Heat Win Penalty-Filled Affair, 3-1, Over Rivermen
Published on December 21, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
ABBOTSFORD, BC (December 20, 2009) - A 60 minute game that featured 54 minutes in penalties ended with the Abbotsford Heat over the Rivermen 3-1 on Sunday evening at the Abbotsford Sports & Entertainment Center. Peoria was whistled for 15 minors and spent nearly half the game killing off eight of the Heat's nine power plays.
The loss snapped a season-long five-game winning streak but left the Rivermen with a share of second place headed into their week-long Christmas break. It also stopped goaltender Ben Bishop's personal six-game winning streak and dropped Peoria's road record back to 6-6-2.
Abbotsford controlled play early and scored the only goal of the first period at 7:52. Josh Meyers collected his first of the year after his slapshot from the right point slipped through the pads of Bishop. The rest of the first period featured nine minor penalties that left both teams unable to generate some consistent play.
Derek Armstrong scored the only Rivermen goal to tie the game at 7:58 of the second. Steve Wagner's shot was tipped by Armstrong, in an attempt to deflect the puck past Matt Keetley, but it bounced to the side of the goal where Armstrong collected it and pushed it home.
The eventual game-winning goal was scored by Jamie Lundmark at 14:05. As he brought the puck into the Rivermen zone, he was able to spin away from a hit and walk in uncontested on Bishop. He made a move to the backhand and flipped it in for his seventh goal of the season.
A power-play goal for Abbotsford gave them some breathing room just a few minutes later. Lars Eller, who finished with four minors, was whistled for two simultaneously after his slashing call was combined with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Just 10 seconds into the lengthy advantage, Jason Jaffray scored his team-leading 12th goal of the year to increase Abbotsford's lead to 3-1.
As Peoria tried to battle back in the third period, penalty problems stalled momentum again. Minors at 11:46, 14:57, and 16:55 left Peoria killing for eight minutes instead of maintaining focus on tying the game. The Rivermen failed to score on their six-on-four advantage in the final two minutes following a penalty against the Heat and Peoria pulling Bishop for the extra attacker.
Bishop finished with 31 saves while Keetly won for the third time in his last four game by stopping 28 of 29.
The Rivermen's road trip will continue after the Christmas break in Grand Rapids (Dec. 27), Lake Erie (Dec. 29), and Toronto (Dec. 30) 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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