Phaneuf Perfect as Rivermen Prevail 3-0 Over Thunderbolts Friday

February 24, 2017 7:05 pm

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Phaneuf Perfect as Rivermen Prevail 3-0 Over Thunderbolts Friday

Klecha scores game-winner in return to lineup

 

Peoria, IL – The Peoria Rivermen scored a goal in each period and stood strong defensively to ground the Evansville Thunderbolts 3-0 Friday night at Carver Arena. With the victory the Rivermen improve to 21-10-9 them alone into third place in the SPHL standings with two games remaining on the current weekend series against the Thunderbolts.

 

The Rivermen broke the scoreless tie at the 14:45 mark of the opening period. The puck aside the Rivermen net, Peoria goaltender Storm Phaneuf played a pass to Rivermen center Nick D’Avolio in the neutral zone. D’Avolio then slid a pass to teammate Dakota Klecha, who took the puck into the offensive zone, threw on the brakes, and used an Evansville defender as a screen, wristing a shot over the glove of Thunderbolts goaltender Michael Doan for a 1-0 Rivermen lead. The Rivermen took that 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

 

The Rivermen doubled their lead late in the second period. Rivermen defenseman Brandon Greenside unleashed a wrister from above the left circle, and the puck found its way through bodies and was deflected by Rivermen winger Adam Stuart past a sprawling Doan for a 2-0 Rivermen lead. The second period expired with the Rivermen holding a 2-0 lead.

 

The Rivermen added to their lead with a power play goal just before the midway point of the third period. With Thunderbolts winger Mark Petaccio in the sin bin for holding, Rivermen defenseman Dave Pszenyczny let a shot go from the left circle, that was deflected by winger Cody Dion past Doan at 7:57 of the period for a 3-0 Rivermen lead.

 

Phaneuf earned his third straight win and second career shutout, stopping all 23 shots faced. The win improves Phaneuf to 5-4-2 on the season, and his second consecutive victory against the Thunderbolts. 

 

Notes:  Phaneuf earned his second shutout in a Rivermen jersey this season…Phaneuf is 5-2-1 with a 1.43 GAA and a .947 save percentage over his last nine outings dating back to a shutout at Mississippi January 27...Tonight’s win was Phaneuf’s third straight victory in goal….With his assist on Klecha’s goal, Phaneuf earned the first assist in his SPHL career…Stuart now has three goals in his last three games dating back to 2/19 against Knoxville….Dion’s power-play goal snapped an 0 for 11 man advantage slump against Evansville, dating back to 1/28….The Rivermen return to action tomorrow night when they travel to Evansville, IN to rematch the Thunderbolts at 7:15 Central Time…The broadcast of the game can be heard, starting with the pre-game show, at 6:55 p.m. at http://mixlr.com/peoria-rivermen/

 

Group, single game, and season tickets for Peoria's 35th season of professional hockey presented by Midwest Orthopaedic Center are on sale at the Toyota Box Office in the Peoria Civic Center, or by phone at 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) - Twitter(https://twitter.com/Peoria_Rivermen)