Peoria, IL – – The penultimate regular season game may have been a nadir for the Roanoke Rail Yard Dogs.
Starting the second period against the Peoria Rivermen, the score was tied. The Rail 
Yard Dogs proceeded to phone in the next two periods of play, getting embarrassed 6-1 in front of 3489 fans at Peoria’s Carver Arena.
These two teams face off in the final regular season contest Saturday, again in Peoria, and it will be interesting to see how Roanoke, with the playoffs in the offing, will respond.
Peoria, however, seemed to be in fine shape, dominating another playoff team while resting four key regulars. Captain Dave Pszenyczny, Joe Widmar, Mike Gurtler all were held out. Cody Dion served a one-game suspension tonight, as well. In there place, two player on amateur try-outs, Brandon Reinoltz and Nathan Chasteen, saw their first professional action.
After a competitive first period, the Rail Yard Dogs didn’t so much as get off the porch in the second period. Connor Gorman as the Rivermen hard work during a power play paid off. Ben Oskroba followed with a goal off a face-off to chase Roanoke goaltender Brad Barone. Matt Zenzola entered the crease for Roanoke and promptly gave up low percentage goal to Joe Kalisz to make it 4-1 at the end of the second period.
It was tied 1-1 after the first period. Alec Hagaman scored a soft goal. Instead of challenging Barone, he tucked behind the net and wrapped around. Barone was nowhere near the far post when the puck went in. Colin Murray beat Parks second into a power play to even the score.
Hagaman and Geoff Fortman finsihed the scoring in the third period t make it 6-1.
Barone suffers the loss, stopping 20 of 23 shots. Zenzola also allowed three goals, only stopping 12 of the 15 shots he faced. Tyler Parks pocketed the victory with only one goal allowed on 19 shots.
Each team scores on the power play once. The flurry of penalties in the third period led to many power play opportunities that were just a few seconds long. Officially, Peoria had 10 changes with the man advantage while Roanoke had four.
Saturday at 7:15pm, these two teams will drop the puck again in the regular season finale.
Contact the author at Shaun.Bill@ProHockeyNews.com or follow him on Twtter @SLBatPHN.
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