Rivermen Game Notes: Peoria Rivermen at Mississippi RiverKings
Published on March 9, 2018 under SPHL (SPHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
SCALE THE CASTLE WALLS
The Rivermen come into tonight's game at Landers Center against the RiverKings after taking a pair of games from the Kings last Saturday and Sunday at Carver Arena in Peoria, 6-4 Saturday night and 3-2 Sunday afternoon. The wins keep the Rivermen in first place, currently five points ahead of first-place Pensacola with 11 games remaining in Peoria's regular-season schedule.
ROLLING ON THE RIVER
Tonight's game marks the seventh of eight games between Peoria and Mississippi this season, and the second of three games the Rivermen will play at the Landers Center. The RiverKings made their season's first trip to Peoria in late November, taking a 6-2 decision November 24 before the Rivermen prevailed 1-0 the following evening.
The RiverKings earned a 5-1 win in Peoria December 22 before the Rivermen prevailed 5-4 at Landers Center January 5. The Rivermen took a pair of games last Saturday and Sunday in Peoria, 6-4 and 3-2, respectively. After tonight, the teams will rematch tomorrow in Southaven to conclude the season series.
SCOUTING THE RIVERKINGS
The RiverKings enter play tonight 22-21-2 on the season after earning a 4-2 win Wednesday night in Pensacola to move into sole possession of seventh place in the SPHL standings. The RiverKings come into tonight's contest one point behind sixth-place Evansville, and six points shy of fifth-place Knoxville. In terms of point production, the RiverKings enter this weekend paced by captain Devin Mantha, who leads the team with 18 goals, 28 assists, and 46 total points. Meanwhile, returning RiverKings winger Ryan Marcuz has notched 14 goals and assisted on 24 others while playing in all 45 RiverKings games this season. In net, the RiverKings are led this season by former Rivermen netminder Tyler Green, who has gone 16-14-2 in goal this season, posting a 3.03 goals-against average and a .900 saves rate in 36 games.
PULDE TO THE RESCUE
Last Sunday's 3-2 Rivermen win over the RiverKings in Peoria featured a 38-save relief outing and the first SPHL win in the career of goaltender Mason Pulde. The Lexington, MA native entered the contest in relief of starter Peter Di Salvo, who allowed two goals on the first four shots that came his way. The game marked Pulde's first game action since February 10 at Birmingham, when he surrendered two goals on three shots before being lifted in favor of Di Salvo just over eight minutes into the contest.
WHAT A (HAGA)MAN
Sunday's win also saw a pair of goals, including the game-winner, scored by Rivermen winger Alec Hagaman, giving the fourth-year pro team-leads with 21 goals and 48 total points in 41 games played this season. For the year, Hagaman's +28 rating is tied with Macon's Brandon Pfeil for the league lead, and his 48 points rank him fifth in the SPHL.
THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENBERG
Sunday's Rivermen win over Mississippi also included a multi-point game for Peoria center Justin Greenberg, who recorded a pair of assists to improve the Dallas, TX native to 16 helpers and 28 total points in 25 games this season. Now in his first pro season after a collegiate career and the University of Miami (OH), Greenberg has posted 12 goals to go with his 16 assists, addinga +6 rating, nine points on the power-play, and two shorthanded goals as well as two shorthanded assists.
WHAT'S ON DECK
After tonight's contest in Southaven, the Rivermen and RiverKings will wrap up their season series tomorrow with a rematch at the Landers Center. After that, the Rivermen will travel to Pensacola for a pair of games next Friday and Saturday before Peoria returns home for a three-game weekend March 23-25 at Carver Arena.
SPHL Stories from March 9, 2018
- RiverKings Doubled up by Peroria, 4-2 - Mississippi RiverKings
- Rivermen Battle Past RiverKings Friday - Peoria Rivermen
- Ice Flyers Fall 3-6 in Birmingham - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- Dawgs Bury Mayhem, 5-2 - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
- Mayhem Dropped at Home by Rail Yard Dawgs 5-2 - Macon Mayhem
- Rivermen Game Notes: Peoria Rivermen at Mississippi RiverKings - Peoria Rivermen
- Mayhem Game Notes: Mayhem vs. Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs - Macon Mayhem
- Rail Yard Dawgs Game Notes: Rail Yard Dawgs (20-20-4) at Mayhem (25-14-5) - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
- Mayhem Ink Collegiate Defenseman Doug Rose to ATO - Macon Mayhem
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