ThunderBolts Battle to 5-4 Shootout Victory in Peoria
Published on December 23, 2023 under SPHL (SPHL)
Evansville Thunderbolts News Release
Peoria, Ill.: In an extremely back-and-forth game that saw Evansville take the lead four separate times with Peoria neutralizing each lead, the Thunderbolts battled their way to a 5-4 shootout win over the Rivermen on Friday night at Peoria Civic Center. The Thunderbolts' next home game will be on Sunday, December 31st against the Macon Mayhem, puck drop at 7:00pm CT.
After a scoreless first period, Bair Gendunov opened the scoring at 1:43 of the second period off a Rivermen turnover, assisted by Myles Abbate and Tommy Stang. The goal extended Gendunov's point streak to eight consecutive games and counting. The Rivermen tied the game at 2:55 off a deflection goal by Andrew Durham. At 6:06, Mike Ferraro scored on a breakaway from Scott Kirton to put Evansville ahead 2-1, before a power play goal from Zach Wilkie at 10:13 tied the game at 2-2. Late in the second period, Ferraro scored once again off a net-front scramble from Lincoln Hatten and Nick Prestia at 18:34 to again put Evansville ahead, 3-2 after two periods.
1:30 into the third period, Joseph Widmar scored to tie the game once again for Peoria at 3-3. A few minutes later, a low angle shot by Brendan Harrogate put Evansville ahead 4-3 at 5:21, assisted by Hayden Ford. Once again, Peoria managed to tie the game as Alec Baer scored on a late 5-on-3 at 17:04. After a scoreless overtime highlighted by a key save from Cole Ceci on an Alec Hagaman breakaway in the final minute, the game went to a shootout. Gendunov and Kirton scored for Evansville while Ceci stopped 4 of 5 Rivermen attempts, and the Thunderbolts came up victorious and won their 4th straight game, now only a single point under the playoff line with 6 wins in their past 8 games.
Ferraro finished with a pair of goals, while Gendunov and Harrogate scored one goal each, along with Kirton scoring the shootout-winning goal. Cole Ceci picked up his 6th win of the season by stopping 23 of 27 shots in regulation and overtime. The Thunderbolts and Rivermen meet again on Saturday, December 23rd at Peoria Civic Center.
SPHL Stories from December 23, 2023
- Rivermen Storm Back to Defeat ThunderBolts 4-3 in Overime - Evansville Thunderbolts
- Cahill's Overtime Winner Lifts Rivermen Over Evansville 4-3 - Peoria Rivermen
- Ice Flyers Sweep The Mayhem Headed Into Short Holiday Break - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- Munichiello, Dorsey, and McChesney Tally on Long Night for Mayhem - Macon Mayhem
- Dawgs Just Short in 2-1 Loss to Marksmen - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
- Marksmen Take Down Dawgs 2-1, Boyko Extends Point Streak to 12 Games - Fayetteville Marksmen
- Dawgs Just Short in 2-1 Loss to Marksmen - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
- Ice Bears Lose to Storm at Home - Knoxville Ice Bears
- SPHL Announces Suspension - SPHL
- Ice Flyers Vye for Holiday Cheer in Busy Week of Games - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- ThunderBolts Battle to 5-4 Shootout Victory in Peoria - Evansville Thunderbolts
- Boyko Extends Point Streak to 11 Games, Marksmen Get Point in Overtime Loss - Fayetteville Marksmen
- Rivermen Fall in Shootout Despite Valiant Comeback - Peoria Rivermen
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