Chaos, Confusion Doom Rivermen in Overtime Saturday

(Photo: Addison Blair/Peoria Rivermen)

Controversy, Confusion, Doom Rivermen in Overtime Saturday

Ognev’s OT goal disallowed, game awarded to Mayhem

Macon, GA – The Peoria Rivermen battled to a 1-1 tie through regulation before an apparent Peoria goal was overturned in overtime and a goal was awarded to the Macon Mayhem from a previous play, resulting in a 2-1 Macon victory in overtime Saturday night. The loss drops Peoria to 1-2-1 on the season before a Wednesday morning game in Evansville wraps up their current road swing.

The game went without score for the first two periods, including an unsuccessful first-period penalty shot by Rivermen winger Connor Gorman, before the Mayhem opened the scoring early in the third period. 32 seconds into the third period, Collin MacDonald’s shot from the high slot threaded its way through traffic and past Peoria netminder Tyler Green for a 1-0 Mayhem lead.

Peoria tied the game after the halfway point of the third period. After Luke Eibler took a shot from the right circle, a rebound came free to Dmitri Ognev, who popped it past Macon goalie Jordan Ruby to make it a 1-1 game.

The game remained tied until the final buzzer of the third period and the teams went to overtime. After a near-Mayhem goal rang off the Peoria crossbar and play continued for over 30 seconds, Ognev pounded home another rebound for what appeared to be his second goal of the game. As the Rivermen team was headed off the ice, the linesmen held the Rivermen on the ice while referee Walker Holton conferenced with the goal judge behind the Peoria net. After returning to the ice, Holton awarded a goal to the Mayhem for the final 2-1 score in favor of Macon.

Green took the hard-luck loss in goal as he officially stopped 32 of 34 shots faced in goal. The loss is the first of Green’s pro career, and he becomes the first Peoria goalie to play an entire game between the pipes this season.

Notes: Ognev’s goal was his first in North America after the Russian’s pro career began with five seasons in various European and Asian leagues…MacDonald’s goal snapped a 79 minute, 13 second scoreless streak to begin Green’s SPHL career…Eibler recorded his first SPHL point with an assist on Ognev’s third-period tally…The Rivermen return to action Wednesday morning when they travel to Evansville Indiana to take on the Thunderbolts at 9:30 AM…The game can be heard, starting with pregame show, at 9:15 Central Time at: http://mixlr.com/peoria-rivermen/  

Group, Season, and single-game tickets for Peoria's 35th season of professional hockey are on sale now 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)