For Immediate Release:
April 7, 2018
DAWGS TAKE A BITE OUT OF RIVERMEN, 3-1
Brad Barone stops 25 to help Roanoke to victory in regular season finale
PEORIA, IL – Brad Barone made 25 saves on 26 shots faced, Zach Tatrn, Matt Beer and Phil Bronner each scored and the Rail Yard Dawgs beat the Peoria Rivermen, 3-1, Saturday night at Carver Arena.
The game remained scoreless until early in the second period with Roanoke working shorthanded. The Dawgs forced a turnover at center ice and Tatrn sprinted to the loose puck. He walked in alone, deked to his backhand and roofed a shot past the lunging Mason Pulde to put Roanoke on top.
Peoria answered a few minutes later while working on the same power play. Cody Smith received a pass in the high slot and snapped a wrister past Barone’s blocker to tie the game.
Roanoke regained the lead later in the second when Steve Mele took the puck on the half wall and fed Beer in the slot. He wristed a shot top shelf and lit the lamp to make it 2-1.
The Dawgs earned an insurance tally early in the third period. Bronner carried the puck below the goal line and took a wide turn around the net. He fired a backhander on net that snuck under Pulde’s blocker, extending the Dawgs advantage to 3-1.
Barone stopped 25 of 26 shots faced to earn the win in net as Roanoke came out on top in its regular season finale. The Dawgs finished with a record of 26-26-4 while Peoria ended the season 38-13-5.
Roanoke will learn its postseason opponent following Sunday night’s SPHL Challenge Round Selection Show. The Rail Yard Dawgs are hosting a free watch party at 6:30 PM at Berglund Center’s Special Events Center.
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