AHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen Beat Monsters on the Ice and in the Alley

Published on March 22, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


The Peoria Rivermen scored, battled, and brawled its way to a 5-2 win over the Lake Erie Monsters before 7,763 fans on Friday night at Carver Arena.

This was a rare game with so many separate story lines it became difficult to pick favorites. Rookie Julian Talbot, who just signed a two-year contract with the St. Louis Blues only days before, netted a hat trick and tacked on an assist in the victory. Nikolay Lemtyugov scored a pair of markers including a game-winning goal of top 10 highlight reel material. And freshman netminder Ben Bishop registered his first pro win and first pro fight, leading the Rivermen with nine minutes in penalties while stopping 17-of-19 shots for the win.

Talbot kicked off a three goal first period for the Rivermen with the first two salvos, scoring on a tip-in at 12:07 on a Micki DuPont feed and then beating Jason Bacashihua with a two-hand swat from the low slot on a centering feed from Nicholas Drazenovic at 13:51.

Then Lemtyugov followed with what might be Peoria 's signature goal this season. The Russian wing broke in down the left side of the ice after intercepting a pass just outside the Lake Erie blue line, moving in with Eric Neilson on the right side of the ice. He froze the defense at the top of the circle by feigning a pass to Neilson, then dropped goaltender Jason Bacashihua to the ice by moving the puck from his forehand, to the backhand, and pulling it back to the forehand off the heel of his stick before roofing the puck under the crossbar from just in front of the goal line to the left of the cage, cutting away at top speed. The unassisted goal came at 16:48 and capped the opening period of scoring.

Despite four power play chances in the second period, Peoria failed to improve its lead and went into the third period with the same three goal lead.

The final frame turned out to be a wild one, starting with Talbot's hat trick marker at 4:14 as he wristed a shot past Bacashihua on a cross-slot Martin Kariya feed to make it 4-1.

Then at 9:52 tensions boiled over. Brad Richardson was assessed a match penalty for attempt to injure, which touched off a five-player fracas, the main event of which turned out to be a fight between Bishop and Bacashihua. The latter had left his crease in an attempt to police the melee, and Bishop took off from his net to even the odds, engaging his fellow union member in a wild tilt that ended with the Rivermen netminder on top.

T.J. Hensick would score his ninth goal of the year at 11:58 during the ensuing four-on-four situation to break Bishop's shutout bid.

Lemtyugov made it 5-1 at 17:11 after rifling a wrist shot over the glove of Bacashihua from Talbot and DuPont for his second goal of the night.

A late goal from Mark McCutcheon capped the scoring at 18:45 as the Rivermen skated off with the win.

The game capped a four game season series between the two clubs, with Peoria going a perfect 4-0-0-0 on the season against the Monsters.

Peoria returns to action tomorrow night against the Iowa Stars in a 7 pm game, which features World Championship Midget Wrestling following the game! Also, after tomorrow's game the Rivermen will host a post-game party at the Main Office Pub with Ben Bishop and Hans Benson, plus other players.

Tickets are on sale through the Peoria Civic Center Box Office, all TicketMaster locations, on line at www.TicketMaster.com, or charge by phone at (309) 676-8700. We'll see you at the games!

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American Hockey League Stories from March 22, 2008


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