AHL Peoria Rivermen

Bishop Backstops Peoria to 1-0 Win in Houston

Published on October 23, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


Ben Bishop and Anton Khudobin both carried shutouts with them into overtime before Adam Cracknell scored to push the Peoria Rivermen over the Houston Aeros, 1-0 on Friday night at the Toyota Center. The win was Peoria's sixth in-a-row and keeps them atop the American Hockey League with a 6-1-0-0 record and 12 points.

The 36-save-performace was the second shutout in Bishop's career and first since Dec. 20, 2008 when he blanked Iowa with 15 saves. It was the first shutout by a Peoria goaltender since Manny Legace shutout the Chicago Wolves 3-0 on April 1, 2009. Legace also recorded the last 1-0 win for Peoria with a 45-save shutout on March 18, 2009.

Both teams traded power-play chances throughout the game and went a combined 0-for-12 on the advantage. All seven of Houston's chances came in the second period, including a 5-on-3 that Peoria denied. The Rivermen, without the help of the AHL's leading scorer Graham Mink - who missed the game with flu-like symptoms - finished the game 0-for-5.

A post was the closest the Rivermen were to scoring in a scoreless opening frame. The Rivermen were outshot 11-8 in the period. It was the first scoreless period the Rivermen have played in all year. Bishop was peppered with 16 shot in the second period while Khudobin also stopped all nine shots put on his net.

At 2:25 of the extra frame Daryl Boyle and Dave Spina set up Adam Cracknell for his second goal of the year. Spina received a pass from Boyle and went bursting through center-ice with speed. Spina drove one on net where Khudobin made the initial stop, but the rebound was laying in the slot and a crashing Cracknell scored the game-winning goal.

The Rivermen have started their seven-game road trip 4-0-0 and continue on Saturday against the Texas Stars at 7 p.m. Peoria took their initial meeting with Texas 5-2 on Sunday at Cedar Park Center. The game will be broadcast live on 96.5 ESPN Radio in Peoria or online through www.rivermen.net.

The Rivermen return home on Saturday, Oct. 30 to face the Oklahoma City Barons at 7:05 p.m. It is Pink-in-the-Rink Night when the team will be wearing special pink jerseys to be auctioned off after the game to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Full-season, partial and mini ticket plans are all on sale. For more information visit www.rivermen.net, call 309-676-1040 or stop by the Rivermen office inside the Peoria Civic Center.

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American Hockey League Stories from October 23, 2010


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