Sports stats



ECHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen 1-0-2 in three games

February 21, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


THE RECAP:

Tuesday, February 15, 2005 vs. Johnstown Game #45 ECHL Game #655

Rivermen 2 Johnstown 3 Shootout

The Peoria Rivermen needed just 2:29 more to hold off the rival Johnstown Chiefs in regulation on Tuesday night but couldn't, as the Chiefs tied the game 2-2 and ultimately won 3-2 in a shootout in front of a Tuesday-night crowd of 3,009 at Carver Arena.

The Rivermen had taken their first lead of the night at 7:59 of the third. Colin Hemingway stole the puck from a Johnstown defenseman in the center-ice face-off circle, springing veteran Reggie Stringer on a breakaway. Stringer, a left-handed shot, pulled the puck from his backhand to his forehand, causing Cann to do the splits. Stringer was able to tuck the puck behind Cann's right pad and inside the left goal post for his 12th marker of the year and second in as many games.

The Chiefs tied the game 2-2 at 17:31 of the final period of regulation. Ian Manzano, stationed at the right side of the goal, fed Joe Tallari in the slot for a one-time shot into the upper left corner. It was his 15th tally of the season.

There was no scoring in the four-on-four overtime, as the teams went to an overtime shootout.

Peoria struck first in the second round of the shootout as Stringer beat Johnstown goaltender David Cann between the five-hole. The Chiefs tied it up in the third round, as Matt Reid slipped a wrist shot inside the left goal post. Dmitri Tarabrin netted the shootout winner in the fifth round. The Chiefs would take their first shootout of the year in nine opportunities (1-8). The Rivermen fell to 1-4 in shootouts this season.

Peoria (22-17-6, 50 points), who dropped to 12-6-4 at home this season, remains six points out of the fourth and final playoff spot in the North Division. The Rivermen are 1-0-1 through two games of their 23-year Peoria professional hockey record 11 straight at Carver Arena. Peoria killed off another five power plays, pushing their continuing franchise-record for consecutive penalty kills to 63, which is three away from the ECHL record of 66 in a row set by the Mississippi Sea Wolves in 2000-2001. Johnstown (16-18-11, 43 points) snapped a six-game winless skid (0-5-1) and improved to 6-10-5 on the road with one game remaining in Dayton on Friday on the Chiefs' five-game road trip.

Friday, February 18, 2005 vs. Alaska Game #46 ECHL Game #673

Rivermen 5 Alaska 4 Overtime

The Peoria Rivermen took their only lead of the night on Friday when it mattered, in overtime, as they beat the Alaska Aces 5-4 in front of 4,636 at Carver Arena.

At 2:11 of the overtime, Igor Valeev stole the puck at center ice and broke into the Alaska zone on right wing on a two-on-one with Randy Rowe. Valeev chose to keep the puck, faking a pass to Rowe and freezing Alaska goaltender Peter Aubry before snapping it inside the left goal post for his fourth tally of the season.

The Rivermen tied the game for the second time, making it 4-4 with 5:41 left in regulation. Ed Hill, stationed between the right point and the face-off circle along the boards, wristed a shot through traffic that cleanly beat Aubry. It was Hill's third goal of the year.

Peoria (23-17-6, 52 points) improved to 2-2 in overtime decisions and 2-0-1 through three games of a Peoria professional hockey record 11 straight home games. With one penalty kill in the game, the Rivermen extended their franchise-record consecutive penalty kill streak to 64, two shy of the Mississippi Sea Wolves ECHL record of 66 in 2000-2001. Alaska (29-15-5, 63 points) had its three-game winning streak snapped but remains unbeaten in regulation in its last four games (3-0-1). The Aces are 10-2-1 in their last 13 games.

Saturday, February 19, 2005 vs. Alaska Game #47 ECHL Game #685

Rivermen 2 Alaska 3 Shootout

The Peoria Rivermen rescued themselves a point with two goals in the final 3:19 of regulation to tie the game but fell 3-2 in a shootout to the Alaska Aces before a crowd of 5,259 on Saturday night at Carver Arena.

