Rivermen Force OT in Final Seconds, Win in Shootout
February 8, 2015 - SPHL (SPHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
PEORIA - The Peoria Rivermen recovered from surrendering a two-goal lead by tying the game with 1.7 seconds left and collected their first shootout win with a 4-3 triumph over the Huntsville Havoc on Sunday at Carver Arena.
The Rivermen opened the scoring just 4:24 into the game when Garrett Vermeersch tallied on a rebound at the right circle, assisted by Dan Bremner and Alex Hudson.
The hosts' lead increased to 2-0 with 6:09 remaining in the second period when Alex Hudson tallied a short-range one-timer near the left post on assists from Steve Morra and Nick Schneider.
The Havoc cut their deficit to 2-1 2:21 into the final chapter after Nick Wheeler nudged a loose puck into the goal after a wild flurry. The guests tied the count at 2-2 with 10:28 left in regulation when a running drive by Drew Akins tumbled just over Rivermen goalie Dustin Carlson's pad, then gained a lead just 27 seconds later when a move by Akins at the doorstep opened the net for a tap-in for a hat trick and a 3-2 Havoc advantage.
The Rivermen forced overtime by emptying the net on a power play with Morra finding the net from the deep slot from a frantic scrum with 1.7 seconds showing on the regulation clock. Assists went to Schneider and Jake Trask.
After a scoreless overtime, Trask, Vermeersch and Josh Harris scored in the shootout while Luke Greiner, Akins and Jacob Johnstone came up empty.
Carlson earned his first Rivermen win with 33 saves while Kevin Genoe took the shootout loss with 37 stops. The Rivermen were 2-for-10 on power plays while the Havoc were scoreless in seven chances.
The Rivermen increased their lead in the Southern Professional Hockey League standings with a record of 25-12-3 for 53 points. The Havoc remain in eighth place and fall to 6-25-6 for 18 points and are now 0-3 in shootouts.
The Rivermen travel to North Carolina next weekend for three games against the Fayetteville FireAntz before returning to Carver Arena for the final seven regular season home games, beginning with a crucial two-game series against the Knoxville Ice Bears on Thursday, Feb. 19 and Friday, Feb. 20.
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 8, 2015
- Rivermen Force OT in Final Seconds, Win in Shootout - Peoria Rivermen
- Gingera Lifts Columbus over Knoxville, 2-1 - Columbus Cottonmouths
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