Season Ends with 4-1 Loss to Snakes in Game 3
March 30, 2014 - SPHL (SPHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
The Peoria Rivermen saw their first season in the Southern Professional Hockey League come to an end on Sunday when the Columbus Cottonmouths escaped with a 4-1 win at Carver Arena. Preston Shupe scored twice for the visitors, while Adam Feniak netted the lone goal for the Rivermen.
With the loss, Peoria is eliminated in the first round of the 2014 President's Cup Playoffs. Columbus, on the other hand, moves on to face the Huntsville Havoc in the semi-finals. Sunday was Game 3 of the best-of-three series.
34 seconds into game, Columbus forward Levi Lind crashed the net and collided heavily with Rivermen goaltender Kyle Rank. The hit sent Rank to the ice where he laid for several minutes before getting up, but the 26-year-old shook it off and remained in the contest. Lind was assessed a two-minute charging minor, but Peoria failed to score on the ensuing man advantage.
At 14:47 of the first period, Columbus opened the scoring on its first power play of the game. With Kyle Watson in the box for roughing, a series of passes in the Peoria zone led to an open Shupe in the middle of the right circle. Shupe delayed, then wristed a quick shot past Rank for his first goal of the playoffs. Shayne Stockton and Lind earned the assists.
With 2:06 left in the first, Matt Gingera added to the Cottonmouth's lead with his third goal in the last two games. From the top of the right circle, Gingera deked to the slot and fired a high wrist shot that beat Rank stick-side. Gray and Shupe notched the helpers. In addition, Columbus outshot the home team 18-7 in the opening frame.
At the end of the first period, Rank was pulled and replaced with rookie Kevin Carr. Rank finished the game with 16 saves on 18 shots.
Just over halfway through the second period, the Rivermen cut their deficit to one. During a 3-on-2 rush, Steve Morra cruised down the left side and left the puck for Adam Feniak in the slot, who scored on a sweeping wrister past Andrew Loewen at 10:22. Morra and Taylor Larsen recorded the assists.
The one-goal differential was short-lived, however, as the Snakes responded just 61 seconds later. During a 4-on-4 sequence at 11:08 of the second, Sam Bowles brought the puck to Carr's glove-side and slipped a shot past the pads for a 3-1 Columbus advantage. Gingera registered the assist.
The Cottonmouths sealed the game with an empty netter at 19:30 when Shupe grabbed possession in the neutral zone, skated down the ice on a breakaway and scored his second of the contest. Mike Switzer earned the assist.
Peoria finished the game 0-for-6 on the power play and 7-for-8 on the penalty kill. Meanwhile, Columbus outshot Peoria 39-28.
Between the pipes, Loewen earned the win and made 27 saves. Carr stopped 19 shots in relief.
2014-15 season ticket packages are on sale now and can be purchased through the Rivermen office by calling 309-676-1040! This year, fans who pay in full before May 9 have the chance to win some of the most unique prizes in franchise history through the "45 Days of Hockey - Rivermen Season Ticket Renewal Program."
SPHL Stories from March 30, 2014
- Season Ends with 4-1 Loss to Snakes in Game 3 - Peoria Rivermen
- Columbus Blows out Peoria, 4-1 - Columbus Cottonmouths
- Huntsville Survives Mississippi RiverKings Comeback, Wins 5-3 - Huntsville Havoc
- RiverKings' Cup Run Falls Short in Huntsville - Mississippi RiverKings
- Dates Set for Knoxville-Pensacola Semi-Final Series, Tickets on Sale Now - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- Knoxville downs Louisiana in overtime, 3-2 (OT) - SPHL
- Pensacola downs Mississippi Surge in overtime, 4-3 (OT) - SPHL
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
