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Peoria Rivermen

Corazzini and Legace Lift Rivermen to Shootout Win

February 25, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


PEORIA, Ill. (February 25, 2009) - Carl Corazzini beat IceHog goalie Antti Niemi two different times in the shootout to seal a 2-1 win for the Peoria Rivermen against Rockford on Wednesday night at Carver Arena.

Neither team's first two shooters were able to light the lamp in the shootout, but Mike Radja notched Rockford's first goal when he wristed one over Manny Legace's glove. Corazzini then tied the shootout for the Rivermen with a stellar move after three rounds. Goals by Adam Pineault and Steve Regier extended the shootout to a sixth round where Legace stoned Radja, and Corazzini slipped the puck five-hole on the Rockford netminder to give Peoria two points and the victory.

Legace finished with 34 saves and stopped 4-of-6 in the shootout. He improved to 3-3-0 since joining the Rivermen and has been named one of the Three Stars in five of his six starts. The Rivermen are now 8-2 in games after regulation and have the best winning percentage in the AHL after 60 minutes.

The game had no score heading into the final five minutes of the third period when Steve Wagner streaked out shorthanded and tucked the puck under Niemi's glove to give Peoria a 1-0 lead. Rivermen fans thought Peoria's league-leading 14th shorthanded goal of the season might be enough for a regulation win, but the IceHog's Jack Skille quickly changed their minds just 3:05 later. The Rockford right winger got his team's power-play unit off the hook by ripping a shot over the blocker shoulder of Legace to tie the game with only 110 seconds remaining in regulation.

Andy Wozniewski thought he had won the game for Peoria 2:11 into overtime when he roofed in a loose puck in front of the net. But a pileup in front Niemi caused the referees to waive off the potential game-winner.

Both goalies made their fair share of sprawling saves in the first 20 minutes of action. Peoria's best chance at besting Niemi came on a 2-on-1 break with Jonathan Filewich and Trent Whitfield late in the period, but the IceHog netminder made a tremendous save to keep the game scoreless.

Both clubs picked up the pace in the middle frame, but neither dented the back of the net. The highlight of the period came via Legace on a penalty shot save at 8:42 against Rockford's point leader, Petri Kontiola. Justin Fletcher whacked his stick on Kontiola's side as the Rockford center wristed a puck toward the net, and the infraction merited a penalty shot opportunity for the IceHog. On the free shot, Kontiola skated in deep and flipped a quick forehander but was denied by Legace's glove.

Despite being outshout 35-24 in Wednesday's game, Peoria improved to 5-3-0-0 against the IceHogs this season. Neither team was able to score on the power play: Peoria finished 0-for-5 and Rockford was 0-for-4 on the man advantage.

Peoria (29-27-1-1) has 60 points and sits in sixth place in the West Division. The Rivermen are only five points behind a three-way tie (Chicago, Houston and Rockford) for second place in the division.

The Rivermen travel to Winnipeg for a two-game set with the Manitoba Moose on Friday and Saturday. Both games are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. with a live radio broadcast available on Hippie 101.1FM as well as www.rivermen.net.

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American Hockey League Stories from February 25, 2009


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