Rivermen Come Up Short in Rockford
November 16, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
Rockford, Ill. (November 16, 2008) - Chris Conner scored for the fifth straight game but it was the Peoria Rivermen's only goal in a 4-1 loss to the Rockford IceHogs on Sunday evening at the MetroCentre. His tally came at 4:52 of the first period and Annti Niemi held the Rivermen scoreless over the game's final 55 minutes to finish with 27 saves.
Rockford scored twice on the power play in five chances to improve to 22.1 percent, the second best percentage in the league. Ben Bishop made 25 saves in net on 28 shots before the IceHogs added an empty netter to expand their lead in the final two minutes.
Pascal Pelletier took advantage of the Hogs' first power play of the game, a mere 4:27 into the first period. With Jim Jackson in the box for hooking, Pelletier was waiting as the rebound off a Jack Skille shot landed on his stick just outside the crease. It was his sixth goal of the season.
Conner responded almost immediately as he beat Niemi on a wraparound only 25 seconds later. After taking a pass from Jonas Junland behind the net, Conner stepped out and slid the puck along the ice to the far side of the netminder. He now shares the team lead in goals, with Steve Regier, at nine.
The eventual game-winner came at 8:59 of the first period. Tim Hambly picked off a pass and let a slapshot fly from just below the top of the right circle that slipped under the blocker of Bishop for his first goal of the season.
It would be 45:01 of scoreless hockey before the IceHogs added to their lead. Again on the power play, Tim Brent took a pass from Petri Kontiola and wristed it past a diving Bishop at 14:00 of the third. Ryan Klinkhammer added the empty netter 18:19.
Niemi lowered his goals-against average 1.63 through his first nine games of the season, third best in the AHL.
American Hockey League Stories from November 16, 2008
- Crunch Down Penguins in Wilkes-Barre - Syracuse Crunch
- Admirals Get by Griffins 5-4 - Milwaukee Admirals
- Rivermen Come Up Short in Rockford - Peoria Rivermen
- IceHogs Beat Rivermen 4-1 at Home - Rockford IceHogs
- Wolf Pack Attacks Monsters, Win 5-3 - Connecticut Whale
- Rockford Beats Peoria 4-1 - Peoria Rivermen
- Griffins Rally Falls Short in 5-4 Loss at Milwaukee - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Houston Aeros Fall 3-2 to Bridgeport in First Shootout of the Season - Houston Aeros
- Third Period Come-Back and Four Shooters Going 4-for-4 in Shootout Helps Sound Tigers to Victory - Bridgeport Islanders
- Russell Nets Hat Trick In 5-2 Bulldogs Win - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Monsters Come Up Short Against Hartford - Cleveland Monsters
- Russell Nets Hat Trick in 5-2 Win - Hamilton Bulldogs
- P-Bruins Defeat Admirals 4-3 - Providence Bruins
- Falcons Blanked By Sharks 3-0 - Springfield Falcons
- Sharks Shut the Lights Off on Falcons Offense - Worcester Sharks
- Bounces Go the Other Way as Admirals Fall to Providence - Norfolk Admirals
- Peoria Grabs Pair of Aces - Peoria Rivermen
- Blues Recall Steve Regier from Peoria - Peoria Rivermen
- Worcester Sharks loan goaltender Kyle Jones to Phoenix - Worcester Sharks
- Aeros take on Sound Tigers at Toyota Center today at 4:05 p.m. - Houston Aeros
- B-Sens Add Two From Elmira - Binghamton Senators
- Falcons Host The Sharks On Sunday - Springfield Falcons
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