Rivermen Win Fifth Straight as Phaneuf Shines in Return

Photo Credit: Addison Blair/Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen Win Fifth Straight as Phaneuf Shines in Return

Two power-play goals lift Rivermen over RiverKings in Mississippi

Southaven, MS – The Peoria Rivermen took an early lead and never looked back as they beat the Mississippi RiverKings 3-0 at Landers Center Friday. The win, Peoria’s fifth in a row, improves the Rivermen to 17-5-7 with one game remaining on the current road trip.

The Rivermen started the scoring early in the game’s first period. With play ensuing in the Mississippi zone, Peoria defenseman Don Olivieri skated across the top of the slot, and put a wrist shot on net. The resulting rebound was popped past RiverKings goaltender Brad Barone by Peoria forward Michael Colantone for a 1-0 lead at 2:44 of the first.

The Rivermen doubled their lead with a power-play tally in the middle stages of the first. With RiverKings winger Mike Moran in the box for slashing, Peoria rushed into the right wing of the Mississippi zone. Rivermen winger Jeff Jones sent a pass to the middle, and Dakota Klecha one-timed it past Barone for a 2-0 Peoria lead at 11:13 of the first period.

The Rivermen extended their lead with a late goal in the third period after a scoreless second. With Mississippi’s Cullen Bradshaw in the box for interference, a scrum ensued in front of the Mississippi crease. The puck squirted free to the inside of the left circle, and Rivermen winger Alec Hagaman fired it past Barone into the net for the eventual 3-0 final score.

Phaneuf stopped all 29 shots he saw in net to earn his first career SPHL win and shutout. The win is Peoria’s fifth in a row, and Peoria’s first shutout victory of the season.

Notes: Phaneuf improves to 1-2-1 with the win...Klecha recorded a goal and an assist for his first multi-point game since he logged a pair of assists at Columbus December 2...Colantone also had a goal and an assist, for his second SPHL multi-point game after he recorded a goal and an assist at Columbus December 2…The Rivermen return to action tomorrow night when they head to Evansville, Indiana to take on the Thunderbolts at the Ford Center at 7:15 p.m.…The broadcast of the game can be heard, starting with the pregame 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)