Rivermen Come Back but Fall in Johnstown 5-4
Published on February 17, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
Peoria, Ill. (February 17, 2004) â The Peoria Rivermen battled back from a 4-2 deficit to tie the game but gave up a late power play goal, losing 5-4 in regulation to the rival Johnstown Chiefs in front of 2,375 on Tuesday night at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena.
The loss snapped Peoria's five-game winning streak and eight-game, unbeaten-in-regulation streak (7-0-1).
The Chiefs gave themselves their first two-goal lead of the night just 1:47 into the third period. Dmitri Tarabrin and Chad Cavanagh broke into Peoria zone on a 2-on-1 with Cavanagh one-timing a Tarabrin pass behind Peoria goaltender Mike Valley from the bottom of the right face-off circle. It was Cavanagh's eighth goal of the season.
The Rivermen quickly got back within one just 52 seconds later. Adam Edinger tried to stuff home a shot from just off the right post but was stopped by Johnstown goaltender and former NHLer Arturs Irbe. Marty Johnston, though, was at the top of the crease and chopped his 17th goal of the season over Irbe. It was his Johnston's second marker of the night.
Peoria tied it 4-4 at 10:19 of the third on Colin Hemingway's third goal in Rivermen uniform. Hemingway worked into the Johnstown zone on right wing, pulled up at the face-off circle and knuckled the puck under the blocker of Irbe.
The Chiefs took the lead back on the power play with 3:20 left in regulation. Dominic Forget fed Steve Hildenbrand just off the left Peoria goal post for an easy one-touch tally. It was Hildenbrand's second tally of the night and 15th of the season, proving to be the game winner.
Johnstown finished the night 2-for-6 on the power play, while Peoria was 1-for-5.
Peoria (30-13-8, 68 points) had its four-game, road unbeaten-in-regulation streak (3-0-1) halted in the loss. The Rivermen suffered just their fifth regulation loss on the road in 27 opportunities (17-5-5). Peoria finished the regular season series with the Chiefs with a 4-3-1 record. Johnstown (28-16-6, 62 points) snapped a mild two-game winless skid (0-1-1) and moved within one point of the fourth place Reading Royals (28-15-7, 63 points). The Chiefs improved to 17-4-4 on home ice.
Valley stopped 21 of 26 in just his sixth regulation loss of the season (17-6-6), while Irbe turned away 31 of 35 in his 10th win of the season (10-3-1).
The Rivermen took a 1-0 lead at 5:42 of the opening period on the power play with the Cavanagh in the penalty box for a high sticking double minor. Edinger took a pass from Malcolm MacMillan just off the right post, cut out in front of the goal trying to hammer the puck in but was stopped by Irbe. Johnston, though, was at the top of the goal crease to stuff in the rebound with Irbe down on the ice. It was Johnston's 16th marker of the season.
The Chiefs tied the game 1-1 at 12:47 of the first in a 4-on-4 situation. Shawn Mather carried the puck into the Peoria zone down the middle of the ice and fired a high slap shot several feet over the goal. The rebound caromed off the end glass right back to Mather, who was just off the left post and tapped the puck inside the far post for his 15th goal of the season.
Johnstown took its first lead of the night at 17:37 with a power play goal of its own. Jay Langager followed up his own rebound on a shot from the high slot and chipped it over Valley, who went sprawling to the ice on the initial shot.
The Rivermen tied it less than a minute later. Scott Turner took a pass from Edinger in the high slot, cut down the right side to the goal and pushed a backhand shot underneath Irbe before the net was knocked off its pegs. It was Turner's eighth tally of the season.
The Chiefs grabbed their second lead of the night at 7:59 of the middle stanza. Hildenbrand fired a Zehr rebound through the legs of Valley from the bottom of the slot. It was Hildenbrand's 14th goal of the season.
On Friday, February 20, the Rivermen host the archrival Dayton Bombers. Game time is 7:00 p.m. CT at Carver Arena.
ECHL Stories from February 17, 2004
- Third period flurry trips Aces - Alaska Aces
- Condors Sneak Away With 3-2 Victory - Trenton Devils
- Irbe Recalled to Hurricanes - Johnstown Chiefs
- Sea Wolves Get By Gulls 3-2 In Shootout - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Sea Wolves Beat Gulls, 3-2 in Shootout - San Diego Gulls
- Everblades Earn Point in 3-2 Overtime Loss - Florida Everblades
- Chiefs Defeat Peoria 5-4 - Johnstown Chiefs
- Rivermen Come Back but Fall in Johnstown 5-4 - Peoria Rivermen
- Pride Down Stingrays, Win Second Straight - Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz
- Hammer Time! Hamerlik Named ECHL Goaltender of Week - Reading Royals
- Ice Dogs Weekly - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Falcons and Heald College Raise Money for the Zoo Society - Fresno Falcons
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Fresno Falcons Weekly Update - Fresno Falcons
- Wildcatters acquire Taliercio from Ice Gators - Texas Wildcatters
- Milam Called up to Manchester - Atlanta Gladiators
- Inaugural Kelly Cup Tour Begins Friday In Wheeling - ECHL
- Gators Acquire Josh Bennett - Louisiana IceGators
- Goaltender Szuper Reassigned to Worcester (AHL) - Peoria Rivermen
- Reading's Hamerlik Named ITECH HOCKEY ECHL Saver of the Week - ECHL
- Greensboro's Bayrack Named InGlasCo ECHL Player of the Week - ECHL
- Pride to Attend Francis Marion Basketball Game Tomorrow - Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz
- Gator Talk Live at Buffalo Wild Wings Tonight - Louisiana IceGators
- Rogers Promoted to Rivermen Team President - Peoria Rivermen
- Today In The ECHL - ECHL
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
