Big First Sparks Rivermen Win Over Monsters
December 29, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
CLEVELAND (December 29, 2009) - Three goals in the first 10:02 of the first period propelled the Peoria Rivermen to a 5-3 win over the Lake Erie Monsters on Tuesday night at Quicken Loans Arena. Derek Armstrong scored just 56 seconds into the game while Jonas Junland struck twice on the power play as the Rivermen improved to 3-1-0 on their road trip.
The Rivermen have won nine of their last 11 games and have won both games since their Christmas break. Ben Bishop turned aside 28 of 31 shots for his 12th win of the season.
Peoria erupted in the first with Derek Armstrong starting the scoring in the opening minute. He redirected the first shot of the game, from Danny Richmond, through the legs of Tyler Weiman just 56 seconds after the opening faceoff.
The first power play of the game created Peoria's second tally. Junland slapped one off the right post and in for his seventh of the season. The goal snapped a 22-game scoring drought that dated back to Peoria's first meeting with Lake Erie back on Oct. 30.
Junland struck again on the power play at 10:02. His slap shot from the right point kicked off the glove of Weiman and into the net for his second of the night and sixth power-play goal of the season. Armstrong assisted on both of Junland's goals and finished the night with his first three-point game of the season.
A turnover led to the Monster's first goal with 4:47 remaining in the first. Trying to push the puck up ice for an odd-man rush, a poke-check created a three-on-one for Lake Erie back towards Bishop and Ryan Reaves. Marty Sertich waited out Bishop and then slid a pass across to Brian Willsie for his ninth of the season.
After a scoreless second period, in which the Monsters outshot the Rivermen 11-5, Lake Erie drew to within one just 1:27 into the third. Just seven seconds into a power-play, reigning AHL Player of the Week, Darren Haydar found Ryan Stoa parked on the backdoor for a tap-in.
Peoria's response came at 15:31 when Pascal Pelletier found the back of the net for the second straight night. Adam Cracknell fired a pass into the slot and Pelletier's shot deflected off a defender attempting to block it and into the net.
In an effort to tie the game, Lake Erie pulled the goalie and was able to get the game back to 4-3 as TJ Hensick's pass caromed off the skate of Bryce Lampman and through Bishop's legs with 1:07 remaining. That was as close as the Monsters came as Barry Tallackson fired a slap shot into the empty net as time expired to cap the scoring.
The Rivermen finished 2-for-6 on the power play while Lake Erie was 1-for-5. The two teams will not meet again until March 6 at Carver Arena.
The Rivermen's road trip will conclude in Toronto on Wednesday before Peoria returns home to face Chicago on New Year's Eve. All tickets to the game, purchased between noon and 6 p.m. on Dec. 31 at the Civic Center box office will be just $10. Plus Bud and Bud Light cans will be sold for just $2 throughout the game. Call 309-676-1040 for more information or check www.rivermen.net.
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