AHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen Beat 'Hogs In OT

Published on November 10, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


Nicholas Drazenovic set up the game-tying goal and scored the game-winner in overtime while Jeff Woywitka notched a pair of markers as the Peoria Rivermen downed the Rockford IceHogs 5-4 in overtime on Saturday at Carver Arena.

After falling behind 2-0 on a pair of Rockford goals just 25 seconds apart in the game's eighth minute, Peoria would replace starting netminder Juuso Riksman (2 saves) with Marek Schwarz and begin a comeback.

Woywitka notched his first goal of the night on a wrist shot from the left wing, surprising Wade Flaherty at 14:37 from Roman Polak and Charles Linglet. With the assist on the goal, Linglet extended his current point-scoring streak to nine games (1-8-9).

Mike Glumac followed with an unassisted power play marker at 16:26. Flaherty played the puck to his backhand, throwing it blindly into the corner behind him where Glumac was waiting. The Rivermen forward then curled out in front of the goal and wristed a shot over the shoulder of the IceHogs netminder to make it 2-2.

Before the frame was over, Rockford reclaimed the lead when Bryan Bickell notched his first of two goals on the night at 19:24.

The two teams would again trade goals in the second period, with Woywitka's second of the night coming via a Hans Benson feed from the right wing. Once again, the Peoria defender jumped into the rush on the left side, accepting the pass in the high slot and beating Flaherty glove side to re-tie the game.

Bickell's second of the night and fourth of the year at 15:26 was a power play marker that proved to be the final IceHogs tally of the night.

In the third period, Peoria once again broke through with the man advantage. After winning an offensive zone draw, Trent Whitfield set himself up for a one-time feed from Drazenovic and Micki DuPont at 5:01 of the final frame to tie the game at 4-4 and force overtime.

With Peoria pressing the advantage in the overtime, Alex Brooks made a key stop at the blue line on a Rockford clearing attempt as Chris Porter bolted to the IceHogs net. Porter's tip was stopped by Flaherty, but Drazenovic swooped in through the slot, finding the rebound and potting the game winner at 1:32 of the extra session for a 5-4 final.

Schwarz was solid in relief, making 16 saves on 18 shots to earn the win, while Flaherty stopped a total of 38 shots to help his team to the overtime point. Peoria finished 2-for-9 on the power play while Rockford ended 1-for-3.

Peoria will get back to action next weekend, hosting the Houston Aeros Friday and the San Antonio Rampage Saturday, with both games at 7 pm. Friday is Coca-Cola 2-for-$22 night, and Saturday is Rivermen Calendar Night, and features an appearance by John Black from NBC's Days of Our Lives. Tickets are on sale now through the Peoria Civic Center Box Office, all TicketMaster locations, on line at www.TicketMaster.com, or charge by phone at (309) 676-8700.

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American Hockey League Stories from November 10, 2007


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