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SPHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings Edged out by Peoria, 3-2

March 4, 2018 - SPHL (SPHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


PEORIA, Ill. - Cory Lauer scored his first professional goal, and Devin Mantha added a shorthanded goal to stretch his point streak to ten games, but the RiverKings dropped their second game of the weekend to the Rivermen, 3-2.

Looking to bounce back from a loss Saturday night, the RiverKings jumped on the board first thanks to Cory Lauer halfway through the first. Lauer brought the puck into the offensive zone, and while waiting for reinforcements, he sent a wrist shot on net. The puck banked off a Peoria defenseman's skate and found the open net behind goaltender Pete Di Salvo, and the RiverKings were in business with the lead, 1-0. Less than a minute and a half later, Devin Mantha stretched his point streak out to ten straight games, with a shorthanded goal. Firing from the high slot, Mantha beat his former teammate Di Salvo top-shelf, and the RiverKings jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first. In the process, the goal would spell the end of the night for Di Salvo. He would get replaced by rookie goaltender Mason Pulde playing in just his second professional game.

Peoria responded to Di Salvo's benching, wasting no time getting on the board. Alec Hagaman would get his team-leading 47th point when he beat Tyler Green to cut the lead in half, 2-1, and newly acquired Keegan Bruce jumped on a rebound to tie the game at two with only 3:17 left to go in the period.

The second period began with a RiverKings power play, but after some fireworks and double minors for elbowing and roughing assessed to Ralfs Grinbergs, the RiverKings found themselves in a hole. The RiverKings 2nd ranked penalty kill unit weathered the storm, but shortly after Peoria took the lead for the first time when Hagaman found the back of the net for the second time on the night.

Despite started the third period with a shortened 5-on-3 and a traditional power play for over a minute and a half, the RiverKings couldn't cash in on their opportunities and weren't able to solve the rookie Pulde who turned aside 38 shots since entering the game.

The RiverKings are back in action on Wednesday, March 7 in the first of two make-up games against Pensacola.The black and gold return home to Planters Bank Ice at Landers Center on March 9 and 10 to finish out the season series with Peoria. To get your tickets for Fresh Friday presented by Valpak, visit riverkings.com/fresh or stop by riverkings.com/chickfila to get your tickets for Saturday night's St. Patrick's Day celebration.

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