AHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen Come Back But Fall in a Shootout 4-3 to Grand Rapids

Published on February 23, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


Peoria, IL (February 23, 2007) - The season-high crowd of 6,804 at Carver Arena saw the Peoria Rivermen come back from a two-goal deficit in the third period, but they were unable to get over the hump as Peoria lost for the second straight home contest in a shootout, falling to the Grand Rapids Griffins 4-3 on Friday night.

Although the first frame was scoreless, the Rivermen (28-20-2-4, 62 pts) had a 5-on-3 power play for 1:12, but failed to capitalize. Prior to tonight's game, Peoria had converted on 11 of 38 power play chances versus Grand Rapids.

The Griffins (28-21-4-2, 62 pts) wasted little time after the first-period break, tallying the first goal of the game at 1:04 of the second stanza just 17 seconds into a power play. Defenseman Tom Galvin started the play at center point, where he dished the puck off to the left face-off dot for center Matt Hussey, who centered a pass to center Matt Ellis in the slot. Ellis quickly turned and fired a one-timer that slipped past the outstretched left leg of Rivermen goalie Jason Bacashihua for his team best 21st marker of the year.

Grand Rapids increased its lead at 10:12 of the middle session while both teams had only four skaters on the ice. Center Kip Miller won the face-off in the left circle, which was tapped back to defenseman Derek Meech by defenseman Dan Smith. Meech, who was stationed at center point, launched a shot through a screen that found the upper left corner of the net for his fifth goal of the season.

Peoria failed to convert on another two-man advantage in the middle of the second, but at 18:23 potted an even-strength tally. At the hash marks along the left-wing boards, center Gavin Morgan fed center Ryan Ramsay, who was just to the right of Griffins netminder Stefan Liv. Ramsay was unable to pull the trigger right away, so he circled behind the net then lifted a shot from the bottom of the right circle that bounced of the left shoulder of Liv and into the net. The goal was Ramsay's ninth of the year.

Just 10 seconds into the final frame, the Griffins regained a two-goal lead. Along the right-wing boards, center Eric Himelfarb worked into the Rivermen zone on a two-on-one. Once he reached the top of the right circle, Himelfarb sent the puck into the slot for right wing Jamie Tardif, who quickly tipped it back to Himelfarb at the bottom of the right circle, where he blasted a shot into the net past a flailing Bacashihua for his 12th tally of the 2006-07 campaign.

The Rivermen cut their deficit to 3-2 as Ramsay notched his second goal of the night and 10th overall at 10:28 of the final session. From the left point, defenseman Tomas Mojzis tried to chip the puck into the corner, but it pin-balled off a couple skates and landed in the hand of Ramsay. The center dropped the puck to his stick and thought about flipping a backhand to the right, but Ramsay saw that Liv had covered the cage well. Ramsay stopped, cut back to his left, and while falling to the ice wrapped the puck around the right leg of Liv.

Ramsay netted the first hat trick of the year for Peoria on a power play goal at 16:16 of the final period. Morgan wrapped around the net from left to right and found Ramsay in the right circle, where he skated back and to the left, waiting for an open lane to take the shot. When Ramsay reached the top of the right circle, he whipped a shot that sneaked through the legs of Liv.

For the second game in a row, the Rivermen took the game to a shootout, but were unable to pull out a victory as Grand Rapids netted two goals to Peoria's one. The game-winner came off the stick of Miller, who beat Bacashihua with a wrist shot inside the left post.

The Rivermen fell to 17-11-1-2 at home and will have six days off before playing the Iowa Stars on Thursday, March 1 at Wells Fargo Arena. Game time is 7:05 p.m. The contest begins a month in which Peoria will play 18 games.

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American Hockey League Stories from February 23, 2007


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