Rivermen Force Overtime; Fall 4-3 to RiverKings
November 9, 2013 - SPHL (SPHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
The Peoria Rivermen forced overtime with a pair of goals late in regulation, but fell to the Mississippi RiverKings, 4-3, in the extra frame on Saturday. Matt Whitehead scored the game-winner with just 42 seconds left, part of a two-goal and four-point night for the Mississippi winger.
Peoria (2-3-1-0, 5pts) suffered its fourth straight loss but picked up a point for the first time since Oct. 26. Goaltender Eric Levine (1-2-0) suffered the loss in his first pro start after making 29 saves on 33 shots.
The RiverKings grabbed the first lead of the game at 1:55 courtesy of Whitehead. After a shot from Todd Hosmer, Whitehead grabbed the puck in the near corner and skated towards the slot, before lifting a wrister past Levine for a 1-0 lead. Hosmer was credited with the assist.
Peoria answered at 15:34 of the opening frame with Tyler Amburgey's second goal of the season on the power play. Following a too many men penalty to the Mississippi bench, Dean Yakura got the puck to Amburgey at the right point, who sniped a slap shot past RiverKings' goaltender Matthew Krahn.
Mississippi regained the lead in the second period with the only goal of the frame coming from Hosmer. At 7:28, the RiverKings' star winger was the beneficiary of several nice passes by Whitehead and Daniel Sabotka and found the back of the net to make it 2-1.
Hosmer added his second goal of the game at 7:52 of the third with a great individual play on a one-on-two. Hosmer gained the zone then flipped a shot blocker side low from the slot for a 3-1 Kings' lead.
Not to be denied, the Rivermen answered in a big way with the minutes winding down in regulation. At 16:44, Nick Wheeler netted his second goal of the year to cut the deficit to one. Less than two minutes later, Adam Hartley evened the game at 3-3 with a shot from a tough angle below the left circle. Amburgey was credited with the only help at 18:39.
In overtime, Whitehead received a pass from Leo Thomas at the top of the right circle and pulled the trigger on a wrister that beat Levine blocker side for the 4-3 final.
Amburgey (1g, 1a), Whitehead (2g, 2a), and Hosmer (2g, 1a) each recorded a multi-point night.
Peoria finished the game 1-for-5 on the power play and a perfect 5-for-5 on the penalty kill. The Rivermen were also outshot, 33-22, for just the second time this year.
The Rivermen continue a 5-game road trip on Sunday with a 3:05 p.m. puck drop against the Mississippi RiverKings at Landers Center. The game can be heard locally on CD Country 107.9 FM or online at www.cd1079.net . Fans can also follow along via the live video and audio stream at www.americaonesports.com.
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