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Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen Suffer Season's First Regulation Loss Friday

November 30, 2018 - SPHL (SPHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


Fayetteville, NC - The Peoria Rivermen staged an early third-period comeback to tie the Fayetteville Marksmen at 2-2 but eventually fell 5-2 at the Crown Coliseum Friday night. The loss, Peoria's first in regulation this season, drops the Rivermen to 9-1-2 before tomorrow night's rematch with the Marksmen in Fayetteville.

The Marksmen opened the scoring with a tally early in the second period. Rivemen goaltender Stephen Klein kicked aside a shot from Marksmen winger Brian Bowen, and Fayetteville center Zach Tatrn popped the ensuing rebound past Klein for a 1-0 lead at 1:07 of the frame.

Fayetteville doubled their lead with another goal in the closing minutes of the middle frame. With the teams skating 4-on-4, Marksmen winger Taylor Pryce took a pass through the slot and fired a wrister past Klein's glove for a 2-0 lead at 18:19 of the frame.

The Rivermen got back within one and tied the game with a pair of goals early in the third period. With the puck in the right wing of the Marksmen zone, Rivermen defenseman Kevin Patterson sent a pass to the point where Peoria captain Alec Hagaman's one-timer was tipped by teammate Justin Greenberg past Fayetteville goaltender Dillon Kelley for a 2-1 score at 1:26 of the final period. The Rivermen forced a 2-2 tie 1:11 later when Peoria forward Will Smith redirected Ben Oskroba's high-slot one-timer past Kelley for the equalizer at 2:37 of the third period.

The Marksmen took the lead back for good near the midway point of the third period. Tim Kielich's drive from atop the right wing of the Rivermen zone sailed past Klein for a 3-2 score at 8:03 of the period. The Marksmen redoubled their lead with a power-play goal at 10:14 when Fayetteville's Nolan Sheeran had shot blocked back to Marksmen winger Cody Brown, who made it 4-2 with his drive from the top of the right circle. Brown added an empty-netter at 19:33 of the final period for the 5-2 final score.

Klein stopped 17 of 21 shots faced in net as he took his first career loss in net. The loss drops Klein to 5-1-0 in his first pro season.

Notes: The loss is Peoria's first in regulation, making the Rivermen the final team in all of North American pro hockey to suffer a loss in regulation...Hagaman recorded an assist on Greenberg's goal to extend his league-best point streak to nine games...Rivermen winger Austin Vieth had his four-game goalscoring streak snapped...The Rivermen return to action next tomorrow night when they rematch the Marksmen at the Crown Coliseum, with puck drop set for 5 PM central time...The broadcast of the game can be heard, starting with the pregame show, at 4:40, at http://mixlr.com/peoria-rivermen/ ... The game can also be viewed at the official Rivermen team watch party at the Bullpen Sports Bar at the Landmark Recreation Center, located at 3225 N Dries Lane in Peoria

Group, single game, and season tickets for Peoria's 37th season of professional hockey presented by Midwest Orthopaedic Center are on sale at the Toyota Box Office in the Peoria Civic Center, or by phone at the Rivermen office, located at 201 S.W. Jefferson Street, or over the phone at (309) 676-1040.

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