PEORIA -- The Peoria Rivermen held back the Surge on Friday and positioned the franchise to get its feet wet in postseason hockey for the first time in years.



The Rivermen rolled to a 3-0 victory over the Mississippi Surge and clinched an SPHL playoff spot before 3,801 at Carver Arena.



Peoria winger Parker Stanfield scored two goals and had 14 shots -- at one point late in the third period his 14 shots nearly matched the entire Mississippi team effort of 16.



Rookie Locke Jillson notched a goal, defensemen Charlie Carkin and Joe Schiller had excellent outings and goaltender Kyle Rank notched his ongoing SPHL single-season record seventh shutout of the season.



The Rivermen remained in a fourth-place tie with the Mississippi RiverKings and earned points at home for the 10th straight game.



"We were so happy to clinch it, excited to get to the playoffs," Stanfield said. "We did it with a good game, too. Usually we take a lead and then sit back, but we didn't do that tonight.



"What's our next goal now? Win the next game, keep getting ready for the playoffs."



Mississippi went without a shot on goal during the game's first 8:36, and Peoria raced to a 29-10 shooting edge by late in the second period.



Carkin's one-timer from the top of the left circle hit the left post and deflected away late in the second.



A few seconds later, at 16:18, Stanfield picked up a loose puck behind the net, stepped out to the left post, and stuffed the puck in between the pipe and goaltender Mathieu Dugas's right skate.



The Rivermen jumped ahead 2-0 just 34 seconds into the third period when Schiller's pass from between the circles set up Jillson for a shot on the fly from the right circle past Dugas.



The Rivermen rolled to 3-0 just 8 seconds into a power play at 4:58 when Stanfield's bad-angle shot from the endline left of the net banked in off Dugas' pad.



Rank closed out a relatively easy night in goal and the Rivermen assembled at center ice, celebrating Peoria's return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2010-11 AHL season.



"We had a goal at the beginning of the season, to make the playoffs, and a lot of people looked at our expansion team and didn't expect this from us," Rivermen head coach Jean-Guy Trudel said. "It's been a good learning experience for all of us.



"Now the hard work begins. We want to fight to get home-ice advantage in the playoffs."



RIVER READINGS: Rivermen veteran center Chris Greene cleared CHL waivers on Friday and was in the grandstand watching the game. He'll dress Saturday for Peoria. ... Rivermen rookie goalie Kevin Carr (Buffalo State) settled his immigration paperwork issues and arrived in Peoria on Friday. ... Columbus signed Canada Olympic women's team goaltender Shannon Szabados on Thursday. She will be the first female player in SPHL history. The Rivermen do not face Columbus again in the regular-season. ... Peoria center Nick Prockow returned to the lineup from an injury. ... Rivermen defenseman Adam Feniak remained out with an upper body injury. ... Fayetteville gave up 30 third-period shots and 58 overall in an 8-5 loss Thursday to Columbus. From that game, the SPHL on Friday suspended Fayetteville players Ryan Hand and Brandon Richardson two games each, the latter for making an obscene gesture at officials. Fayetteville head coach Emery Olauson was suspended one game for throwing a water bottle at officials.



Dave Eminian covers the Rivermen for the Journal Star. Reach him at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve.