Rivermen Clinch Home Ice Advantage in 1st Round
Published on March 21, 2015 under SPHL (SPHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
SOUTHAVEN, Miss. - The Peoria Rivermen clinched home ice advantage in the first round of the Southern Professional Hockey League playoffs with a 4-2 triumph over the Mississippi RiverKings on Saturday night at Landers Center.
After a scoreless first period for the second consecutive night, Cole Ruwe backhanded a score from deep in the slot on a feed from Dan Bremner 2:49 into the second stanza to put the Rivermen on the board first. The RiverKings capitalized on a pair of Peoria turnovers about two minutes later to gain a lead with two goals in 1:05, a shorthanded goal on a 2-on-1 break by Devin Mantha and a Dylan Quaile tally all alone at the doorstep.
The Rivermen sent the contest into the second intermission tied 2-2 by scoring in the middle period's final minute for the second straight evening when Steve Morra ran from the left circle to the deep slot after feeds from Josh Harris and Jake Trask and scored into an open right side after a move.
The Rivermen regained the lead 1:38 into the final chapter with Morra's second goal of the game from the deep slot on assists by Harris and Nick Schneider. Bremner gave Peoria insurance and a 4-2 lead with 5:44 left by racing on a sharp angle from the left wing and scoring after a move in front of the crease, assisted by Harris and Nick Schneider.
Dustin Carlson picked up the win in net by stopping 30 of 32 RiverKings shots while Peter Di Salvo took the loss with 29 saves. No power play goals were scored with four chances given to the Rivermen and nine opportunities to the RiverKings.
The Rivermen improve to 35-16-3 with the victory and 73 points, locking out Mississippi and Pensacola for a chance for first place and clinching home ice advantage in the first round of the President's Cup Playoffs. The RiverKings fall to 31-20-2 with 64 points.
SPHL Stories from March 21, 2015
- Ice Bears Come up Short against Cottonmouthsx - Knoxville Ice Bears
- IceGators Hold on for 2-1 Win over Ice Flyers - Louisiana IceGators
- RiverKings Come up Short in Rematch with Rivermen - Mississippi RiverKings
- Rivermen Clinch Home Ice Advantage in 1st Round - Peoria Rivermen
- Ice Flyers Fight Back to Defeat IceGators 4-3 - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- IceGators Clinch Playoff Berth Despite Loss - Louisiana IceGators
- Columbus Beats Knoxville 5-1 as Williamson Gets Hat Trick - Columbus Cottonmouths
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