For Immediate Release:
February 24, 2017
DAWGS CLIPPED BY RIVERKINGS, 2-1
Mississippi scores game-winning goal in final minutes of third
SOUTHAVEN, MS – The Mississippi RiverKings scored to break a 1-1 tie late in the third period and held on to defeat the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs , 2-1, Friday night at the Landers Center.
With the game tied at one and just over two minutes to play in regulation, Mississippi dumped the puck in and James Kruger aggressively came out to play it. His clearing attempt was blocked and Kruger was clipped as he scrambled back to the cage. Dustin Jesseau found the bouncing puck in the slot and snapped a shot past the Rail Yard Dawgs defense and into the net, putting the RiverKings up, 2-1.
Roanoke pulled Kruger for an extra attacker in the final minute but could not crack Brad Barone as Mississippi held on for the victory.
The Dawgs had a golden scoring chance in the first while working on the power play. Steve Mele fed Jackson Brewer in the slot for a one-timer that blistered past Barone but rang off the post. Later, with under three minutes to play in the opening stanza, Ryan Marcuz was sprung for a breakaway. He carried the puck deep and deked to his backhand for the shot but Kruger flashed his pad for the kick save to keep the game scoreless.
Roanoke opened the scoring in the latter stages of the second. Again working on the power play, Brewer was fed in the slot and ripped a snap shot over the shoulder of Barone to make it 1-0 Dawgs.
The RiverKings answered in the waning moments of the period. After Kruger was peppered with a series of shots, Marcuz gathered a rebound and chipped it over Kruger’s right pad to tie the game at one.
Brewer scored the lone goal for the Dawgs and now has points in seven of his last eight games. The Rail Yard Dawgs fell to 13-21-6 with the loss and are now winless in their last four games. Mississippi improved to 24-16-2 in the victory.
Roanoke and the RiverKings will play the second half of the back-to-back set on Saturday night. Puck drop is set for 7:30 PM CST at the Landers Center.
2017-18 Rail Yard Dawgs season tickets are on sale now! Seats can be reserved by visiting the Rail Yard Dawgs office inside of the Berglund Center or over the phone at 540-344-3294.
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