PEORIA, Ill – Both the Peoria Rivermen and the Mississippi Riverkings were forced to rally for precious goals throughout the game, but the Rivermen came out on top on Saturday at Carver Arena. Their efforts within the last five minutes of the third period won them the game. The final score was 6-4 Rivermen.
The first period was a show of speed and skill from both teams, but the Rivermen dominated the score sheet. The Rivermen scored their first goal at 12:26 into the period, but it would only take them 19 more seconds to get their second, and just three minutes after that to score a third. 
But the Riverkings would not leave the period without responding. At 17:20 the Riverkings would make their first tally of the night.
The Riverkings brought the momentum they gained at the tail end of the first period and brought it right into the second. The Riverkings tripled their shot total from seven to 21 while the Rivermen were only able to place a meager 5 shots on goal.
With this momentum, the Riverkings were able to close the margin on the Rivermen lead with a single goal in the second period.
The Riverkings continued to rally back in the third period and even took the lead for the first time of the night. After a quick two goals, the Riverkings were ahead 4-3.
With 4:27 left on the clock the Rivermen were able to tie the game with a goal from Jordan Carvalho.
But the true magic came with 2:34 left in the game.
Joseph Windmar sent a pass to Michael Economos, who was the late man coming into the Riverkings’s zone. Economos made a break for the net, but was challenged by a Riverking defenseman. Economos deked left and sent the defenseman tumbling to his right. All Economos had left to do was send a rocket of a shot over the shoulder of Riverkings goalie Jared Rutledge and give the Rivermen their game winning goal.
The Rivermen scored an empty net goal to finish the game out.
The Peoria Rivermen and the Mississippi Riverkings will play another game on Sunday for the Rivermen’s third game in three nights. The two clubs will also face-off next weekend down in Southhaven for a series rematch.
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