AHL Peoria Rivermen

Peoria Downs Aeros 6-4 In Game One

April 15, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


PEORIA, Ill. (April 15, 2009) - The Peoria Rivermen took full advantage of home ice in game one of the West Division Semifinals by beating the Houston Aeros 6-4 on Wednesday night at Carver Arena. Yan Stastny scored twice and added an assist as the Rivermen remain unbeaten in regulation at home in their past 13 games.

After being swept out by Houston in their only other AHL playoff appearance (2006) the Rivermen picked up the first playoff win in their AHL history by posting one of their biggest offensive nights of the season. The Rivermen scored more than five goals just once in the regular season, a 7-6 win over Chicago on Dec. 3, had a 4-1 lead going into the third period.

Peoria had scoring contributions from the majority of their lineup as five different defensemen added points with Justin Fletcher and Danny Richmond accounting for two assists apiece. Manny Legace made 29 saves to earn his eighth consecutive win despite allowing four goals for the first time since March 13. It was his 40th professional playoff appearance and is now 20-19 overall between the AHL, IHL and NHL postseasons.

Stastny and Steve Regier struck just 2:12 apart in the first period to give the Rivermen a lead that they did not give back. Fletcher's slapshot left a rebound at the side of the goal for Stastny to chip in and give the Rivermen a 1-0 lead. On the power play at 9:48, Regier added a goal following some good puck movement and passes between Stastny and Richmond.

Maxim Noreau slapped one past Legace at 14:03 on the power play to cut into Peoria's lead before the intermission but the Rivermen pulled away in the second.

After outshooting the Aeros 17-6 in the opening 20 minutes, Cam Paddock and Stastny added another pair of goals to give the Rivermen their first of two different three-goal leads. Jonathan Filewich setup Paddock from behind the net for a tap in between the legs of Anton Khudobin at 9:05 before Stastny ripped a wrist shot under his blocker just 22 seconds later.

Houston made it interesting with a pair of their own goals in the opening 1:22 of the third period. On a carryover power play, Corey Locke netted his first of the playoffs after compiling six goals in eight games against the Rivermen during the regular season. Krys Kolanos, the reigning AHL Player of the Week, beat Legace 57 seconds later to cut the Rivermen lead to 4-3.

Jori Lehtera had the answer at 2:36 by tipping an Ivan Vishnevskiy into the roof of the net for his first professional goal in North America. Carl Corazzini put home a rebound at 7:12 from a Julian Talbot shot to increase the Rivermen back to 6-3.

Robbie Earl's goal with 46 seconds remaining put the finishing touches on the Rivermen 6-4 win. Houston racked up 20 shots during the third period and finished the game having outshot the Rivermen 33-31.

Game two of the series is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday at Carver Arena. The dates of the three games in Houston should be finalized tomorrow following the conclusion of the Houston Rockets' (NBA) regular season.

Friday night's game is presented by Dairy Queen. All fans in attendance will be given a coupon for a FREE 12-ounce DQ Blizzard, courtesy of the Peoria Dairy Queens. Tickets are available at the Peoria Civic Center Box Office, by calling (309) 676-1040 or online at www.rivermen.net/tickets.

Check out the Peoria Rivermen Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from April 15, 2009


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