For Immediate Release:
November 11, 2016
PETERS SAVES, DAWGS WIN, 4-2
Emergency backup goaltender Mike Peters makes 24 saves in win
ROANOKE, VA – Emergency backup goaltender Mike Peters was pressed into action in the final minutes of the first period and stopped 24 of the 26 shots he faced as the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs defeated the Evansville Thunderbolts, 4-2, Friday night at the Berglund Center.
The Rail Yard Dawgs struck first on their first shot of the game. Just 1:31 into the opening period, Dmytro Babenko lifted a shot over a sprawling Tyler Parks and Roanoke took a 1-0 lead.
Brandon Anderson started the game in net but was injured in the first and exited with 1:10 remaining in the opening period. Signed to a three-game tryout contract before the game to serve as the emergency backup goaltender, Peters entered and made 24 saves while allowing two goals over 41:10 of game action. He earned first star honors in his first game as a pro.
Roanoke added to its advantage in the second as Craig Skudalski fired a shot from the left wing that Parks stopped, but Massimo Lamacchia was waiting on the doorstep to slide it five-hole and give the Dawgs a 2-0 lead.
The Thunderbolts fought back later in the period on a power play. Brad Bourke let a slap shot fly from the point that was redirected past Peters by Phil Bronner to put Evansville on the board.
The Dawgs would quickly answer though when Steve Mele sent a stretch pass forward, springing Tyler Gjurich and Jackson Brewer for a two-on-one break. Gjurich carried the puck deep and slid a pass to Brewer who guided it into the net to extend the lead to 3-1.
Evansville would strike for one more in the third period as a Dan Cornell pass hit a skate and slid past Peters to cut the deficit to one. Roanoke was able to regain breathing room in the final minute though when Lamacchia fired a puck from his own goal line into the empty net on the opposite side of the ice to make it 4-2.
Lamacchia scored twice and ten different Rail Yard Dawgs recorded points in the winning effort.
Roanoke improved to 4-3-1 with the win while Evansville dropped to 0-7-2 in the loss. The Thunderbolts are the only team in the SPHL that has yet to win a game.
The Rail Yard Dawgs will return to action on Thursday at home again against Evansville. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 PM at the Berglund Center.