Rivermen Battle Back for Shootout Win
February 15, 2015 - SPHL (SPHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - The Peoria Rivermen gave up a two-goal lead with a tying goal in the final seconds, but captured a 4-3 shootout victory over the Fayetteville FireAntz on Sunday afternoon at Crown Coliseum.
After a scoreless first period and an early second period spent mostly on the penalty kill, the Rivermen tallied first on a 2-on-1 break as Dan Bremner converted from the left circle on a feed from Alex Hudson with 8:57 remaining in the second period. The FireAntz countered with 3:56 left on their own odd man rush as John Clewlow crashed the right post on an assist from Matt Robertson to even the count at 1-1, but the Rivermen went to the locker room ahead 2-1 when Garrett Vermeersch collected a rebound of a Nick Schneider shot after a flurry and scored from the top of the right circle with only 0.1 seconds remaining.
The Rivermen built the lead to 3-1 with 9:47 left in regulation on a power play when Jake Trask pushed a loose puck home in a crease flurry with assists given to Hudson and Vermeersch. The FireAntz answered with a power play goal with 6:38 remaining when Matt Robertson found an open net on a rebound to cut the Peoria lead to 3-2.
The FireAntz emptied their net for an extra attacker and scored a rebound goal by Josh McQuade with only 4.1 seconds showing to force overtime. After a scoreless extra session, Jake Trask scored the only shootout goal with a tally in the first round as Kyle Rank stopped all five Fayetteville shooters.
Rank earned the win in net with 25 saves while Kevin Murdock suffered the shootout loss with 48 stops. Both teams were 1-for-7 on power plays.
The Rivermen (27-13-3, 57 points) remain on top of the Southern Professional Hockey League by four points over the Knoxville Ice Bears, who lost 4-1 at Columbus on Sunday ahead of their visit to Peoria for two games this Thursday and Friday at 7:05 each night at Carver Arena. The FireAntz remain in seventh place with a record of 17-15-7.
Single game tickets for Peoria's 33rd season of professional hockey are on sale weekdays at the Peoria Civic Center. Season ticket packages and group ticket options for the 2014-15 campaign are on sale now through the Rivermen office, located at 201 S.W. Jefferson Street, or over the phone at (309) 676-1040. For the latest Rivermen news and notes, follow online at www.rivermen.net or through Facebook ( www.facebook.com/PeoriaRivermen) and Twitter ( https://twitter.com/Peoria_Rivermen).
SPHL Stories from February 15, 2015
- Ice Flyers Defeat Havoc in OT 5-4 - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- Rivermen Battle Back for Shootout Win - Peoria Rivermen
- Ice Bears Maul IceGators to Sweep Series - Louisiana IceGators
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