ECHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen Come Back in Trenton but Fall 4-3 in a Shootout

March 30, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


Trenton, NJ (March 30, 2005) – The Peoria Rivermen battled back from a two-goal, third-period deficit to earn a point in a 4-3 shootout loss the Trenton Titans in front of 4,518 on Wednesday night at the Sovereign Bank Arena.

That point coupled with a Toledo loss (5-3) in Dayton and a Wheeling loss (4-2) in Atlantic City gave the Rivermen outright possession of the fourth and final playoff spot in the eight-team North Division with six games remaining in the 2004-2005 ECHL regular season.

The Rivermen got within one at 12:22 of the final period, making it 3-2. Veteran Reggie Stringer won a face-off in the left circle back to his right for Brian McCullough, who rifled his team-leading 36th tally of the season over the glove of Trenton goaltender Andrew Allen and into the upper right corner.

Peoria tied it 3-3 with 1:17 left in regulation and its goaltender Alfie Michaud pulled. After collecting a Tyler Rennette rebound in the slot and getting stopped on an initial chance, Rivermen Captain Trevor Baker pushed the puck to the right circle and slid it down low to defenseman Ed Hill. Hill, who was at the bottom of the right face-off circle, slung his sixth goal of the year in behind Allen.

The Rivermen outshot the Titans 4-0 in the overtime, but the game went to a shootout. Peoria's Tyler Rennette struck in the first round, but that was all the Rivermen scoring there would be. Trenton's Rick Kowalsky, Scott Bertoli – who registered the shootout winner, and B.J. Abel each scored in the second, third and fourth rounds, respectively.

Peoria dropped to 3-6 in shootouts on the year, while Trenton improved to 7-5.

For the Rivermen (36-22-8, 80 points), it was first time in six meetings (5-0-1) this season they did not garner two points against the Titans. Peoria also had its four-game winning streak, which came over four home games, snapped. Trenton (37-20-9, 83 points) moved into a tie with the Reading Royals (38-20-7, 83 points) for second place in the North Division with one more game played. The Titans, who have won five in a row, improved to 22-8-4 at home this season.

Michaud (26-10-5) stopped 27 of 30 Trenton chances in regulation and overtime and one of three in the shootout, and Allen (25-10-3) turned away 33 of 36 Peoria shots in regulation and overtime and three of four in the shootout.

A Kris Kasper breakaway from center ice gave the Rivermen a 1-0 lead at 4:34 of the opening period. With the puck pinball-ing over all over the left side of the neutral zone, Kasper stole a Trenton pass at the left side of the center-ice face-off circle and broke into the Trenton zone. Just above the left hash marks, Kasper wound up and launched his eighth tally of the season inside the right post as Allen came out above his goal crease to try to cut the angle down. It was Kasper's second goal in three games against Trenton this season.

The Titans tied it 1-1 just 1:41 later. Defenseman Steve Munn took a pass at the left point from Nick Deschenes and floated a wrist shot toward the Peoria net. The puck made its way inside the left post after Munn got some help from Bertoli, who was screening Michaud along with a Rivermen defenseman. It was Munn's first tally of the season.

The Titans gave themselves their first lead of the game on the power play at 8:05 of the second session. B.J. Abel took a pass above the right face-off circle from Matt Libby and fired a low shot to the left post that Rick Kowalsky, who was left alone and redirected it in behind Michaud. It was Kowalsky's 18th goal of the season.

Just 16 seconds after the Titans took the lead, Baker dropped the gloves with Munn. The altercation started at center ice and eventually moved into the Trenton end with Baker manhandling Munn at every turn.

Trenton pushed its advantage to 3-1 with 5:44 left in the second. Kowalsky carried the puck out of the left-wing corner, and before heading in behind the Peoria net, he sent a pass to the left hash marks for Les Haggett, who ripped a shot on goal that Michaud stopped but the puck caromed off Michaud's pads over top of him and into the net. It was Haggett's second goal in five games with the Titans after signing with the team upon completion of his collegiate career at Brown University.

On Friday, April 1, the Rivermen face off against the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies at 6:00 p.m. CT at Historic Boardwalk Hall.

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ECHL Stories from March 30, 2005


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