Three-Goal Second Lifts Rivermen Past Surge
March 16, 2014 - SPHL (SPHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
The Peoria Rivermen scored three times in the second period on Sunday and held on for a 4-3 win over the Mississippi Surge at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. Adam Feniak found the back of the net twice, while Kyle Rank made 24 saves as the Rivermen snapped an eight-game losing streak on the road.
With the win, Peoria also improved to 28-18-7 (63 points) on the season and hopped into sole possession of third place in the Southern Professional Hockey League standings - one point ahead of the Mississppi RiverKings and Huntsville Havoc who are tied for fourth. In addition, the Rivermen concluded their season-series with the Surge at 6-0-1.
Mississippi opened the scoring at 15:35 of the first period when Tom Craig converted with 18 seconds remaining on a power play. With Cole Ruwe in the box for slashing, Justin MacDonald took a wrist shot from the left point that Craig redirected from the doorstep for his fifth of the year. Tyler Turcotte and MacDonald earned assists on the goal.
Less than three minutes later, the Surge doubled their lead when Andrew Harrison scored on another redirection at 12:48 of the first. Following a faceoff in the Peoria zone, MacDonald hit a shot from the blue line that Harrison tipped through Rank's five-hole. MacDonald earned the lone assist.
The Rivermen pulled a goal back only 34 seconds later as Feniak scored his third goal of the season at 12:14 of the first period. Feniak, who appeared in three games for the Surge this season, fired a shot from the right point that beat Surge netminder Mathieu Dugas. Jarrett Rush and Matt Viola picked up the assists.
Peoria evened the game at 10:24 of the middle frame when Alex Mentink scored for just the second time this year. In a race to the puck down the left side, Mentink beat Turcotte and went top-shelf on the forehand to make it 2-2.
Viola put Peoria on top for the first time at 5:37 of the second with a power play tally. With Trever Hurtz was in the box for hooking, Vermeersch grabbed the puck down low and sent a pass to the front where Viola connected on a one-timer. Vermeersch earned the only assist on the tally.
Peoria extended its lead to 4-2 on the power play courtesy of Feniak's second goal of the game at 17:49 of the second. From the left side, Nick Prockow gained the zone and played a pass across the slot to Feniak at the right post for a one-time goal. Prockow and Joe Schiller recorded the assists.
Just 2:32 into the third period, Mississippi cut the deficit to one courtesy of Kyle Kudroch's 20th of the year. Following two saves by Rank at the doorstep, Kudroch converted on a third effort as a result of Mississippi crashing the net. Jordan Peddle was credited with an assist.
Mississippi outshot Peoria 27-25 in the contest and also earned more penalty minutes (19-13). The Rivermen finished the game 2-for-7 on the power play and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill.
Rank improved to 18-8-3 on the season, while Dugas suffered the loss and fell to 14-14-2 after he stopped 21 shots.
The Rivermen return to Carver Arena for their final home game of the regular season on Tuesday for a 7:15 p.m. puck drop against the Bloomington Thunder. For tickets and more information, please visit the Rivermen office, located inside the Peoria Civic Center, or call 676-1040. The game can be heard locally on CD Country 107.9 FM or online at www.cd1079.net . Fans can also follow along via the live video and audio stream at www.americaonesports.com .
SPHL Stories from March 16, 2014
- IceGators Blow Lead, Fall to Cottonmouths - Louisiana IceGators
- Three-Goal Second Lifts Rivermen Past Surge - Peoria Rivermen
- Surge Comeback Bid Falls Short, Lose to Rivermen 4-3 - Mississippi Surge
- Late Goal Keeps Thunder Playoff Hopes Alive - Bloomington Thunder
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