The Rivermen got within one at 16:41 of the third period on a 6-on-4 power play. Colin Hemingway, stationed at the left side of the slot in the face-off circle, snapped a low shot just over the left pad of Alaska goaltender Lance Mayes and inside the right goal post. It was Hemingway's seventh goal of the year.

Peoria tied the game 2-2 with just 29 seconds left in regulation. Captain Trevor Baker, in behind the Alaska goal, tried to send the puck out to the high slot for Brian McCullough. The puck was popped high in the air by a stick and he batted it out of mid-air in the slot past Mayes for his team-leading 23rd tally of the year.

After neither team could score in the overtime, the Rivermen struck first in the first shootout round as Igor Valeev backed Mayes into the net for a backhand goal. Alaska's Olivier Filion equalized in the third round with a low shot inside the right post, and B.J. Young won it for the Aces in the fifth round as he kicked the puck up to his stick blade for a slip-in goal inside the right post.

Peoria (23-17-7, 63 points), who dropped to 1-5 in shootouts with the loss, is now 2-0-2 through four games of a Peoria professional hockey record 11 in a row at home. The Rivermen fell to 12-6-5 at home on the year. Alaska (30-15-5, 65 points) improved to 5-3 in shootouts on the season and 13-7-2 on the road. The Aces are 11-2-1 in their last 14 games.

The Captain's Log

Post-Holiday Prominence

The Rivermen (23-17-7, 53 points) are seven points out of the final playoff spot, currently occupied by the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies (27-17-6), with three games in hand. Peoria has posted a 16-5-4 record in the 25 games following the Christmas Holiday. Peoria is 6-1-3 in its last 10 games. The Rivermen are 10 points out of first place in the North Division.

The Premier Penalty-Killing Unit

The Rivermen have squelched 68 straight opposition power play opportunities, a new ECHL Record and continuing 23-year Peoria professional hockey record. Peoria killed off five power plays last Tuesday in a 3-2 home shootout loss to the Johnstown Chiefs. Last Friday against Alaska in a 5-4 home overtime win, the Rivermen snuffed out just one opportunity. On Saturday in a 3-2 home shootout loss to the Aces, the Rivermen equaled and then broke the record in the second period. The previous ECHL record was set in 2000-2001 by the Mississippi Sea Wolves at 66 in a row. The previous Rivermen franchise record was set by the 1991-1992 International Hockey League (IHL) Rivermen, who – on the strength of efforts by forwards Ricky Pion and Mark Bassen – killed off 39 consecutive opposition power plays early in that season. The Rivermen are ranked second in the ECHL in overall penalty killing with an 89.0 percent efficiency rating. Peoria is first in home in the ECHL penalty-killing efficiency at 92.2 percent.

Let's Hope 11 Straight Is Great

The Rivermen have played four games (2-0-2) of 11 in a row at Carver Arena, a 23-year Peoria professional hockey record, and remain unbeaten in regulation. The span stretches from Sunday, February 13 to Wednesday, March 8. Peoria has won nine of its last 13 home games (9-1-3) at Carver Arena, which includes a season-best seven straight that ended with a 5-3 loss to the Toledo Storm on January 29. The Rivermen are 13-6-5 at home this season and own a 210-63-35 lifetime regular season ECHL record (74.0 percent point percentage) at Carver Arena.

Michaud's Masterful Minding

With three shutouts and three one-goal games in his last 15 appearances, netminder Alfie Michaud has compiled a 11-1-2 record over the stretch with a 1.50 goals against average (GAA, 21 GA in 839.75 min. played) and a .945 save percentage (361/382). The 2002-2003 ECHL Goaltender of the Year has a 16-8-3 record this season with a 2.04 GAA (2nd in the ECHL) and a .929 save percentage. For his efforts, Michaud was reassigned to the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Worcester IceCats, this past Sunday. With Worcester, he has a 1-0-0-0 record with 2.17 GAA and a .917 save percentage.

