Rivermen Win Regular Season Finale, Face Louisiana in Playoffs
March 28, 2015 - SPHL (SPHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
SOUTHAVEN, Miss. - The Peoria Rivermen prevailed in a back-and-forth regular season finale in a 4-3 victory over the Mississippi RiverKings on Saturday night at Landers Center.
The Rivermen carry the top seed in the Southern Professional Hockey League's President's Cup Playoffs and will face the Louisiana IceGators in the first round. Game 1 will be in Lafayette on Wednesday. Game 2 will be played in Peoria on Friday, April 3 at 7:05 p.m. If necessary, the best-of-three series will conclude in Peoria on Saturday, April 4 with a 7:05 p.m. face-off.
The Rivermen scored first just 1:09 into the game when Matt Summers received a drop-off at the left circle from Steve Morra and whistled home a low drive, also assisted by Garrett Vermeersch. Mississippi answered 5:33 in on a rebound goal by Linden Bahm after a flurry to set the first intermission score at 1-1.
Morra blasted a drive from the deep slot on a feed from Vermeersch also assisted by Summers 59 seconds into the middle chapter to take a 2-1 lead. Devin Mantha corralled a loose puck in the slot before the Rivermen could grab it and sliced an open look stick-side with 12:24 showing on the second period clock for the game's second tie at 2-2. The Rivermen took a 3-2 lead into the dressing room when Josh Harris tapped in a tally after a scrum in the crease on assists from Jake Trask and Cole Ruwe.
The RiverKings tied the game for the third time 4:54 into the final period on a Leo Thomas breakaway. The Rivermen captured the game-winner with 6:08 left in regulation when Mississippi goalie Peter Di Salvo's clearance attempt from behind his net caromed off a teammate to Harris at the left post for an east tip into the open goal.
Kyle Rank earned the win with 30 saves while Di Salvo took the loss with 27 stops. The Rivermen were 1-for-3 on power plays while the RiverKings did not convert four chances.
The Rivermen conclude the regular season with the William B. Coffey Trophy for the points title with a record of 36-17-3 for 75 points. The RiverKings failed to claim home ice advantage with the loss and fall to fourth place with a record of 33-21-2 for 68 points. Mississippi will face Pensacola and Knoxville will take on Columbus in the other first round playoff series this week.
Tickets for the regular-season champion Rivermen's run in the President's Cup Playoffs are now on sale 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 28, 2015
- IceBears Cling to 3-2 Win over IceGators - Louisiana IceGators
- RiverKings Slip to Rivermen, Finish in 4th Place - Mississippi RiverKings
- Ice Flyers Earn Home Ice and Take on RiverKings in First Round - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- Ice Flyers Earn Home Ice and Take on RiverKings in First Round - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- SPHL Announces President's Cup First Round Schedule - SPHL
- Rivermen Win Regular Season Finale, Face Louisiana in Playoffs - Peoria Rivermen
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