Peoria winning streak snapped at home with 4-1 to Fayetteville

PEORIA, IL – It’s better to be lucky than good.

Over the past two months, the Peoria Rivermen have been both on their way to a league-longest 14 game winning streak. Neither luck not skill could save them from the Fayetteville Fire Antz on Saturday night.

With a 4-1 victory, Fayetteville stopped the steamroller in the heavy equipment capitol of the world. With a big crowd of 5,788 on hand hoping to see win #15, the visiting Fire Antz out-skated, out power-played, and out-goaltended the Rivermen at Peoria’s Carver Arena.

Derek Elliot broke the spell at 1:03 of the second period with a power play goal. Fayetteville, with the best power play unit in the SPHL, spread the Peoria defense after a holding call on Mark Corbett to take a 1-0 lead. Josh McQuade and Zach Carriveau were credited with assists.

Fayetteville’s persistence paid off when Joseph Manno found himself with the puck at the top pf the circle at 6:55 of the second period. He blasted a shot past Peoria goaltender Kyle Rank for a 2-0 Fire Antz lead. Tayler Thompson and Bennett Schneider pocketed assists on the play.

The Rivermen had an opportunity at 9:08 of the second period when Joe Tolles was boxed for Interference. Fayetteville goaltender Parker Van Buskirk made several dramatic saves to keep the Rivermen off the board.

Peoria tried to get on the board with several great chances at between the fifth and seventh minutes of 3rd period. That ended when Kyle Gibbons raced in two-on-one and kept the puck, sniping Rank for an unassisted goal and the 3-0 lead.

The Rivermen finally solved Van Buskirk on their 33rd shot of the game. Persistence paid off for Adam Stuart during a power play as he skated around the net and through traffic. His shot from the bottom of the right circle at 10:20 of the third period drew the Rivermen back to within two, 3-1. Alec Hagaman and Dan Bremner tallied assists on the play.

Gibbons would add an empty net goal for the final tally and make the final 4-1. Gibbons was assessed and 10-minute misconduct penalty immediately after the foal for inciting an opponent.

Van Buskirk was simply outstanding, facing 39 shots with only the single blemish. Rank stopped 30 of 33 shots. Each team scored on the power play once; Fayetteville on three chances and Peoria on six.

You may contact the author at Shaun.Bill@ProHockeyNews.com or follow him on Twitter @SLBatPHN .