Manny Legace Pitches 3-0 Shutout Over Chicago
April 1, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
PEORIA, Ill. (April 1, 2009) - The Peoria Rivermen notched their fourth consecutive win in their pivotal playoff push with a 3-0 shutout over the Chicago Wolves at Carver Arena on Wednesday night. Peoria pushed themselves seven points ahead of the Wolves and the three-team tie for fifth place. Danny Richmond racked up three assists and Manny Legace made 30 saves in his third shutout and the Rivermen's ninth win in a row at home.
Even though Curtis Fraser didn't register a point in the game, the Rivermen center deserves partial credit for Yan Stastny's first period power-play goal at the 11:50 mark. Less than a minute before Stastny's wrister found the back of the net, Chicago's Mike Hoffman wanted to tangle with Fraser and grabbed him at the Wolves' blue line. Hoffman picked up a two minute roughing minor because Fraser kept his cool, and his gloves on, so as not to draw a penalty.
Stastny dangled past Joey Crabb at the top of the left circle into slot and fired a quick wrist shot through traffic and past Pavelec to give Peoria a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Despite being outshot 12-6 in the second period, Peoria managed to triple its lead. Fresh out of the box after serving a hooking penalty, Jim Jackson helped create an odd-man rush for the Rivermen. Jackson dropped back a dribbling puck to Julian Talbot who fired a wrister past Ondrej Pavelec at 9:30 to extend the lead to 2-0. Talbot became the third Rivermen to notch his 20th goal of the season. He is now tied for the team lead in goals with Trent Whitfield and Steve Regier.
Carl Corazzini poured it on for Peoria after potting in a rebound from Richmond's original shot with only 50 seconds remaining in the period.
There were no goals scored in the final frame, but frustrations boiled over as two fights broke out: one between Crabb and Steve Wagner, and another between Arturs Kulda and Ryan Reaves.
Peoria (40-31-2-2) killed all nine Chicago power plays on the evening and finished the season 6-4-0 against the defending Calder Cup Champions. The Rivermen are now tied with Houston at 84 points apiece for second place in the West Division.
The Rivermen's next game is Friday at 7 p.m. when they host the Aeros. The game will have a live radio broadcast available on Hippie 101.1FM as well as www.rivermen.net.
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American Hockey League Stories from April 1, 2009
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