Rivermen Can’t Hold Off Havoc Friday, Fall 6-4 in Huntsville

December 28, 2018 7:00 pm

Away | Regular

Huntsville Havoc

Final
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Havoc
6
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Rivermen
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Photo Credit: Dennis Sievers/Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen Can’t Hold Off Havoc Friday, Fall 6-4 in Huntsville

Four-goal first not enough as Rivermen suffer season’s second regulation loss

 

Huntsville, AL – The Peoria Rivermen held a two-goal lead as late as 8:38 of the second period but fell 6-4 to the Huntsville Havoc before 6,072 at the Von Braun Center Friday night. The loss, Peoria’s second regulation defeat of the season, snaps a seven-game Rivermen win streak before tomorrow afternoon’s rematch with the Havoc in Huntsville.

The Havoc started the scoring with a power-play tally in the first period’s opening minutes. With Rivermen center Justin Greenberg boxed for tripping, Huntsville forward Rob Darrar rifled a feed from Havoc defenseman Alec Brandrup past Peoria netminder Stephen Klein 2:37 into the game.

 

Peoria surged ahead with a pair of goals just 10 seconds apart early in the first. At 5:57 of the frame, new Rivermen signee Jack Prince banked a shot from the right-wing corner off of goaltender Mike De La Vergne and into the net for 1-1. Peoria took the lead 10 seconds later when Peoria winger Mike Gurtler finished a rebound of a Will Smith shot past De La Vergne for a 2-1 lead.

 

Peoria’s lead grew to two goals past the midway point of the first period. Rivermen winger Alec Hagaman took a pass from a faceoff in the left-wing circle of the Havoc zone, and blazed a shot past De La Vergne’s outstretched blocker to a 3-1 lead at 12:24 of the frame.

 

The teams traded goals 1:05 apart late in the first period. Havoc defenseman Pat Condon’s drive from the blueline found its way past Klein for a 3-2 score at 16:11 of the opening frame. Gurtler answered for Peoria when he finished a backdoor pass from Smith past De La Vergne to give the Rivermen a 4-2 advantage at 17:16 of the first period.

 

Peoria held their two-goal lead until the 8:38 mark of the second period. With Huntsville on the power-play courtesy of a slashing penalty against Rivermen center Dean Yakura, Havoc winger Stephen Hrehoriak dribbled the puck from the high slot, and it made its way past Klein and into the net for a 4-3 Rivermen lead.

 

Huntsville tied the game with a marker just past the midway point of the third period. Brandrup fired a shot from the high slot, and veteran Huntsville center Sy Nutkevitch redirected it past Klein for a 4-4 score at 10:42 of the final stanza.

 

Huntsville completed the comeback with the eventual game-winner when Havoc winger John Schiavo rushed into the Peoria zone 2-on-1 with Nutkevitch. Schiavo’s shot to the net was partially blocked, and fluttered its way past a sprawling Klein for a 5-4 lead at 14:15 of the period. Havoc winger Christian Powers scored an empty-net goal with 1:09 left in the game to seal the 6-4 final score.

 

Klein took the loss between the pipes for the Rivermen, falling to 8-2-0 on the season. Five goals allowed in a game ties Klein’s career high, last set in a  6-5 overtime win over Fayetteville November 9.

 

Notes: Gurtler recorded two goals in a game for the first time this season, giving the veteran his first multi-goal game since March 24 of last season…Gurtler has recorded a goal or more and multiple points in four straight, and a point or more in five straight contests…Hagaman notched a goal and an assist for the second straight game, and has logged six points in his last four outings…Greenberg tallied two assists in a game for the first time since October 26 at Quad City…The Rivermen return to action tomorrow afternoon in Huntsville when they rematch the Havoc at 1 PM…The broadcast of the game can be heard, starting with the pregame show, at 12:40, at http://mixlr.com/peoria-rivermen/

 

Group, single game, and season tickets for Peoria's 37th 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)