Rivermen Win Points Title Despite Loss
March 27, 2015 - SPHL (SPHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
SOUTHAVEN, Miss. - The Peoria Rivermen captured their first regular-season points title in 25 years despite an 8-3 loss to the Mississippi RiverKings on Friday night at Landers Center.
A 6-4 Columbus loss at home to the Huntsville Havoc on Friday gave the Rivermen the Southern Professional Hockey League regular season championship and home ice advantage through the President's Cup Playoffs.
The game started with a flurry of offense not typical for the series as the Rivermen scored the first two goals of the game 29 seconds apart with Alec Hagaman collecting a rebound tally assisted by Ben Oskroba and Jason Cohen 5:54 into the game followed by an Oskroba conversion of his own rebound.
The RiverKings countered 2:27 later with a Dan Delisle runner from the right circle, but Jake Trask gave the Rivermen a 3-1 lead at the first intermission by capitalizing on a Steve Morra feed from his forecheck in the left corner with 4:56 left in the period.
Mississippi owned the second period with four tallies. The RiverKings cut their deficit to 3-2 only 23 seconds into the second period off a Rivermen turnover in front converted with a top shelf backhand at the doorstep by Matt Beer. The hosts tied the contest with 6:32 left in the middle chapter during 4-on-4 skating when Andrew Randazzo blasted a wide open look from the high slot. Mississippi grabbed a 4-3 lead at 16:15 on a Devin Mantha goal and a 5-3 advantage at 18:51 on a rebound goal from the left circle by Randazzo to chase Peoria goalie Kyle Rank.
The RiverKings continued their onslaught with Delisle's second goal of the game 4:38 into the third period assisted by Randazzo and on a breakaway by Sean Jones 7:55 in for a 7-3 lead. Matt Harrington finished the scoring with another breakaway goal with 2:20 remaining.
The Rivermen now carry a record of 35-17-3 for 73 points into Saturday's final game of the regular season. The RiverKings improve to 33-20-2 with 68 points and are tied for third place with Pensacola. The eight Mississippi goals are the most surrendered in a single game by the Rivermen this season.
In additional roster moves before Friday's game, the Rivermen activated defenseman Christian Weidauer from 30-day injured reserve. Defenseman Mike Slowikowski accepted a call-up to the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL and will not return to Peoria this season according to SPHL rules.
The Rivermen conclude the regular season with a rematch against the RiverKings at 7:05 p.m. Saturday at Landers Center. Pre-game on www.rivermen.net and SPHLLive.com begins at 6:45 p.m.
Playoff ticket packages are now on sale through the Rivermen office with single game seats available for as low as $9. Season ticket packages and group ticket options for the 2015-16 campaign are on sale now through the Rivermen office, located at 201 S.W. Jefferson Street, or over the phone at (309) 676-1040. For the latest Rivermen news and notes, follow online at www.rivermen.net or through Facebook ( www.facebook.com/PeoriaRivermen) and Twitter ( https://twitter.com/Peoria_Rivermen).
SPHL Stories from March 27, 2015
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- RiverKings Rally for Rout of Rivermen - Mississippi RiverKings
- Ice Flyers Earn Two Valuable Points in Fayetteville - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- Ice Flyers Earn Two Valuable Points in Fayetteville - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- Rivermen Win Points Title Despite Loss - Peoria Rivermen
- SPHL Awards Schedule Announced - SPHL
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