Rivermen Game Notes: Mississippi RiverKings at Peoria
March 4, 2018 - SPHL (SPHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
PHASE ONE: COMPLETE
The Rivermen enter today's rematch with the RiverKings after earning a 6-4 comeback win last night to secure a playoff berth for the fifth consecutive season. With last night's win, the Rivermen become the first SPHL team to clinch a postseason spot, and improve their league-leading record to 30-11-3, three points ahead of second- place Pensacola.
ROLLING ON THE RIVER
Tonight's game marks the sixth meeting of eight this season between the Rivermen and RiverKings, and the final of five at Carver Arena.
The RiverKings and Rivermen met November 24 & 25 in Peoria, with Mississippi taking the former 6-2 before Peoria took the latter 1-0. Mississippi took a 5-1 win in Peoria December 22 before the Rivermen captured a 5-4 victory in Southaven on January 5. After today's game, the Rivermen will travel to Landers Center for a pair of games next Friday and Saturday in Southaven, MS to conclude the season series.
SCOUTING THE RIVERKINGS
The RiverKings come into play tonight 21-20-2 on the season, tied with Roanoke for seventh place in the SPHL standings with 44 points. Prior to last night, the RiverKings entered the weekend on a two-game win streak, having earned a 6-4 win over the Macon Mayhem Tuesday night following a 4-3 shootout win against the Rail Yard Dawgs last Saturday. In terms of point production, the RiverKings are led this season by captain Devin Mantha, who has tallied team highs with 17 goals, 26 assists, and 43 total points, including a helper last night.
Returning winger Ryan Marcuz has added 12 goals and 23 helpers in 43 games this season, while former Rivermen defenseman Don Olivieri has posted seven goals and 11 assists in just 20 games for the RiverKings while earning a lengthy call-up to ECHL Norfolk and Rapid City, where he notched a combined nine points in 27 games from the blueline.
ECO ... BOOSTED
Last night's game-winning goal was scored by Rivermen winger Michael Economos, giving the Crystal Lake, IL a team-best five GWGs on the season. With his goal last night, Economos has notched six markers in his last five games, and for the season the second-year pro has logged 11 goals and six assists in 36 games played.
BIG BEN'S BIG YEAR
Last night's game also included a goal for Rivermen defenseman Ben Oskroba, giving the veteran blueliner a new career high with six goals on the season. Now in his fifth pro season, Oskroba has scored 16 goals and 47 games in 204 career SPHL regular-season games, all with Peoria, adding a goal and a helper in 21 postseason contests.
THE DISHIN' MAGICIAN STRIKES AGAIN
Last night also saw Rivermen center Joseph Widmar, giving the first-year pro his 11th multi- point outing this season. For the year, the UMass Amherst product has logged eight goals and 23 assists in 25 SPHL games, adding six helpers in 20 ECHL games between Fort Wayne and Greenville.
THE FRESH PRINCE OF PEORIA
Last night's Rivermen win also included a multi- assist performance for Rivermen winger Will Smith, giving him 17 assists and 32 total points in 35 games this season, and extending his point- scoring streak to nine games. In his last nine outings, the East Longmeadow, MA native has notched five goals and 11 assists.
WHAT'S ON DECK
After today's game with the RiverKings, the Rivermen will travel to the Landers Center for a pair of tilts in Southaven next Friday and Saturday before heading to Pensacola for games with the Ice Flyers March 16 & 17. After that, the Rivermen will return home March 23-25 for a trio of games against Macon and Evansville.
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