Thunderbolts Power Plays Doom Rivermen In 2-1 Loss Saturday

Photo Credit: Addison Blair/Peoria Rivermen

Thunderbolts Power Plays Doom Rivermen In 2-1 Loss Saturday

Peoria scores first but unable to hold on as five-game win streak snapped

Evansville, IN – The Peoria Rivermen held a 1-0 lead through one period before a pair of Evansville Thunderbolts power-play goals handed the Rivermen a 2-1 defeat at the Ford Center Saturday night. The loss snaps Peoria’s season-long five-game win streak, and drops the Rivermen to 17-6-7 on the season before they return home for a pair with Mississippi next weekend.

The Rivermen started the scoring with an even-strength goal just one second after their first power-play of the night expired. After Thunderbolts forward Tommy Fiorentino came out of the box after serving a two-minute sentence for tripping, Rivermen winger Connor Gorman popped a rebound past Evansville goaltender Tanner Milliron to give Peoria a 1-0 lead at 10:03 of the first.

The Thunderbolts tied the game with a power-play tally late in the second period. With Rivermen winger Adam Stuart in the box for hooking, Evansville forward Brad Cuzner’s shot from atop the right circle resulted in a rebound that Fiorentino put by Peoria goaltender Storm Phaneuf to tie the game 1-1 at the 17:42 mark of the second.

The Thunderbolts took the lead for good with another power-play goal in the middle stages of the third period. With Peoria defenseman Brandon Greenside in the box for tripping, the Thunderbolts cashed in again at the 12:27 mark. John Scorcia’s pass found Justin MacDonald above the right corner, and his low-angle drive snuck by Phaneuf for the 2-1 Thunderbolts lead that would be the final score.

Phaneuf stopped 29 of 31 shots he faced in net, taking the loss to drop his personal record to 1-3-1 on the season. Evansville’s first goal snapped a string of 116:35 dating back to a 3-2 loss to Mississippi January 7.

Notes: Gorman’s goal is his first since he had a five-game point streak snapped at Evansville last Sunday…The loss is Peoria’s second regulation defeat on the road all season, and their first since a 3- loss at Mississippi January 7…The defeat also snaps a season-long five-game winning streak for the Rivermen…The Rivermen return to action next Friday and Saturday when they host to the Mississippi RiverKings, with both games starting at 7:05 p.m.…The broadcasts of the games can be heard, starting with the pregame shows at 6:45 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)