THUNDERBOLTS SET TO TAKE ON ROANOKE IN SPHL PLAYOFFS’ FIRST ROUND 

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Evansville, In.: After splitting their final weekend of regular season action against Birmingham, including their 20th win in 28 regular season games on Ford Center ice on Friday, the Evansville Thunderbolts prepare for the first round of the President’s Cup Playoffs, beginning with a best-of-three series against the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs, starting this Thursday, April 13th at Ford Center.

Week In Review: 

Last Friday, the Thunderbolts came back from an early 1-0 deficit to defeat the Birmingham Bulls 2-1, behind a tying goal in the first period from Scott Kirton and a third period go-ahead goal from Felix Sasser.  Tough bounces saw Evansville trail 3-0 on Saturday in Birmingham, but a strong third period saw goals from Kirton and Brendan Harrogate, finishing strong in a 3-2 loss to the 2nd-Place Bulls, who needed all 10 meetings this season to win the regular season series.

The Week Ahead: 

The Thunderbolts host the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs this Thursday, April 13th for Game One of the best-of-three President’s Cup Quarterfinal, opening face-off at 7:00pm CT.  Fans are encouraged to wear white to help create a whiteout atmosphere.  The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a pair of thunder sticks. Games Two and Three* will be at Roanoke’s Berglund Center on Saturday, April 15th at 6:05pm CT and Sunday, April 16th* at 2:05pm CT.  For tickets to Thursday’s game at Ford Center, call (812) 422-BOLT (2658), go to EvansvilleThunderbolts.com, or visit the Ford Center ticket office.  Saturday and Sunday’s* games can be viewed on SPHL TV with a paid subscription through HockeyTV or can be listened to for free on the Thunderbolts Radio Network via the Thunderbolts MixLr Channel or at EvansvilleThunderbolts.com/fan-center/live . (*: Sunday, April 16th game in Roanoke to be played only if necessary)

Scouting the Opponent: 

Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs: 
    • Record: 32-19-5, 69 Points, .616 Win Percentage, 4th Place
    • Leading Goal Scorer: Billy Vizzo, Mac Jansen (19 Goals Each)
    • Leading Point Scorer: Nick Ford (54 Points)
    • Primary Goaltender: Austyn Roudebush (24-12-4, .906 Save %)
    • Thunderbolts 22-23 Record vs RNK: 0-0
                Roanoke will travel to Evansville following a three game weekend that began with a 6-5 comeback shootout win against the Macon Mayhem at home on Thursday night.  Down 3-0 in the second period, Gehrett Sargis and Nick Ford scored to pull Roanoke to within a goal early in the third period.  After Macon reasserted the three-goal lead to 5-2, Mac Jansen, Sargis, and Alex DiCarlo all scored within a 5-minute span to tie the game.  In a shootout, Jordan Xavier scored the lone goal to win the game for Roanoke.  On Friday in Knoxville, Xavier and CJ Stubbs gave Roanoke a 2-1 lead in the first period before Knoxville rallied with 5 unanswered goals to take a 6-2 lead in the second period.  Stubbs and Sargis scored to make it a 6-4 game, before Knoxville scored an empty net goal to put the game out of reach.  In the final seconds, Sargis scored again to make it a 7-5 final.  Roanoke trailed 2-0 at home on Saturday, before scoring three unanswered goals from Matt O’Dea, Sargis, and Josh Nenedal to catapult in front 3-2, which turned into the final score as Roanoke clinched the 4th seed.
Call-up Report 
                 – Chase Perry – Allen Americans (Prev. Greenville) – ECHL
                                – Greenville: 2 GP, 1-0-1, 1.93 GAA, .944 Save %
                                – Allen: 21 GP, 14-6-1, 3.11 GAA, .919 Save %

– Trevor Gorsuch – Wichita Thunder – ECHL
– 3 GP, 2-1-0, 2.98 GAA, .931 Save %

– Matthew Barron – Trois-Rivieres Lions (Prev. Indy) – ECHL
– Indy: 4 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 3 P, 0 PIM
– Trois-Rivieres: 37 GP, 6 G, 3 A, 9 P, 10 PIM

                – Mike Ferraro – Savannah Ghost Pirates – ECHL
                                – 7 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 4 P, 6 PIM
Transactions:     

Sun. 4/9: LW Riley MacRae added to playoff roster
Fri. 4/7: D Jeremy Masella placed on 21-Day Injured Reserve
Fri. 4/7: C Brett Radford activated from Injured Reserve
Fri. 4/7: G Lucas Fitzpatrick signed to contract

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