Hockey: Rivermen defeat Pensacola, advance in SPHL playoffs

Peoria's Alec Hagaman watches the puck sail into the net past Pensacola goaltender Stephen Mundinger in the first period of Game 2 of the first round of the SPHL playoffs Saturday, April 13, 2204 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the semifinals with a 6-1 victory.

The Peoria Rivermen celebrate Alec Hagman's goal against Pensacola in the first period of Game 2 of the first round of the SPHL playoffs Saturday, April 13, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the semifinals with a 6-1 victory.

Peoria's Mathew Rehding (10) makes a move against Pensacola goaltender Stephen Mundinger in the first period of Game 2 of the first round of the SPHL playoffs Saturday, April 13, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the semifinals with a 6-1 victory.

Peoria's Mathew Rehding celebrates his goal against Pensacola in the second period of Game 2 of the first round of the SPHL playoffs Saturday, April 13, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the semifinals with a 6-1 victory.

Peoria goaltender Nick Latinovich falls on the puck, stopping a shot from Pensacola's Garrett Milan in the second period of Game 2 of the first round of the SPHL playoffs Saturday, April 13, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the semifinals with a 6-1 victory.

Peoria's JM Piotrowski (40) and Pensacola's Troy Button fall to the ice while chasing the puck in the first period of Game 2 of the first round of the SPHL playoffs Saturday, April 13, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the semifinals with a 6-1 victory.

Peoria's Alec Hagaman (17) battles Pensacola's Troy Button (4) and Zac Herrman in the first period of Game 2 of the first round of the SPHL playoffs Saturday, April 13, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the semifinals with a 6-1 victory.

Pensacola goaltender Stephen Mundinger knocks the puck away from Peoria's Cayden Cahill in the first period of Game 2 of the first round of the SPHL playoffs Saturday, April 13, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the semifinals with a 6-1 victory.

Peoria's Cale List tries to get control of the puck as Pensacola goaltender Stephen Mundinger and Ivan Bondarenko try to stop him in the first period of Game 2 of the first round of the SPHL playoffs Saturday, April 13, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the semifinals with a 6-1 victory.

The puck slips past Peoria goaltender Nick Latinovich for a Pensacola score in the second period of Game 2 of the first round of the SPHL playoffs Saturday, April 13, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the semifinals with a 6-1 victory.

Peoria's Jordan Ernst dives to try and block a shot from Pensacola in the second period of Game 2 of the first round of the SPHL playoffs Saturday, April 13, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the semifinals with a 6-1 victory.

Peoria's Joe Drapluk (7) and Cayden Cahill (71) tangle with Pensacola's Ivan Bondarenko in the second period of Game 2 of the first round of the SPHL playoffs Saturday, April 13, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the semifinals with a 6-1 victory.

Peoria's Renat Dadadzhanov (15) and Pensacola's Spencer Kennedy in the second period of Game 2 of the first round of the SPHL playoffs Saturday, April 13, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the semifinals with a 6-1 victory.

Peoria's Cayden Cahill falls to the ice behind the Pensacola net in the second period of Game 2 of the first round of the SPHL playoffs Saturday, April 13, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the semifinals with a 6-1 victory.

Peoria's Meirs Moore (28) and Alec Baer celebrate Moore's goal against Pensacola in the second period of Game 2 of the first round of the SPHL playoffs Saturday, April 13, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the semifinals with a 6-1 victory.

Peoria's JM Piotrowski and Jordan Ernst celebrate with fans through the glass after Piotrwoski's goal against Pensacola in the third period of Game 2 of the first round of the SPHL playoffs Saturday, April 13, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the semifinals with a 6-1 victory.

Fans pound on the glass as the Rivermen celebrate JM Piotrowski's goal against Pensacola in the third period of Game 2 of the first round of the SPHL playoffs Saturday, April 13, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the semifinals with a 6-1 victory.

The puck flies past Pensacola's Sean Ross (12) and Peoria goaltender Nick Latinovich, but not into the net, in the third period of Game 2 of the first round of the SPHL playoffs Saturday, April 13, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the semifinals with a 6-1 victory.

Peoria's Cayden Cahill (71) moves the puck up the ice against Pensacola in the third period of Game 2 of the first round of the SPHL playoffs Saturday, April 13, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the semifinals with a 6-1 victory.

A group of Rivermen fans say bid farewell to Troy Button and the Pensacola Ice Flyers near the end of Game 2 of the first round of the SPHL playoffs Saturday, April 13, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the semifinals with a 6-1 victory.

Peoria's Jordan Ernst (11) puts the puck past Pensacola goaltender Stephen Mundinger in the third period of Game 2 of the first round of the SPHL playoffs Saturday, April 13, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the semifinals with a 6-1 victory.

Peoria Rivermen head coach Jean-Guy Trudel, right, celebrates with goaltender Nick Latinovich after Game 2 of the first round of the SPHL playoffs Saturday, April 13, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. The Rivermen advanced to the semifinals with a 6-1 victory.