EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Jared Rutledge turned away 34 shots and Jake Schultz netted his first professional goal as the RiverKings win their third straight downing the Thunderbolts, 2-1.
The scoring got started early in the game thanks to a heads-up play from Devin Mantha. At the 2:03 mark of the first, Mantha intercepted a pass in the offensive zone and fed a pass to Bryan Arneson waiting for it back-door, and Arneson buried it for his 8th goal of the season. Evansville would get their first and only goal of the game later in the first period on the power-play, thanks to Dylan Clarke. A shot from the point was kicked aside from Rutledge, but the rebound landed right onto Clarke’s stick who found the back of the net to tie the game, 1-1.
The biggest moment of the second period game from the RiverKings goaltender Rutledge who stoned Evansville Thunderbolt Nick Lazorko on a penalty shot to keep the game tied at 1.
It wasn’t until the third period that the RiverKings were able to break the scoreless tie. Pijus Rulevicius won an offensive zone draw to newcomer Ryan Salkeld who feathered a pass to Jake Schultz manning the left point. Schultz ripped a wrist-shot through the traffic in front to beat Jonah Imoo. The RiverKings held down the fort when Evansville pulled Imoo for the final minute of the game and rode to the 2-1 victory.
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