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ECHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen Can't Come Back in Las Vegas, Falling 4-3 in Regulation

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


Las Vegas (January 8, 2005) – The Peoria Rivermen crapped out in Las Vegas for the second night in a row, falling 4-3 in regulation to the Las Vegas Wranglers in front of a franchise-best 7,310 on Saturday night at the Orleans Arena.

Las Vegas took the lead 3-2 at 8:47 of the third, and it would be one it would not relinquish. Rookie Dustin Johner fed Doug Wright in the high slot, and Wright walked to the hash marks and slipped a low snap shot inside the right goal post. It was Wright's fourth goal of the season and the first of two in a row in the session.

Wright struck again at 15:32 on the power play on a give-and-go play with Chris Stanley, who was anchored just off the left post. Wright was initially stopped by Rivermen goaltender Alfie Michaud from the low slot, but Wright chased his own rebound and lifted the puck with a backhand shot into the upper right corner.

The Rivermen made a valiant effort to tie the contest in the final stages of the game. Reggie Stringer stole a Las Vegas clearing attempt at center ice and sprung Brian McCullough in behind the Wranglers defense. McCullough maneuvered just below the hash marks and roofed his team-leading 13th goal of the season into the upper left corner. It was Peoria's fourth shorthanded goal this season and second in the last three games.

Peoria pulled Michaud with 1:11 remaining but was unable to equalize the contest with the extra attacker.

Peoria (12-15-4, 28 points), who fell three games below the .500 mark in defeat, dropped to 6-10-2 on the road this season; the Rivermen led the ECHL with a 23-7-6 road mark last year. It was just the second game in 14 opportunities (11-2-1) that Peoria scored three goals in a game and did not win. The Rivermen fell to 10-4-1 lifetime in the regular season against West Division. The game's end brings a conclusion to a four-city, six-game road trip for Peoria, and a stretch of nine games over 14 days dating back to December 26 in which the Rivermen went 5-3-1. Las Vegas (16-12-4, 36 points) has won a season-best five in a row and moved a game over the .500 mark at home in 16 opportunities (8-7-1).

Rivermen tough man David Kaczowka and the Wrangler's Jason Spence got the fisticuffs started just 14 seconds into the game. The two duked it out at the Las Vegas blue line and moved in front of its bench. Kaczowka won the decision with a wicked left hook that caught Spence flush across the right jaw late in the scrap.

The Rivermen lost their captain Trevor Baker at 7:06 of the opening session. Baker came barreling into the Las Vegas end on right wing, took a shot that was stopped by Centomo and then was sent flying into the boards. Baker lay motionless on the ice for five minutes and was carried off the ice on a stretcher. Later reports indicated Baker had complete movement in all his extremities and was totally responsive after being taken to the hospital. He did, however, suffer a gash on his forehead.

Peoria then took 1-0 lead on the power play at 8:42 of the first, ending a 70:27 shutout streak dating back to Wednesday's 5-2 win in San Diego. Rookie Patrick Wellar, in his first game back since injuring his knee on New Year's Eve in Idaho, took a pass at the left point from Kris Kasper, who had circled out from behind the Las Vegas net. Wellar sent a waist-high wrist shot on goal that Centomo stopped, but Reggie Stringer, who started the season with the Wranglers, was at the right side of the goal crease to quickly slide the puck inside the right post. It was Stringer's eighth tally of the season and fifth goal in the last five games.

Las Vegas tied the game 1-1 at the 14:23 mark of the opening stanza. Jon Krall dug the puck out of a mix-up along the left-wing boards in front of the Rivermen bench, taking advantage of Peoria's over-support and popping the puck into the slot for an onrushing Jeff Attard. Attard raced the puck down just as it got to the top of the goal crease and took advantage of a hesitation by Michaud, who stepped halfway to the puck and opened up his legs, stabbing the puck in for his fourth goal of the year.

The Wranglers took the lead at 3:37 of the second period. Johner broke into the Peoria zone down the right wing and from the bottom of the right face-off circle threaded the needle with a laser shot into the far upper left corner. It was Johner's 14th tally of the season and the sixth in the last five games with a five-game goal scoring streak.

The Rivermen tried to stem the Wranglers' second-period tide twice in the first half of the session with fights. Kaczowka stepped into the ring for the second time in the game at 4:01, going toe-to-toe with Regan Darby in major-league brawl at center ice. Then at 8:44, rookie Kris Kasper tussled with Krall with Kasper taking the decision.

Peoria tied the game 2-2 with just 1:39 left in the middle stanza. Trevor Byrne fired a shot toward the Las Vegas goal from the left point that rookie Justin Maiser, stationed between the hash marks with his back to the goal, deflected on net but Centomo stopped. Stringer was on the doorstep, though, to poke in his second tally of the night and the sixth in the last five games and in a Rivermen uniform.

The Rivermen then return home for six straight games at Carver Arena next weekend, beginning with a two-game home set against the Trenton Titans on Friday, January 14 and Saturday, January 15. Game time on Friday is 7:30 p.m., and game time on Saturday is 7:00 p.m.

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