ECHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen Beat Cincinnati 4-3 on the Road

Published on March 24, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


Cincinnati, Ohio (March 24, 2004) – The Peoria Rivermen needed just first period to beat the Cincinnati Cyclones on Wednesday night but spent the next two holding them off in a 4-3 win before 1,205 at U.S. Bank Arena.

In Peoria's four-goal first period, the line of Tyler Rennette (2g, 1a), Colin Hemingway (3a) and Igor Valeev (1g, 2a) combined for eight points.

Hemingway – who had his four-game, goal-scoring streak snapped at six tallies – has points in each of his last five games with 10 (6g, 4a).

Earlier in the day, Valeev was reassigned to the Rivermen from the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate – the Worcester IceCats. Valeev notched two points (1g, 1a) and 24 penalty minutes (PIM) in six games with the Rivermen during a conditioning stint from December 11-21. In 31 games with Worcester, he posted four points (1g, 3a) and 68 PIM.

Peoria (41-1-9, 91 points) improved to an ECHL-best 22-7-6 on the road with the victory. The Rivermen finished 9-4-0 against the Cyclones in the 13-game season series, including a 6-1-0 mark at U.S. Bank Arena. With the win, Peoria remained in second place in the nine-team Northern Division, as the defending Kelly Cup Champion Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies lost at home to the Johnstown Chiefs 5-2. Cincinnati (25-41-3, 53 points) dropped to 13-19-3 at home in the loss.

Peoria goaltender Levente Szuper stopped 17 of 20 shots in his 19th victory of the season (19-8-1). Cincinnati goaltender Tyler Masters turned away just 14 of 18 in the opening session, posting his 15th loss of the year (7-15-1). He was replaced by Randy Petruk to start the second period; Petruk stopped all 12 shots over the final two periods of play.

The Rivermen took 1-0 lead on the first of two goals in the opening period by Rennette. Rennette and Hemingway broke into the Cincinnati zone on a two-on-one. Rennette, streaking through the left face-off circle, took a pass back Hemingway and rifled in his 27th goal of the season.

Peoria pushed its lead to 2-0 at 12:44 of the first. A Valeev shot from the slot was stopped by Masters but the rebound popped just off to the left of the net, where Rennette slipped the puck just between Masters and the goal post.

The Rivermen made it 3-0 with 1:54 left in the first period. David Kaczowka's shot from the center point was tipped by Adam Edinger past Masters for Edinger's 20th marker of the season.

Peoria carried a 4-0 lead into the first intermission. Masters dove at a loose puck at the top of the goal crease but missed, allowing Valeev to steal the puck and slip it into the open net. It was Valeev's second goal in a Rivermen uniform.

The Cyclones got on the board just 38 seconds into the second session. Evan Cheverie broke into the Peoria zone on left wing on a 3-on-1 break, feeding Bob Rangus in the slot. Rangus ripped his fourth goal of the season over Szuper, who went down on the play.

With the Cyclones on the power play, defenseman Jason Maleyko got Cincinnati to within two at 9:09 of the second. He held the puck in at the right point and sent it through a maze of players toward the Peoria goal. The puck made its way untouched through the legs of Szuper for Maleyko's third marker of the season.

With Petruk pulled and less than a second left in regulation, Cincinnati's Mike Henderson popped in his 16th goal of the season off a rebound to technically make it a one-goal game.

On Friday, March 26, the Rivermen open their final home weekend of the 2003-2004 regular season by hosting the archrival Dayton Bombers in the first of two in a row between the clubs. Game time is 7:00 p.m. CT. It is another Coca-Cola Finally Friday. Fans receive a 2-for-1 Upper Bowl admission when they present a Cherry Coke or Vanilla Coke can at the Carver Arena Box Office. The team will wear special 1950's-style jerseys – sponsored by the Maid-Rite 50's Diner in the Metro Centre – to be auctioned off after the game.

Check out the Peoria Rivermen Statistics

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ECHL Stories from March 24, 2004


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