Rivermen Stunned by Mayhem in 3-2 Game 1 Loss
April 13, 2016 - SPHL (SPHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
Macon, GA - The Peoria Rivermen took an early lead but could not build it and eventually fell 3-2 to the Macon Mayhem in Wednesday night's playoff opener. The loss will force Peoria to face elimination in Game 2 of the Best-of-3 series Friday night at Peoria's Owens Center.
The Rivermen started the scoring with a power-play goal in the first period. With Nicholas Kuqali in the box for slashing, Cody Dion reached back for a loose puck below the right point, carried to the top of the right circle, and rifled a wrister past Macon goaltender Garrett Bartus to make it 1-0. The Mayhem tied the game at Jackson Brewer's shot deflected off a Peoria body and looped its way over the shoulder of Rivermen netminder David Jacobson to make it 1-1.
The Mayhem took their first lead of the contest in the second period when a blast from Shawn Skelly in the left circle of the Peoria zone beat Jacobson to make it 2-1 at 6:46 of the second. The Rivermen tied the game at 8:08 of the second when Peoria found a wide open Dave Pszenyczny atop the right circle of the Mayhem zone and his drive beat Bartus to tie the game 2-2. The Mayhem took the lead for good at 18:45 of the second when former Rivermen winger Jake Trask carried the puck into the left circle, lost it momentarily before regaining control and firing a shot that was stopped initially before trickling through Jacobson to make it 3-2 Mayhem.
Jacobson stopped 20 of 23 shots he faced to take the loss in goal. The defeat comes in Jacobson's first pro playoff appearance and is his first loss between the pipes since a March 20 loss in Pensacola.
Notes: Dion assisted on Pszenyczny's goal as he recorded his first multi-point game since he scored two goals March 12 in an overtime win at Huntsville...Pszenyczny's goal is his first since April 1 at Knoxville...The Rivermen and Mayhem return to action Friday night at Peoria's Owens Center when they play game 2 their best-of-3 SPHL President's Cup quarterfinal playoff series in Macon against the Mayhem with an 8:05 central time start The broadcast of the game can be heard, starting with the pregame show, at 7:45 at http://portal.stretchinternet.com/rivermen
Tickets for Peoria's home games in the 2016 SPHL President's Cup Playoffs are on sale through the Rivermen office, located at 201 S.W. Jefferson Street, or over the phone at (309) 676-1040.
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