AHL Peoria Rivermen

Peoria Picks Up Shootout Win Over Houston

Published on December 21, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


Peoria, Ill. (December 21, 2008) - Jonathan Filewich showed up just in the nick of time. The forward, acquired in a trade on Friday, arrived to Carver Arena less than two hours before game time and promptly scored the game winning goal in the Peoria Rivermen's 4-3 shootout win over the Houston Aeros on Sunday night.

Corey Locke tied the game with just 29.9 seconds to play in regulation to force overtime and eventually a shootout. The Rivermen improved to 3-0 in shootouts as Ben Bishop stopped 19 shots in regulation and three of four in the shootout.

Peoria built themselves a 3-0 lead with goals from Josh Soares, Steve Wagner and Steve Regier all before the five minute mark of the second period. Soares notched the only goal of the first period at 12:52. After Jonas Junland's shot was stopped by Nolan Schaefer, a collision between two Aeros' defenseman allowed Chris Conner to control the puck in the corner. Soares, fresh off the bench, came streaking into the zone and snuck behind the defensemen where Conner met him with a pass. It was the eighth goal in 16 games this season for Soares.

Wagner's goal came just 1:28 into the second period as his pass deflected past Schaefer to give the Rivermen a 2-0 lead. In on a two-on-one with Ryan Reaves his pass went off the stick of the defender and into the net for an unassisted goal.

Just over three minutes later, the Rivermen struck shorthanded. Peoria generated a three-on-two but as the rest of the rush went for a line change, it left Regier alone at the bottom of the left circle. His wrist shot jumped off the shoulder of Schaefer and into the net for his 11th of the season.

The Aeros clawed back into it with two goals before the end of the second. Marco Rosa tipped one past Bishop on the power play at 13:12 and former Rivermen defenseman Tomas Mojzis slapped one home at 18:24.

With time ticking down and the Aeros' net empty in favor of the extra attacker, Locke was waiting at the side of the goal to backhand in a deflected shot from the wall. It was his 11th of the season.

The two teams traded chances in overtime but both goalies kept the score at 3-3. The Rivermen scored three-of-four in the shootout with tallies from Julian Talbot, Filewich and Conner. Morten Madsen, the third shooter for the Aeros, was the only one to beat Bishop.

Peoria heads into the holiday break winners of their past two and locked in a second place tie with Milwaukee. Their 37 points are just one back of the first place Chicago Wolves.

Check out the Peoria Rivermen Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from December 21, 2008


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