AHL Peoria Rivermen

Fletcher Caps Comeback in 4-3 Overtime Win

Published on December 26, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


Grand Rapids, Mich. (December 26, 2008) - Justin Fletcher picked a good time for his first goal of the season. It came at 2:51 of overtime as the Peoria Rivermen defeated the Grand Rapids Griffins 4-3 on Friday night at Van Andel Arena. The Rivermen won their third consecutive game and have now beaten the Griffins in both meetings this season.

The Rivermen have won their last five games that have been decided after regulation and are 5-1 overall in overtime and shootouts. Jonathan Filewich, playing in his second game with Peoria since being acquired in a trade from Pittsburgh, had a goal and two assists to help the Rivermen overcome two separate one-goal leads.

Chris Holt made 28 saves to earn his fifth win of the season. It was the first time this season that Holt allowed more than two goals in a game.

Following the four-day break for the holidays, the Rivermen wasted no time in scoring the game's first goal at 3:20 of the first period. Filewich took the puck in the corner on a feed from Julian Talbot and Chris Conner before he walked out from the side of the goal. Following a head fake, he slid the puck under the pad of Jimmy Howard for his third goal of the season and first as Rivermen.

The Griffins responded on the power play at 5:46 to tie the game. With Steve Wagner in the box for interference, Ville Leino was able to notch his 10th of the season from Jamie Tardif and Darren Helm.

In the second period, Evan McGrath untied the game at 10:53 to give the Griffins their first lead of the game. McGrath skated into a pass and was able to walk in unguarded on Holt for his sixth of the year.

Peoria again had the answer on a power play as Jonas Junland's blast from the high-slot maneuvered its way through traffic and over the glove of Howard. It was Junland's seventh goal of the season and he has scored five times on the power play.

It was McGrath again who put the Griffins on top 3-2 at 16:35. Also on the power play, McGrath was set up for a shot in the slot by Francis Lemieux for his second of the night.

Julian Talbot collected the only goal of the third period by beating Howard at 5:23 to tie the game. Conner walked away from the wall and as he cut across the slot he sent a pass back to the right circle where Talbot was waiting. He ripped it home for his 11th of the season and joined the three-way tie for the team lead in goals with Conner and Steve Regier.

The Rivermen controlled overtime, registering the only four shots of the extra session that ended with 2:09 left on the clock. After Josh Soares created a turnover and brought the puck to the front of the net, Nicholas Drazenovic's shot created a pileup in front of Howard and Fletcher was there to chip the rebound in.

Grand Rapids' power play finished 2-for-7 while the Rivermen scored twice on just three opportunities. The two teams will meet again at Carver Arena on Tuesday.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 26, 2008


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