For Immediate Release:
February 22, 2019
DAWGS DEFEATED BY PEORIA, 8-2
Jeff Jones and Colin Murray both score in losing effort
PEORIA, Il. – Colin Murray had a goal and an assist and Jeff Jones netter a power play goal but the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs were defeated by the Peoria Rivermen, 8-2, Friday night at Carver Arena.
Peoria struck first about ten minutes into the opening period. Drake Hunter fed Alec Hagaman for a one-timer outside the left wing circle. Jacob Caffrey lunged and got a piece of it with his blocker but it hit the back on the net to make the score, 1-0. The Rivermen added to that in the final minutes of the second when Justin Greenberg hit Beau Walker in front for a redirection that beat Caffrey high and pushed the lead to 2-0.
They tacked on another just under two minutes into the third as Ben Blasko split the defense and fed Drake Hunter for a tap in on the back post. Walker later carried the puck in from the left wing and slid a pass to Greenberg in front who snapped a shot past Caffrey to make it 4-0.
That would be it for Caffrey who was pulled after allowing four goals on 15 shots. Henry Dill entered to replace him with 10:30 to play in the second.
Roanoke got on the board not long after that as Steve Mele poked a bouncing puck to Murray who ripped a wrist shot past Stephen Klein to put the Dawgs on the board. The Rivermen quickly answered though and sprung Blasko for a breakaway that he cashed in on. Peoria tacked on another when Austin Vieth scored in the final minute of the second period to push it to 6-1.
The Dawgs added one more on a power play in the third. Murray fed Jones in front and he flicked a wrister top shelf to cut the deficit to 6-2. Peoria answered within a minute though with Hunter’s second of the game. Jake Hamilton later banged home a slap shot from the point to push the score to 8-2.
Murray had a goal and an assist and Jones scored for the second consecutive game. Both Dill and Caffrey finished with 11 saves on 15 shots.
The Rail Yard Dawgs fell to 20-18-3 with the loss while Peoria improved to 32-4-5. Roanoke will again face the Rivermen on Saturday night. Puck drop at Carver Arena is scheduled for 7:15 PM CST and the pregame show begins at 7:00 PM CST on the Haley Toyota Rail Yard Dawgs Hockey Network.
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