SOUTHAVEN, Miss. – Rookie Derek Sutliffe tallied two goals in the Mississippi RiverKings (31-20-3) victory over the Evansville Thunderbolts (13-32-9).
After a scoreless 14 minutes to open the game, the RiverKings found the net first. With 5:22 left to play in the period, defenseman Joe Sova fired a shot from the left circle that would bounce off the right post into the net for a RiverKings 1-0 lead.
Just under two minutes into the second period, newcomer Derek Sutliffe scored his first goal of his professional career with assists from forwards Ryan Marcuz and Dillan Fox to give the RiverKings a 2-0 lead. Three minutes later, Ryan Marcuz shifted through the Thunderbolt defense and found Sutliffe on the left wing for a goal to extend the RiverKings lead 3-0.
Evansville would not leave the second period quietly. With 5:42 left to play, Thunderbolts’ Austin McKay ushered a rebound goal past RiverKing goalie Brad Barone to cut the lead 3-1. Three minutes later, forward John Scorica wristed a changeup shot past Barone to cut the lead 3-2.
In third and final period, team captain Devin Mantha iced the game with a back hander for a goal to give the RiverKings 4-2 lead late in the period.
Brad Barone (19-13-3) earned the victory by stopping 37 of 39 shots on goal, while Nick Kohn (0-2-0) took the loss by diverting 36 of 40 shots on goal.
Derek Sutliffe scores his first professional goal of his career in a 4-2 victory over the Evansville Thunderbolts. © Kori LaVire
