The Playoff Races — SPHL (Peoria) Feb. 9

The situation looks bright for the Southern Professional Hockey League’s Peoria Rivermen.

Not only does the Rivermen lead the league standings with a 27-6-3 record, a full 11-points up on second place Mississippi RiverKings, the Rivermen picked up four of six possible points on a weekend road trip and will enjoy home cooking for the next month as it begins an eight-game homestand with three against the Louisiana IceGators on the weekend. In all, 13 of the final 20 games of the regular season for the Rivermen will be played on home ice and there are only two left against the River Kings to be played in Mississippi in late March.

It all looks great for Peoria but there are still 20 games to play and the team count on anything until it’s in the bank.

Rivermen 7 at Mayhem 1

The Rivermen kicked off its road trip in Georgia, carrying a 2-0 lead out of the first and a 3-0 cushion into the third. The Rivermen scored the first five before Mike Montrose fired the only shot of 22 that would elude goaltender David Jacobson who boosted his record to a perfect 8-0 this season.

Chris Wilson paced the Rivermen offense, scoring a pair and adding two assists while Brandon Greenside picked up a goal and two helpers and Connor P. Toomey collected three assists. Adam Stuart and Steve Morra both notched a goal and assist in the game with the other goals came from Alec Hagman and Ben Power.

Rivermen 2 at FireAntz 3 (OT)

Extra time was not friendly to the Rivermen at Fayetteville as the host FireAntz twice rallied late to snatch the extra point away.

On Friday night at Fayetteville, teams were even at 1-1 after a period and the Rivermen moved in front with Walker Wintoneak triggering the lone goal of the frame. Chris Wilson had the first period goal for the Rivermen, Josh McQuade countering for the FireAntz.

Nicholas Rivait pulled his team even with 3:45 to play in the final period and the overtime game winner came from Nick Lazorko giving the home side its first and only lead in the contest.

Peter Van Buskirk picked up his first of a pair of weekend victories in goal for the FireAntz, handling 25 of 27 Peoria shots while Kyle Rank turned aside 25 of 28 for the Rivermen.

Riverman 3 at FireAntz 4 (SO)

In Saturday’s game, the Rivermen started well, building a 2-0 first period lead on goals by Greenside and Wilson and another by Terrence Wallin countered one by Lazorko of the FireAntz to keep the Rivermen up 3-1 heading to the third.

Joseph Manno pulled one back in the seventh minute of the final period for the host team and the FireAntz had Van Buskirk on the bench when Derek Elliott tied it up with 46 seconds to play.

Van Buskirk turned the first four shots he faced aside for the home team adding that to his 20 regulation time saves. Jacobson meanwhile handled 33 of 36 in the game and was beaten twice in the shootout. His record remains perfect though with no loss recorded in this one.