Petaccio’s Pair Drops Rivermen Friday

March 2, 2018 7:15 pm

Home | Regular

Evansville Thunderbolts

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

Photo Credit: Dennis Sievers/Peoria Rivermen

Petaccio’s Pair Drops Rivermen Friday

Peoria sees six-game streak end as Evansville snaps 13-game skid

 

Peoria, IL – The Peoria Rivermen saw a one-goal third-period lead disappear Friday night as they fell 2-1 to the Evansville Thunderbolts at Carver Arena. The loss, Peoria’s first since February 10, ends a 13-game Evansville losing streak and drops the Rivermen to 29-11-3 on the season before a pair of games tomorrow night and Sunday afternoon against the Mississippi RiverKings.

 

The Rivermen got the scoring started a little over five minutes into the opening frame. Rivermen defenseman Brandon Rumble raced into the Evansville zone along the right-wing boards, and flicked a shot on goal that deflected off Evansville goaltender Ryan de Melo and found a charging Michael Economos, who deflected the puck into the net for the 1-0 Rivermen edge at 6:40 of the first period.

 

After a scoreless second period the Thunderbolts tied the game at one a little over a minute into the third period. The Thunderbolts entered the Rivermen zone on a 3-on-1 break, and Evansville center Dylan Clarke sent a pass across the low slot to teammate, Mark Petaccio who jammed a shot under the pad of Rivermen goaltender Peter Di Salvo to knot the game at a goal apiece at 1:02 of the third period.

 

Evansville grabbed their first lead of the game with the eventual game-winner in the closing minutes of the third period. Clarke sent a pass through the slot of the Peoria zone to Petaccio, who weaved through the Rivermen zone and slipped a shot past the outstretched leg of Di Salvo for the 2-1 Evansville lead and eventual final at 18:41 of the third period.

 

Di Salvo took the loss in net for Peoria, stopping 24 of 26 shots faced. With the loss, Di Salvo falls to 13-9-4 on the season, and 8-2-1 in a Rivermen sweater.

 

Notes: With his first period goal, Economos is currently riding a 7-game point streak dating back to February 11th vs Macon (7G, 4A)…With an assist tonight, Will Smith is in the midst of an 8-game point streak dating back to February 10th at Birmingham, Smith has 14 total points in that span… The loss was only the 5th home ice defeat in 21 home games for the Rivermen this season….The Rivermen return to action Saturday night as they welcome the Mississippi Riverkings to Carver Arena faceoff is set for 7:15 p.m…Saturday night features Chicago Blackhawks Night with an appearance by Jamal Mayers and Tommy Hawk, and specialty jerseys worn by the Rivermen and auctioned off postgame…Saturday is also Rivermen t-shirt night presented by Homefield Energy, with t-shirts going to the first 1,000 fans….The broadcast of the 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 36th 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)