Rivermen Blow Past Toledo 6-1 on the Road
February 25, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
Peoria, Ill. (February 25, 2004) â The Peoria Rivermen scored five unanswered goals over the final two periods and beat archrival Toledo Storm 6-1 before a Wednesday night crowd of 3,234 at the Toledo Sports Arena.
The victory snapped a season-worst four-game losing streak.
The Rivermen padded their lead at 5:39 of the third period, making it 5-1. Rookie defenseman Craig Olynick took a pass from Trevor Baker at the center point in the Toledo end and rifled a low slap shot that deflected off the skate of a Storm defenseman inside the left goal post. It was Olynick's second professional goal.
Peoria added another at 15:18 of the third with its second power play tally of the game. Marty Johnston picked up his own rebound in the high slot and with the puck bouncing on end, he slapped it low and inside the right post for his 19th goal of the season.
The Rivermen finished the night 2-for-5 with the man advantage; they came into the game 1-for-30 against the Storm through six contests. Toledo was 1-for-2 on the power play.
Peoria (31-16-8, 70 points) improved to 5-0-2 against the Storm this season and 18-5-5 on the road. The Rivermen moved into a tie for third place in the nine-team Northern Division with the Reading Royals (31-15-8, 70 points) with one more game played. Toledo (21-26-6, 48 points) has dropped three of its last five games and fell to 10-13-3 at home.
Peoria goaltender Mike Valley stopped 31 of 32 Toledo shots in his 18th victory of the season (18-7-6). Toledo's Doug Teskey turned away 27 of 33 Rivermen chances in his 17th loss of the season (14-17-6).
The Rivermen took a 1-0 lead at 8:30 of the opening period. Johnston, stationed at the bottom of the right face-off circle, rifled a slap shot toward the To1edo goal. The rebound popped free at the top of the crease, where Randy Rowe â while being crosschecked to the ice â was able to poke his 26th marker of the season by Teskey.
Toledo tied the game 1-1 on the power play at 6:37 of the second period. Jason Josza rifled a shot from the center point that Morten Ask, between the face-off circles, deflected over the glove hand of Valley. It was Ask's 17th goal of the year.
Just 19 seconds later, though, the Rivermen grabbed the lead back. Tyler Rennette collected his own rebound at the top of the left face-off circle and snapped his 22nd tally of the season into the upper right corner of the Toledo goal past a screened Teskey.
The Rivermen pushed their lead to 3-1 at 11:47 with the man advantage. Rennette, at the center point, fed Adam Edinger at the right face-off circle, where Edinger whistled his 15th marker of the season through the legs of Teskey. It was just Peoria's second power play goal against the Storm this season in seven games.
Peoria made it 4-1 at 13:41 on Bret DeCecco's 10th goal of the season. Defenseman Scott Crawford maneuvered the puck to the bottom of the right face-off circle and wristed a shot toward the Toledo net. The chance was turned away by Teskey but the rebound was left just off the right post for DeCecco, who was all alone and chipped it up into the net.
On Friday, February 27, the Rivermen host the Reading Royals in a battle for third place in the nine-team Northern Division. It is the first of two in a row between the clubs. 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. Senior Account Executive Ralph Rashid will receive special induction into the Builders Division of the Rivermen Hall of Fame.
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