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ECHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen Bounced Out of the Playoffs by Toledo 6-3

April 9, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


Toledo, Ohio (April 8, 2005) – For the first time in 18 years of Peoria professional hockey, the Rivermen will not make a trip to the postseason. On Friday night, they were eliminated from playoff contention by the archrival Toledo Storm, who handed them a 6-3 defeat before 4,686 at the Toledo Sports Arena. It was Peoria's final trip to Toledo and final game ever against the Storm.

With the victory, Toledo grabbed the fourth and final playoff spot in the North Division and will take on the Reading Royals in the North Division Semifinals. The Storm missed the postseason last year.

The Rivermen got within two goals early in the third period, making it 4-2. Defenseman Ed Hill corralled a loose puck in the right-wing corner and threw it out to the top of the goal crease, where rookie Jake Riddle tipped it past Toledo goaltender Scott Fankhouser at 2:15. It was Riddle's 12th tally of the year.

The Storm regained their three-goal lead at 6:09 of the final period of regulation. Carl Mallette floated a shot toward the Peoria net from the left point that was tipped down and past Rivermen goaltender Alfie Michaud. It was Sleigher's 11th goal of the season.

The Rivermen pulled their goaltender with more than six minutes remaining. With the resulting empty net, Toledo's Pierre-Luc Sleigher netted his second consecutive tally and 12th of the season, shooting the puck past Peoria defenseman Trevor Byrne to make it 6-2.

Peoria made it 6-3 with 1:51 left in regulation, as team-leading goal scorer Brian McCullough rifled home his second goal of the game and 39th of the season from the high slot on a feed from Rivermen Captain Trevor Baker.

Peoria (37-26-8, 82 points) has lost three in a row and finished its critical six-game road trip with a 1-4-1 record. The Rivermen finished 14-19-3 on the road this year and were 4-6-1 against the Storm in the season series. It was just the fourth time this season Peoria had surrendered six goals in a contest. Not to be forgotten, the Rivermen went 30-14-5 in 49 games after Christmas to get themselves into playoff contention. Toledo (41-25-5, 87 points) posted its 24th home win of the season (24-9-2) with the victory.

Michaud (27-13-5) stopped 28 of 33 shots in defeat, while Fankhouser (29-15-4) turned away 34 of 37 chances in the win.

The game got off to a rousing start at 4:21 of the opening period when Rivermen defenseman Ian Forbes and Toledo Enforcer Robert Snowball dropped their gloves and helmets to square off at center ice. Forbes manhandled Snowball, whaling away on him with several right hands while hardly getting touched.

The Storm took the early advantage and some momentum, scoring with just 28 seconds left in the opening period and with Peoria on the power play. Scooter Smith and Steve Slonina broke out of the Toledo zone on a two-on-one. Smith carried the puck into the Peoria end on right wing, feeding Slonina across the slot for a quick shot that beat Michaud in close. It was Slonina's eighth tally of the season, and it was the 11th shorthanded goal allowed by the Rivermen this year.

Toledo used another special teams goal, this one coming with the man advantage, to take a 2-0 early in the second period. Todd Jackson's shot from just off the left goal post was stopped by Michaud, but the rebound was left just off the right post for an easy tap-in by veteran Rick Judson at 3:25. It was Judson's 16th marker of the year.

The Storm made it 3-0 just 1:23 later. Defenseman Joey Martin took a pass from Sleigher to hold the puck at the left point, using a maze of players in front of the Toledo net as a screen to beat Michaud with a shot. It was Martin's first goal of the season after 43 games.

Toledo pushed its lead to 4-0 on the power play with 4:06 remaining in the second. Joey Martin took a pass from Sleigher at the left point and then slapped a laser pass to Kevin Bergin, who was just off the right post, for a seamless tip-in. It was Bergin's 19th of the season.

The Rivermen finally got on the board with the man advantage at 19:09 of the second. Stationed near the left hash marks, McCullough rifled a Patrick Wellar rebound past Fankhouser. It was McCullough's 38th marker of the season and first of two on the night.

On Saturday, April 9, the Rivermen host the Dayton Bombers in their ECHL regular season finale. Game time is 7:00 p.m. It is Ralph Rashid/UFS Savings Center/Ashley Furniture Appreciation Night. Fans will have a chance to win a room of furniture from Ashley Furniture. There will be thousands of dollars in prizes given away from Rivermen corporate partners during the game.

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