For Immediate Release:
March 11, 2017
RAIL YARD DAWGS BEATEN BY RIVERKINGS, 9-2
SOUTHAVEN, MS – The Mississippi RiverKings scored four times on the power play, Devin Mantha netted five goals and the Rail Yard Dawgs were defeated, 9-2, Saturday night at the Landers Center.
Mississippi got on the board first less than 90 seconds into the game. Richard Coyne gathered the puck behind the net and sent a pass into the slot. Mantha one-timed it on net and beat James Kruger to make it 1-0.
Just under four minutes later with Mississippi working on a power play, Mantha burned down the right wing and fired a wrister past Kruger’s glove-catching side, extending the advantage to 2-0.
Late in the first, Phil Tesoriero took the puck and center ice, split the defense, and streaked in on the attack. As he was taken down from behind, Tesoriero flung the puck on net and beat Brad Barone to put Roanoke on the board.
Mississippi got back to work in the second period. Robert Lindores chased down a loose puck on the left wing and worked it into a 2-on-1 break. He lofted a pass to the back post that Dustin Jesseau chipped into the net, giving the RiverKings a 3-1 lead.
Roanoke would counter however though as Zach Tatrn hassled the RiverKings on the forecheck. He intercepted a pass and drove a rising slap shot over Barone’s shoulder, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
That was as close as the Dawgs would get however as Mississippi scored six unanswered goals to end the game. On a 5-on-3 power play with traffic in front, Sam Higgins let a slap shot loose from the point that found its way through and beat Kruger, pushing the score to 4-2. Early in the third, again on the power play, Brantley Sherwood batted a rebound out of mid-air and into the net to extend the advantage to 5-2.
Mantha got his hat trick with a wrister past Kruger on another power play. Each of his last two goals came on shorthanded breakaways and Joe Sova added another off a broken play to give Mississippi its 9-2 victory.
The Rail Yard Dawgs fell to 15-26-6 and the RiverKings improved to 25-19-2. Roanoke will return to action at home on Friday against the Peoria Rivermen. Puck drop on St. Patrick’s Day at the Berglund Center is scheduled for 7:05 PM.
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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