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AHL Peoria Rivermen

Peoria Scores Five in First, Wins 7-2

November 20, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


SAN ANTONIO - Just two nights after being shutout, the Peoria Rivermen erupted for five goals in the first period en route to a 7-2 win over the San Antonio Rampage. Adam Cracknell scored his first two goals as a Rivermen while Brendan Bell, Nicholas Drazenovic and Chris Porter also scored in the opening frame. The loss for the Rampage was their 10th consecutive defeat (0-8-2) since Oct. 18.

After a relatively clean first two-plus periods between the clubs (the two teams combined for 11 minor penalties), the final 12 minutes of regulation featured 131 minutes in penalties including five game misconducts. Francis Lessard was assessed two game misconducts and accounted for 42 minutes by himself.

Bell's power-play goal at 1:59 of the first period kick started the Rivermen offense to their highest scoring first period since joining the AHL. His slap shot picked the top corner over the shoulder of Josh Tordjman for his fourth goal of the season. All four of his goals have been scored on the man advantage.

Ben Bishop made a number of tough saves during the opening frame, finishing the first 20 minutes with 16 saves. He finished with 37 saves on 39 shots and earned his fifth win of the year. Bishop kept the Rampage off the board during back-to-back power plays and allowed time for the offense to add to their lead.

At 11:12, Drazenovic pushed home a bouncing puck after Brett Sonne and Aaron Palushaj worked it into the crease.

Barry Tallackson was called for high-sticking at 13:02 and before he came out of the box, the Rivermen had a 4-0 lead. After failing to score a shorthanded goal in the first 16 games of the season, Cracknell and Porter scored within 17 seconds of each other on the same Rampage power play. Cracknell buried a two-on-one opportunity with Yan Stastny (14:02) before Tyson Strachan sprung Porter on a breakaway (14:19).

Cracknell's second of the period came at 19:05 following a turnover by San Antonio in their own end. Just moments after a scramble at the goal mouth took the stick out of Tordjman's hands, Cracknell wristed one just inside the bar as Tordjman was trying to get his stick back into proper position. It was first two-goal game for Cracknell since he scored twice against San Antonio on Feb. 20 when he was a member of Quad City.

The five-goal period was the first since Jan. 23, 2008 when the Rivermen scored five in the second period in a 6-1 win on the road in Rockford.

Al Montoya replaced Tordjman in goal for the Rampage to start the second period. Tordjman finished with eight saves on 13 shots and suffered his fourth consecutive loss.

The 5-0 score stood until 7:03 of the third period when San Antonio ended an 0-for-38 power-play drought on a goal from Kevin Porter. Jeff May's shot from the blue line redirected off the skate of Porter for his fifth goal of the season. Mitch Love restored Peoria's five-goal lead just 26 seconds later when Montoya turned the puck over behind his net. Talbot kicked the puck to Love who wrapped it into the empty net before Montoya could return to the crease.

The rough play picked up 40 seconds later when Sean Sullivan went barreling into Bishop while driving hard to the goal. He was called for goaltender interference at 8:09 but the hit sparked a scrum that led to a fight between Brett Sonne and Jeff Hoggan as well as roughing minors for Aaron Palushaj and Sean Zimmerman. After Zimmerman got out of the box he was quickly sent to the dressing room following a misconduct for trying to start a fight with Ryan Reaves.

On the same play, Ryan Hollweg was issued a hooking minor that gave the Rivermen a five-on-three advantage. Talbot scored his second goal of the season at 14:53 to increase the Rivermen lead to 7-1.

At 17:07 Lessard broke his stick on the leg of Bell and proceeded to throw punches. Reaves quickly became involved and all three players were ejected from the game after things had settled. Lessard was issued five-minute major and a game misconduct for slashing, a game misconduct for persisting a fight, and an additional misconduct.

Chad Kolarik scored following a faceoff with just 1.4 seconds to play to finish off the scoring but not the game. Strachan and Hoggan were each assessed fighting majors after time had expired while both teams had already left the benches on their way off the ice.

Peoria improved to 2-0-0 against San Antonio this season and will next see the Ramage on Dec. 12 at Carver Arena.

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