Injury, Call-up & Transaction Report

· Rivermen goaltender Alfie Michaud has been reassigned to the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 02/20/05.

· Rivermen Captain and center Trevor Baker has been activated from the 7-day injured reserve, 02/18/05.

· Left wing/defenseman Mark Jerant has been reassigned to the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 02/16/05.

· Rivermen left wing David Kaczowka has been suspended by the ECHL (two games), 02/16/05.

· Rivermen left wing David Kaczowka remains on reassignment to the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 02/14/05.

· Left wing Igor Valeev and defenseman Trevor Byrne remain on reassignment from the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 02/10/05.

· Rivermen defenseman Warren Toews remains on the 7-day injured reserve, 02/03/05.

· Rivermen right wing Travis Rycroft remains on the 30-day injured reserve, 02/03/05.

· Rivermen left wing Jake Riddle remains on the 30-day injured reserve, 01/31/05.

· Rivermen defenseman James Sanford remains on reassignment to the Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL), 01/03/05.

· Rivermen rookie center Troy Riddle remains on reassignment to the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 12/01/04.

· Forward Colin Hemingway remains on reassignment from the Worcester IceCats (AHL) by the St. Louis Blues (NHL), 11/03/04.

Steering Our Way Through The Schedule

GAMES:

· On Thursday, February 24, the Rivermen host NHLer Scott Gomez and the Alaska Aces for the third straight game at Carver Arena. The teams split two games last weekend beyond regulation with Peoria victorious 5-4 in overtime on Friday and Alaska winning 3-2 in a shootout on Saturday. Including three games at Sullivan Arena early last season, the Rivermen are 2-2-1 lifetime in the ECHL in the regular season against the Aces. Alaska (31-15-5, 67 points) is in second place in the tightly-packed West Division, one point in front of the Bakersfield Condors (29-15-8) with a game in hand. The Aces are led by Gomez, who leads the ECHL in assists (52) and is second in points (60). It is Patriotic Night. The team will wear special American Flag-themed jerseys to be auctioned off after the game. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 1290 AM and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 6:45 p.m. from Carver Arena. Game time is 7:00 p.m. CT.

· On Friday, February 25, Peoria hosts the Reading Royals in the first of two in a row between the clubs and the third of four matchups at Carver Arena this season. The Rivermen are without a point in three meetings against the Royals this season after three meetings in the second half of November. On November 16 in Reading, Peoria fell 3-1 at the Sovereign Center, before losing both games the weekend following Thanksgiving by 2-1 and 3-2 scores, respectively. The Rivermen own a 6-5-3 lifetime ECHL regular season record against the Royals. Reading (28-14-5, 61 points) is just two points out of first place in the North Division with three games in hand on the Wheeling Nailers (30-17-3). The Royals own the best point-making percentage of any team in the Division. Reading is led by center Graig Mischler, who has 39 points (5g, 34a) in 35 games. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 1290 AM and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 7:15 p.m. from Carver Arena. Game time is 7:30 p.m. CT.

· On Saturday, February 26, the Rivermen and the Royals face off in the second straight game between the teams. It will be the fourth and final meeting at Carver Arena ever between the clubs. It is Five-Star Water Night. Two lucky Rivermen fans will each win a year's supply of water by registering at the game. It is also Delta Dental Night. The first 1,000 Kids 12 & Under will receive a toothbrush. There will also be Sonicare toothbrushes given away. It is also a Kaufman Wellness Center Night. Fans may receive a free spinal check and back massage with a donation to the Children's Hospital of Illinois. And there will also be a Goodwill Clothes Drive. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 1290 AM and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 6:45 p.m. from Carver Arena. Game time is 7:00 p.m. CT.

Check out the Peoria Rivermen Statistics

• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...

ECHL Stories from February 21, 2005


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Peoria Rivermen Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central