Rivermen Overpowered by Thunderbolts Special Teams Tuesday

Photo Credit: Marilyn Demont/Evansville Thunderbolts

Rivermen Overpowered by Thunderbolts Special Teams Tuesday

Three power-play goals make difference in 4-2 Peoria loss

Evansville, IN – The Peoria Rivermen allowed three power-play goals, including two early in the third period, as they fell 4-2 to the Evansville Thunderbolts at the Ford Center Tuesday morning. The loss drops the Rivermen to 1-1-0 on the season, tied for third in the SPHL standings, ahead of Friday’s Home Opener against expansion Birmingham at Carver Arena.

The Thunderbolts got on the board early in the game when they cashed in on the power play. With Rivermen center Ryan Siiro in the box for tripping, and veteran blueliner Dave Pszenyczny on the shelf for a slash, the Thunderbolts capitalized on their 5-on-3 manpower edge after Frank Schumacher’s one-time drive from the slot. Rivermen goaltender Michael Santaguida made the initial pad save, but Evansville center Dylan Clarke tucked the ensuing rebound in for a 1-0 Bolts lead at 3:26 of the period.

The Rivermen leveled the score with a delayed penalty call coming against the Thunderbolts near the midpoint of the first stanza. With Santaguida off for an extra attacker, Rivermen defenseman Geoff Fortman collected a pass from teammate Jacob Barber, and fired a wrister from the point that wove its way through traffic and past Evansville goaltender Jonah Imoo for a 1-1 score at the 8:26 point of the first.

The score remained deadlocked for the remainder of the first and all of the second period until Evansville took the lead for good with another power-play tally early in the third. With Rivermen captain Dave Pszenyczny in the box for a late-second-period interference penalty, Evansville winger John Scorcia took a shot on a cross-rink feed that was stopped by Santaguida, but Thunderbolts winger Tyler Deresky tucked the ensuing rebound under the crossbar 20 seconds into the period for a 2-1 Bolts lead.

The Thunderbolts extended their lead to 3-1 less than six minutes later with another power-play marker. With Rivermen winger Alec Hagaman in the box for roughing, Thunderbolts winger Justin MacDonald one-timed a cross-crease pass off Sataguida’s outstretched pad, and Evansville winger Mark Petaccio fired home the resulting rebound at 6:10 of the period.

The Rivermen pulled back to within a goal on their own power play late in the third. With Deresky boxed for goaltender interference, Fortman’s shot from the right circle was blocked by an Evansville skater. The loose puck was then corralled by Peoria winger Cody Dion, who shoveled it to teammate Eric Witzel for a one-timer past Imoo to make the score 3-2 with 5:03 left in the contest.

The score remained 3-2 until Peoria pulled Santaguida for an extra skater, and at 19:21 of the third, Clarke’s rink-long dump trickled just inside the Peoria net for the 4-2 final score.

Santaguida took the loss in net in his pro debut, stopping 34 of 37 shots faced in net, including 24 of 25 over the first two periods.

Notes: Fortman posted a goal and an assist to record his first SPHL point and multi-point game…Barber’s assist on Fortman’s goal gives him three points in his first two pro games…The Rivermen return to action Friday and Saturday night at Carver Arena when they host Bruce Saurs Hockey Weekend in Peoria, squaring off with the Birmingham Bulls at 7:15 each night…Tickets to the game are available, with a 2-for-$20 special in select sections, through the Rivermen office at (309)-676-1040…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 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)