AHL Peoria Rivermen

Peoria Wins 5-3 at Carver Arena

November 15, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


Peoria, Il - The Peoria Rivermen scored twice in the third period to take a 5-3 win away from their first meeting of the season with the San Antonio Rampage on Saturday nigh. For the Rivermen, it was their third straight home win and they now lead the league with 15 points at home through nine games at Carver Arena.

With the win, the Rivermen jumped the idle Iowa Chops in the standings to take sole possession of second place through 15 games.

Brad Winchester (two goals), Charles Linglet (two assists) and Chris Conner (one goal, one assist) all had two point nights and Trent Whitfield scored the game-winner just 37 seconds into the third period. Marek Schwarz made 15 saves on 18 shots in the win.

The tone of the game was set off the opening faceoff as Jeff Cowan and Adam Keefe squared off at center ice just three seconds into the game. Peoria started each of the three periods with a goal in the opening three minutes.

Winchester started the scoring at just 2:57 as his slapshot found its way through Al Montoya. With good pressure inside the Rampage zone, the Rivermen worked the puck around the perimeter to Winchester for a couple of shots. After his first one missed the net, Jim Jackson picked up the loose puck and found Fletcher at the left point. He slid the puck across the ice to Winchester who set himself up for the shot from inside the right circle.

Peoria expanded their lead at 6:32. Again following some strong puck movement around the offensive zone, Linglet and Wozniewski sent a pass into the low slot that deflected off a skate and popped up in the air. Nicholas Drazenovic gloved it down and as he was falling to the ice he snapped it just under the crossbar to give the Rivermen a 2-0 lead.

The Rampage responded just 2:10 later on Jonas Ahnelov's first of the year. With Simon Goertzen parked outside the crease, Ahnelov let his shot go from just inside the blue line. As Marek Schwarz slid out to cut down the angle, he made contact with Goertzen and the puck slid through him to cut the Rivs' lead in half.

It was Winchester again that opened the scoring in the second period at just 1:51. This time it was a wrist shot from the left circle that flew past the glove of Montoya for his second of the game and fourth of the year. Conner and Steve Regier earned assists on the play to extend each of their point streaks to four consecutive games.

San Antonio rallied to score twice in the final seven minutes of the period to tie the game at three. Chad Kolarik found his own rebound, after a Schwarz save and scored for the fourth time this season. Then with Winchester in the box for roughing, Logan Stephenson tied the game with just 17.8 seconds to play in the frame. It snapped an 0-for-44 skid on the power play for San Antonio.

Linglet earned his second assist by setting up Whitfield for the game winner to start the third. He centered a pass from behind the net and onto the stick of Whitfield waiting just outside the crease for his fifth of the year. Linglet, who had just one point in his first 12 games of the season, has four points (one goal, three assists) in the last two games.

With 5:41 remaining in regulation, Conner capped the victory with an unassisted tally. He stick-handled around a pair of Rampage defenders before snapping one past Montoya for his fourth straight game with a goal. He is now one behind Regier for the team lead in goals with eight.

The Rivermen out shot San Antonio 33-18 overall to improve to 9-5-1 on the season.

Peoria hits the road for their third game in as many days for a 5:00 p.m. contest in Rockford, IL on Sunday. It is the second meeting of the season between the Rivermen and IceHogs after Peoria claimed a 3-1 victory on Nov. 5. They will play again on Friday as well with the broadcast of both games available on Hippie 101.1FM, online at www.rivermen.net and www.ahllive.com.

Check out the Peoria Rivermen Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from November 15, 2008


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