Rivermen Game Notes: Peoria Rivermen at Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
March 30, 2018 - SPHL (SPHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
GETTING BACK ON A ROLL
The Rivermen come into tonight's game in Roanoke after capturing a 3-0 win over the Evansville Thunderbolts last Sunday in Peoria, giving the Rivermen three wins in their last four games, dating back to a 2-1 shootout win in Pensacola March 17. Last Sunday's win improves the Rivermen to 35-12-5 on the season, and with a win tonight or a Pensacola loss in any manner, the Rivermen will clinch their third regular season points title in the last four seasons.
THE SERIES SO FAR
Tonight marks the second of five games this season between the Rivermen and Rail Yard Dawgs, and the first of two games the Rivermen will play in Roanoke. The Rail Yard Dawgs made their season's first trip to Carver Arena for a single game, falling 6-1 in their second game under new head coach Dan Bremner, who was hired in mid- December to replace incumbent bench boss Sam Ftorek. After tonight, Peoria and Roanoke will rematch tomorrow night at the Berglund Center before traveling to Peoria to wrap up the regular season April 6 & 7 at Carver Arena.
SCOUTING THE RAIL YARD DAWGS
The Rail Yard Dawgs enter tonight's game 25- 23-4 on the season, tied with the Mississippi RiverKings for seventh in the SPHL standings, five points ahead of ninth-place Birmingham with four games remaining in the regular season. Any combination of four points the Dawgs earn or Bulls fail to earn in the SPHL standings will secure Roanoke their first playoff berth in the franchise's second season of existence.
Statistically this season, the Dawgs are paced in point production by center Steve Mele, who has posted team highs with 22 goals, 34 assists, and 56 total points. In net, Dawgs goaltender Brad Barone has gone 14-12-2 on the season, posting a 2.94 GAA and .918 saves rate behind a defense allowing 35.42 shots per game, third from worst in the SPHL, while the Dawgs offense has mustered a league-low 30 SOG per game.
BRUCEY, BRUCEY, BRUCEY
Last Sunday's Rivermen win over Evansville included a multi-goal outing, including a game- winner, for Rivermen winger Keegan Bruce, giving the second-year pro 10 goals and 18 points in 23 games since joining the Rivermen via trade.
Overall this season, the Bellingham, WA native has notched 19 goals and 18 assists in 52 games between Peoria and Birmingham, including five game-winners.
PULDE SAVES
Sunday's game also marked the first shutout in the SPHL career of Rivermen goaltender Mason Pulde, who stopped all 23 shots he faced in Peoria's win over Evansville. Since a disastrous SPHL debut at Birmingham February 10, Pulde has posted sparkling numbers in net, going 5-0-1 with a 0.80 GAA and a .976 save percentage over his last seven outings.
GO-GO GORMAN
Last Sunday's Rivermen win also featured a goal scored by Rivermen winger Connor Gorman, giving the second-year pro 16 goals to go with 16 assists in 43 games. Last season for the Rivermen, Gorman posted 22 goals and 14 assists in 55 games, adding 11 points (6g, 5a) in seven postseason games as he helped the Rivermen to their second straight President's Cup Finals berth.
WELCOME TO THE SHOOTING GALLERY
The Rivermen enter tonight's game ranked fourth in the SPHL with 33.48 SOG per game, while Peoria's defense sits third at 31.62 shots on goal surrendered per game. When out-shooting their foes this season, the Rivermen are 16-7-4, the best such record in the league this year.
WHAT'S ON DECK
After tonight's contest in Roanoke, the Rivemren will rematch the Rail Yard Dawgs tomorrow, then return to Carver Arena to finish the regular- season against the Rail Yard Dawgs April 6 & 7.
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SPHL Stories from March 30, 2018
- RiverKings Hunted by Havoc, 4-1 - Mississippi RiverKings
- Lazorko's Late Tally Defeats the Ice Bears - Evansville Thunderbolts
- Ice Flyers Break Losing Streak; Beat Bulls 7-6 - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- Marksmen Drop Home Finale, 6-1 - Fayetteville Marksmen
- Rivermen Clinch First Place with 2-1 Win Friday - Peoria Rivermen
- Roanoke Falls Short against Peoria, 2-1 - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
- Mayhem Drub Fayetteville Marksmen 6-1 - Macon Mayhem
- Rivermen Game Notes: Peoria Rivermen at Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs - Peoria Rivermen
- Mayhem Game Notes: Mayhem at Fayetteville Marksmen - Macon Mayhem
- Mayhem Ink Defenseman Larry Smith to Contract - Macon Mayhem
- Weekend Preview: Ice Flyers vs. Birmingham Bulls - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- Rail Yard Dawgs Game Notes: Rail Yard Dawgs (25-23-4) vs Rivermen (35-12-5) - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
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