SOUTHAVEN, Miss.- The RiverKings fail to net a goal as Knoxville secures a 1-0 victory at Planters Bank Ice at Landers Center. Goaltender, Tyler Green stopped 27 of 28 shots he faced in the losing effort.
Midway through the first period, Knoxville struck first getting their lone goal on the power play. With RiverKings forward C.J. Hayes serving a two-minute hooking minor, the Ice Bears’ points-leader Berkley Scott set up Stefan Brucato who scored from point-blank range. Scott took the initial shot which was blocked down, and Bucato slammed home the loose puck. 
The RiverKings had scoring opportunities in the first period with two power-play chances, but the Ice Bears’ top-ranked penalty kill held Mississippi without a goal. The RiverKings did not have a man-advantage for the remainder of the game.
Knoxville carried their form from the first period into the second, but Mississippi proved to be resilient. The Ice Bears out-shot the RiverKings five to 10 in the second period, but neither team was able to beat the opposing goaltender in the period.
The RiverKings continued to have goal-scoring chances in the third period but failed to find the net for the equalizing goal. The best chance of the night was Matt Harrington’s shorthanded breakaway, but Davenport got just enough to steer the puck wide denying the RiverKings the tying goal.
Mississippi falls to 2-5-2 in January and 15-15-2 for the season while Knoxville improves to 18-11-2. The two teams will face off for the sixth and final time in the regular season Saturday night in Knoxville.
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