Rivermen Blasted in Toledo 6-1 on Mallette's Four-Goal Game
Published on March 13, 2005 under ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
Toledo, Ohio â The Peoria Rivermen were unable to rebound from a late loss to the archrival Toledo Storm last night, losing 6-1 in a shellacking in front of 4,545 on Saturday night at Toledo Sports Arena.
Carl Mallette, who was acquired on Tuesday as part of a seven-player deal with the Greenville Grrrowl, posted a four-goal game, finishing the night with two goals in the final period.
Mallette's hat trick goal came just 24 seconds into the third session on a Kevin Bergin pass, as he would add his fourth of the contest and his team's sixth marker with 6:33 left in the game on a deflection in front of the Peoria goal on a shot from above the right face-off circle by Todd Jackson. Mallette, who assisted on a goal last night, has five points (4g, 1a) in two games since joining Toledo.
Todd Jackson gave the Storm a 5-1 lead, taking the puck from center ice and working into the Peoria zone on right wing. Between the blue line and the face-off circle, Jackson netted a waist-high wrist shot for his ninth goal of the season.
The Rivermen spoiled the combined shutout with 1:43 remaining in regulation. Reggie Stringer snapped home his 15th tally of the year and his second in as many nights from the right face-off circle.
Peoria (29-20-7, 65 points) has lost two in a row and dropped to 10-13-2 on the road through two games of a grueling seven-game road swing in nine days. The Rivermen dropped to 4-5-1 through 10 games of the season series. It was just the third time this season Peoria had surrendered six tallies in a game. Peoria is now six points out of the final playoff spot in the North Division, trailing the Trenton Titans. Toledo (33-22-4, 70 points) has won two in a row and pushed its gap over Peoria in fifth place to five points. Both Toledo and Trenton have played three more games than Peoria. The Storm improved to 20-7-5 at home this season.
Peoria goaltender Alfie Michaud (21-10-4) stopped 13 of 16 shots, taking the loss before his ejection just over midway through the second period. Rookie Chris Beckford-Tseu turned away 18 of 21 shots in relief. Toledo's Scott Fankhouser (22-12-3) made 17 saves on 17 Peoria chances before Drew MacIntyre relieved him after the melee for 16 saves on 17 Rivermen shots.
The Storm took a 1-0 lead with 4:10 left in the opening session. Pierre-Luc Sleigher held the puck in the Rivermen end after a failed clearing attempt and found Carl Mallette in the slot. Mallette beat Michaud from in close for his first tally in a Storm uniform and 25th of the season.
Toledo made it 2-0 with just 1:42 left in the first. Parillo maneuvered into the Rivermen zone on right wing, cutting down the right side of the slot and finding Rick Judson just off the left post. Judson, with Michaud out of position, easily popped in his 14th marker of the year and the second in as many games against the Rivermen.
The Storm pushed their lead to 3-0 at 11:52 of the middle stanza. Defenseman Dany Eberly's shot from the right side of the zone was stopped by Michaud, but the rebound was left just off the far goal post for an easy goal by Mallette. It was his second goal of the contest and his 26th of the season.
Just 33 seconds later, things unraveled on the ice as a line brawl broke out. It all started with Peoria's Chad Starling pounding on Toledo's Tomas Micka and finished with Michaud going toe-to-toe with Fankhouser at center ice. Peoria's Igor Valeev, Russ Guzior, Travis Rycroft, Starling and Michaud were ejected. Toledo's Joey Martin, Steve Slonina, Doug Andress, Fankhouser and Micka were kicked out as well.
In all, there were seven fights in the game â five during the second-period melee and two in the latter stages of the final session. Peoria's Justin Maiser fought Kevin Bergin with less than seven minutes remaining in the game, and then Rivermen rookie defenseman Patrick Wellar duked it out with Toledo's Robert Snowball with 13 seconds left.
The teams combined for 200 penalty minutes (PIM) with Peoria racking up 97 and Toledo collecting 103.
Tomorrow afternoon â Sunday, March 13, the Rivermen continue their grueling five-city, seven-game, nine-day road trip against the Wheeling Nailers. Game time is 4:05 p.m. CT at the WesBanco Arena.
ECHL Stories from March 13, 2005
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- Gladiators Beat Stingrays, 6-3 - Atlanta Gladiators
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Toledo Sneaks By Chiefs - Johnstown Chiefs
- Greenough Returns In Trade; O'Leary Off To Reading - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Late Goal Lifts Bombers To Victory - Dayton Bombers
- Bombers Edge Bullies 4-3 - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
- San Diego Opens Five-Game Homestand; Looks For Fourth Straight Win - San Diego Gulls
- Weiner dogs and Make Kids Count highlight Sunday matinee - Augusta Lynx
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Rivermen Come to Town fighting for Playoff Spot - Wheeling Nailers
- Falcons Defeat Rival Condors 4-2 - Fresno Falcons
- Salmon Kings and Steelheads finish the home schedule for Victoria - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Fresno Topples Bakersfield - Bakersfield Condors
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- Pride Fall to Gladiators 4-1 - Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz
- Gulls Win Third Straight In Vegas, 2-1 - San Diego Gulls
- Zepp, Everblades Shut Out Sea Wolves 3-0 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Rivermen Blasted in Toledo 6-1 on Mallette's Four-Goal Game - Peoria Rivermen
- Lynx power past Grrrowl - Augusta Lynx
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