SPHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings Overcome Slow Start, Beat Rivermen 3-1

Published on January 10, 2015 under SPHL (SPHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


PEORIA, Ill. - The Mississippi RiverKings (12-13-2) survived a slow start and broke a 1-1 tie with two third period goals to beat the Peoria Rivermen (15-8-2), 3-1, at Carver Arena Friday night. It's the first game of a three-in-three between the teams in Peoria.

The RiverKings had a sluggish first period, being outshot 12-3, including giving up the first 11 shots on goal. Peter Di Salvo stopped all 12 shots in the first, and with the help of two post the game was scoreless after the first period.

Mississippi took the lead at 6:41 of the second period. Sean Joens got the puck in the defensive zone near the blue line. He sent a pass to Matt Whitehead while the Rivermen were making a change and Whitehead had a breakaway. He went between the circles and delayed before snapping a shot past the glove of goalie Kyle Rank for a 1-0 lead. The Rivermen tied the game about three and a half minutes later while on the power play. Just seven seconds after Leo Thomas went to the box for high sticking Jake Trask fired a shot from the left circle which Di Salvo got a piece of but it popped in for a power-play goal, tying the game at one.

The RiverKings broke the tie past the halfway mark of the third period. Andrew Randazzo raced down a puck at the right point, skated to the right circle and took a shot. It was stopped by Rank, but the puck pinballed in off Linden Bahm for his third goal of the season at 11:34 of the third. The Rivermen put some pressure in the offensive zone over the next few minutes, but Di Salvo turned away everything and Whitehead eventually added an empty-net goal for a 3-1 win.

Notes: With two goals Matt Whitehead recorded his second multi-goal game of the season (Nov. 21 vs. LOU)... Linden Bahm scored his second game-winning goal of the season and had his first multi-point game of his professional career... An assist today gives Sean Jones a three-game scoring streak (3g, 1a).

The RiverKings are back home Friday, Jan. 16 for Pups N' Pucks night. Fans can bring their dogs to the game for free by signing up at riverkings.com/pups. There will be a Weiner Dog race as well during the game, and fans can sign their dogs up at riverkings.com/pups. Single-game tickets can be purchased at riverkings.com/ticketmaster and groups of 15 or more get a discount, with group tickets starting at $8 per ticket, by calling the front office at 662-342-1755.

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