Rivermen Fall Prey to Late Surge, Lose to Ice Flyers Friday

Photo Credit: Dennis Sievers/Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen Fall Prey to Late Surge, Lose to Ice Flyers Friday

Three-goal third too much for Rivermen to overcome

Peoria, IL – The Peoria Rivermen scored first but allowed four straight goals as they fell 4-2 to the Pensacola Ice Flyers Friday night.  The loss, Peoria’s first on home ice this season, brings the Rivermen to 3-2-0 on the year, leaving them in a three-way tie for first place before tomorrow night’s rematch.

The Rivermen got the scoring started in the opening period while on the power play, with Pensacola winger Tommy Fiorentino in the sin bin for tripping at the 8:41 mark of the first period. Rivermen center Jacob Barber put a shot toward the Pensacola net from the low left point and had it blocked back to him. Barber sent the ensuing rebound to teammate Justin Greenberg, who snapped the puck past Ice Flyers goaltender Greg Dodds at 8:59 for the 1-0 advantage.

The Ice Flyers evened the score prior to the midway point of the second period. Ice Flyers defenseman Nathan Bruyere fired a shot on the Rivermen net that was turned aside by Rivermen goaltender Michael Santaguida. Before Santaguida could cover the ensuing rebound, Pensacola center Robert Lepine collected the puck and lofted a shot under the crossbar for a 1-1 tie at 7:19 of the frame.

Pensacola grabbed the lead for good nearing the midway point of the third period. Ice Flyers center Eli Lichtenwald collected a loose puck in the neutral zone and fired a pass to teammate Phil Bushbacher, who raced into the offensive zone and fired a shot from the left circle past an outstretched Santaguida at for a 2-1 lead at the 9:34 mark.

The Ice Flyers added to their lead just past the midway point of the final stanza. Pensacola center Brian Morgan collected the puck and passed it to teammate Stephen Hrehoriak on the latter’s way into the Rivermen zone. Hrehoriak rifled a shot from between the circles that snuck past Santaguida’s glove and into the net for a 3-1 lead at the 11:36 mark of the period.

The Ice Flyers added an insurance tally late in the third period while on the power play. With Rivermen winger Alec Hagaman in the box for boarding, Ice Flyers winger Trever Hertz fired a pass from behind the Rivermen net out to a waiting Hrehoriak, who snapped the puck past Santaguida for the 4-1 lead at 18:54 of the third.

The Rivermen got a goal back in the closing seconds of the contest. Rivermen winger Connor Gorman carried the puck into the Pensacola zone and sent a pass to Hagaman between the circles. Hagaman then flicked a wrister past Dodds at 19:52, to make the final score 4-2 in favor of the visitors.

Santaguida stopped 29 of 33 shots faced while taking the loss between the pipes. With the loss, Santaguida falls to 1-2-0 on the season and in his pro career.

Notes: The Rivermen scored first for the first time this season…With a secondary assist on Hagman’s goal, Rivermen captain Dave Pszenyczny has a three-game point streak…The Rivermen ended a six-period Pensacola shutout streak with Greenberg’s first-period goal…Rivermen winger Nick Miglio was assed a game misconduct for spearing in the second period…The Rivermen return to action Saturday night at Carver Arena when they host the a rematch with the Ice Flyers at 7:15 p.m….Saturday will be Farmers Insurance Teacher Appreciation Night, with the Rivermen offering a free ticket to all educators…It is also scheduled to be Peoria’s Super Hero night, with Batman and other heroes in attendance throughout the game…The broadcast of each 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 36th 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)