Rivermen Unable to Rally, Fall to Evansville Saturday

January 13, 2018 7:15 pm

Away | Regular

Evansville Thunderbolts

Final
3
2
1
Thunderbolts
3
0
1
2
Rivermen
2
2
0
0

Photo Credit: Tim Lester/Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen Unable to Rally, Fall to Evansville Saturday

Peoria sees season-long seven-game win streak snapped

 

Evansville, IN – The Peoria Rivermen fell behind 3-0 in the second period, scored twice in the third, but were unable to complete the comeback as they lost 3-2 to the Evansville Thunderbolts at the Ford Center Saturday. The loss snaps Peoria’s seven-game win streak and drops them to 19-7-1 on the season before next weekend’s trip to Huntsville, AL.

 

The Thunderbolts opened the scoring with a pair of goals near the midway point of the game’s first period. With the puck in neutral ice, Thunderbolts winger Sean Reynolds burst into the right wing of the Peoria zone on a 2-on-1 break, and sent a shot past the blocker of Peoria goaltender Ryan de Melo for the 1-0 lead at 8:50 of the period. The Thunderbolts doubled their lead at 10:08 of the period when Evansville center Nick D’Avolio’s turnaround drive on a loose puck atop the left-wing circle of the Rivermen zone made it 2-0 Thunderbolts and chased de Melo from the contest.

 

The Thunderbolts pushed their lead to 3-0 with a power-play tally just past the midway point of the contest. With Rivermen defenseman Dave Pszenyczny boxed for holding, Thunderbolts winger Dave Williams controlled the puck in the left corner of the Peoria zone and sent a pass to the high slot, where Evansville defenseman Frank Schumacher blazed a one-timer past new Rivermen goaltender Tyler Parks for the three-goal edge at 12:44 of the second period.

 

The Rivermen got on the board with a power-play marker of their own early in the third period. With Evansville center Chase Nieuwendyk in the box for hooking, Rivermen winger Mike Gurtler sent a pass from the right corner across the goalmouth to teammate Will Smith, who pounded it past Evansville netminder Tomas Sholl for the 3-1 score at 6:23 of the frame.

 

Peoria pushed back to within one just past the midway point of the game’s final stanza. With the puck in the right wing of the Evansville zone, Rivermen center Jacob Barber sent a pss to the high slot, where Peoria defenseman Cody Smith fired it wide of the Evansville net. Smith’s shot ended up on the stick of Peoria winger Dakota Klecha, who snapped it past Sholl for the 3-2 score at 10:39 of the third. Peoria pulled Parks for an extra skater in the game’s final 90 seconds, but were unable to beat Sholl again as the Thunderbolts held on for the 3-2 final score.

 

De Melo stopped 3 of 5 shots faced in the game’s first 10:08 before he was relieved, and takes a no-decision. Parks is saddled with the loss in net after he stopped 18 of 19 shots faced in relief. The loss drops Parks to 8-2-0 on the season, and snaps his eight-game winning streak between the pipes.

 

Notes: Peoria winger Alec Hagaman had his league-best 16-game point scoring streak snapped…Gurtler’s assist gives hime an eight-game point streak…Both of Parks’ losses this season have come in relief outings…The Rivermen return to action next Friday and Saturday when they play a pair of games in Huntsville, with each game set to start at 7 p.m. from the Von Braun Center… The broadcast of each game can be heard, starting with the pre-game show, at 6:40 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)