Rivermen Game Notes: Huntsville Havoc (23-13-5) at Peoria Rivermen (27-10-3)
February 23, 2018 - SPHL (SPHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
WE'RE GOING STREAKING
The Rivermen come into tonight's contest with the Havoc after sweeping a three-game weekend with the Fayetteville Marksmen last Friday- Sunday, giving the Rivermen four straight wins and improving them to 27-10-3 on the season, good for first place in the SPHL standings.
THE SERIES SO FAR
Tonight's tilt marks the eighth and final meeting between the Rivermen and Havoc this season, Huntsville came to Peoria for a pair of games December 8 & 9, with the Rivermen capturing the former 5-4 in overtime before a 5-2 win the following evening. Peoria then played five games at Huntsville's Von Braun Center, taking a 3-1 win December 30 before dropping games 3-1, 6- 4, and 5-4 in overtime January 19 & 20 and February 2, respectively, before the Rivermen earned a 5-3 win February 3. Last season, Peoria and Huntsville met five times during the regular schedule, with the Havoc taking four of those games before the Rivermen got the best of Huntsville in Games 1 and 3 of the Best-of-3 President's Cup Semi-Finals.
SCOUTING THE HAVOC
The Havoc enter tonight's game 23-13-5 on the season, currently tied with the Macon Mayhem for third place in the SPHL at 51 points. The Havoc earned a 6-1 win over Evansville at home last Sunday to snap a two-game losing streak. In terms of point production this season, the Havoc are led by veteran center Sy Nutkevitch, who has talled 14 goals and 30 assists while adding a +9 rating in 40 games played. Havoc winger Christian Powers has posted 20 goals on the season, while center Shawn Bates has added an additional 14 goals and 15 assists in 32 games this season. In net, the Havoc are led by veteran goaltender Keegan Asmundson, who has amassed a 14-9-2 record between the pipes for the Havoc this year, adding a 2.93 GAA and a .911 save percentage in 27 outings this season.
THE MOOSE IS ON THE LOOSE
The Rivermen enter tonight's game after Peoria winger Michael Economos was named Warrior SPHL Player of the Week on Tuesday, following the Crystal Lake, IL native's first pro hat trick in Sunday's 8-1 Rivermen win over Fayetteville.
Economos tallied five goals and an assist in three games against the Marksmen last weekend, and for the season the second-year pro has notched eight goals and five apples in 32 games, adding a +6 rating and 66 penalty minutes.
WHAT A (HAGA)MAN
Last weekend's trio of Rivermen wins over Fayetteville also included three multi-point outings for Rivermen winger Alec Hagaman, who posted two assists in Friday's and Sunday's games and notched his first professional hat trick I Saturday's 7-3 win. For the season, Hagaman has posted 16 goals and 27 assists, adding a team-best +24 rating in 36 games played.
OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN
The Rivermen come into tonight's contest led in assists and points by veteran defenseman Dave Pszenyczny, who leads all SPHL skaters with 37 helpers this season among his 44 points in 40 games this season. Pszenyczny's +21 rating ranks second among all active SPHL defensemen this season, and his 44 points are tops among all blueliners.
WHAT'S ON DECK
After tonight's contest, the Rivermen will travel to Evansville, IN to take on the Thunderbolts at the Ford Center at 7:15 PM. Peoria will then return to Carver Arena for a trio of games next weekend, hosting Evansville Friday night before taking on the Mississippi RiverKings next Saturday and Sunday. Peoria will then travel to Mississippi for a pair of games March 9 & 10 before games at Pensacola March 16 & 17.
SPHL Stories from February 23, 2018
- RiverKings Battle Back But Fall 3-2 to Roanoke - Mississippi RiverKings
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- de Melo's Heroics in Net Earn Point in Overtime Loss to Macon - Evansville Thunderbolts
- Roanoke Edges Mississippi, 3-2 - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
- Jake Trask Scores Overtime Winner to Take Down Evansville - Macon Mayhem
- Ice Flyers Edge Fayetteville 2-1 - Pensacola Ice Flyers
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- Rail Yard Dawgs Game Notes: Rail Yard Dawgs (18-19-3) at RiverKings (19-18-2) - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
- SPHL Challenge Round Selection Show to be Broadcast Live - SPHL
- Rivermen Game Notes: Huntsville Havoc (23-13-5) at Peoria Rivermen (27-10-3) - Peoria Rivermen
- Mayhem Game Notes: Mayhem at Evansville Thunderbolts - Macon Mayhem
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