ECHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen beat defending champ Atlantic City 3-1 in Northern Division semifinals

April 16, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


Owning the best road record (23-7-6) in the ECHL during the regular season didn't help the Peoria Rivermen on Wednesday night in Atlantic City in Game One of the Northern Division Semifinals.

The Rivermen were edged 3-2 by the defending Kelly Cup Champion Boardwalk Bullies before 1,125 at Boardwalk Hall in the first-ever playoff meeting between the clubs.

The Rivermen got within one goal at 6:14 of the third period. Garett Cameron, stationed behind the Atlantic City net, found fellow rookie Joe Pereira out front. Pereira, barreling down the slot, took the pass and wasted no time slapping the puck by Boardwalk Bullies goaltender Bujar Amidovski. The tally equaled Pereira's regular season total for goals, one.

Peoria (0-1) had won three in a row on the road to finish the 2003-2004 regular year. Atlantic City (1-0) posted its fourth straight home win, which included three in a row to finish out the regular season.

Rookie Garett Cameron helped set up the game winner and added one of two insurance goals in the third period for a three-point (2g, 1a) night, as the Peoria Rivermen doubled up the defending Kelly Cup Champion Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies 6-3 in Game Two of the Northern Division Semifinals before a crowd of 1,837 on Friday night at Boardwalk Hall.

The victory evened the five-game, first round series at a game apiece with Games Three and Four in Peoria on Monday, April 12 and Tuesday, April 13 at Carver Arena at 7:00 p.m.

The Rivermen wrestled their second lead of the night back 47 seconds into the third period for a 4-3 lead – one they would not relinquish. Adam Edinger skated down the slot and barreled his way into the Boardwalk Bullies defense, sending a weak backhand shot on net that Atlantic City goaltender Bujar Amidovski easily stopped. The rebound, though, was given right back to Edinger, who snapped a forehand shot inside the left goal post for his first marker of the playoffs; it proved to be the game winner.

Peoria made it 5-3 with 8:16 left in regulation. Adam Edinger fired a shot from the right side of the slot that Atlantic City goaltender Bujar Amidovski stopped with his chest. The rebound was then batted out of mid-air from the bottom of the left face-off circle and inside the near goal post by Cameron.

It was Cameron's second goal of the game and the playoffs and the fourth of his professional career. The 21-year-old native of Grandora, Saskatchewan, who earned First Star honors, signed with the Rivermen on March 5, posting five points (2g, 3a) in 11 games to close out the regular season.

Rivermen Captain Trevor Baker, with a defenseman draped all over him as he moved into the zone, tallied an empty-net goal with one hand on his stick to complete the scoring at 18:49. It was his second tally of the night.

Peoria (1-1) improved to 24-8-6 on the road, including regular season action. The Rivermen are 3-1-2 against the Boardwalk Bullies this year through seven meetings, regular season and playoffs. Atlantic City (1-1) had its four-game home winning streak snapped in the loss. The Boardwalk Bullies equaled a season-worst six goals against in one game; they surrendered six goals in a 6-5 overtime loss in Greensboro on February 12 and a 6-2 loss in Reading on February 24. It was the first time Atlantic City gave up six goals at home this season.

Just 2:17 into overtime play, Adam Edinger potted the game winner as the Peoria Rivermen beat the defending Kelly Cup Champion Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies 2-1 in front of 1,955 on Monday night in Game Three of the Northern Division Semifinals.

Edinger, the team's face-off specialist, won a draw in the right circle over Atlantic City Captain Stefan Rivard. Edinger, ala Tyler Rennette, then pushed it forward past Rivard, sidestepping him and maneuvering in alone on Boardwalk Bullies goaltender Scott Stirling. Edinger chipped a backhand shot just inside the near post past Stirling's swiping glove for the winner, his second of the postseason.

Captain Trevor Baker scored a similar goal to give Peoria its first lead of the series in Game Two at 10:27 of the second period on Friday in Atlantic City. The technique is a trademark move of Rivermen Team MVP Tyler Rennette.

Peoria (2-1, 4 points) extended its home winning streak to 10 games with the victory. Atlantic City (1-2, 2 points) dropped just its 12th game in regulation on the road this season in 37 opportunities (23-12-2).

Marty Johnston stepped up this time, scoring his second goal of the postseason at 9:50 of the first overtime for a 2-1 series-clinching win Tuesday night over the defending Kelly Cup Champion Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies in Game Four of the Northern Division Semifinals before 1,963 at Carver Arena.

On a broken play in the right face-off circle, Johnston – with two players right in his face and in his shooting lane – slipped a low snap shot off a skate and through the legs of an assuming Atlantic City goaltender Scott Stirling.

The line of Johnston, Adam Edinger and rookie Garett Cameron combined for 15 points (6g, 9a) and a +18 plus/minus in the series. Edinger had two game-winning tallies and set up the series clincher.

Mike Valley, playing back-to-back games after not seeing game action since March 16, turned away 50 of 51 chances in the victory and 87 of 89 shots over both overtime wins.

Peoria (3-1, 6 points), who won last night 2-1 in overtime, extended its home winning streak to 11 games with the win. Atlantic City (1-3, 2 points) dropped its 13th of the season on the road.

Check out the Peoria Rivermen Statistics



ECHL Stories from April 16, 2004


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