the third period when Captain Devin Mantha tied the game at two on the power play. Slipping down the right wing boards coming in wide, he cut toward the center and roofed a wrister that had top shelf written all over it and knotted the game. Mantha's 15th goal of the season was his 10th on the power play this season. Despite having killed the previous four powerplays on the evening, it was the fifth and final man advantage for the Rail Yard Dawgs that spawned the game winner. Phil Bronner got his fifth goal of the season when battling down low and beating a handcuffed Green. The goal would stand up to be the winner, giving Roanoke the 3-2 victory.

Tyler Green in his first game back in almost a month turned aside 18 shots in the contest while former RiverKing goalie Brad Barone handled 35 of the 37 shots the black and gold fired his way. Bryan Arneson left the game in the middle of the third period with an apparent lower-body injury after colliding with a teammate.

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