AHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen Defeat Stars 4-3 On Home Ice

February 23, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


PEORIA, Ill. (February 23, 2010) - The Peoria Rivermen beat the Texas Stars 4-3 at Carver Arena on Tuesday night to stop a season-long six-game losing streak on home ice. Nicholas Drazenovic and Chris Porter both scored in the third period to break a 2-2 tie and Peoria withstood a late push from the Stars for the win.

The Rivermen are now 4-1-1 against Texas this season and have scored at least four goals in all four of their wins. Texas dropped the final three games of their five game road trip, all by one goal. The win for Peoria was their first at Carver Arena since a 5-4 victory over the Chicago Wolves on Jan. 23.

Pascal Pelletier opened the scoring just 1:33 into the first period with his 10th of the season and 7th as a Rivermen. Nate Guenin and Yan Stastny helped move the puck to Pelletier who cut in on goal from along the right-wing boards. His shot hit the glove of Todd Ford and rolled into the net. It was Pelletier's second goal in his last 17 games.

The Stars came back in the first as they outshot the Rivermen 11-7 and tied the game at 9:04. Andrew Hutchinson's shot from the point deflected off Colton Sceviour and wound up loose in the crease behind Hannu Toivonen. Aaron Gagnon was there to push it the rest of the way and evened the score at 1-1.

Peoria regained the lead at 7:11 of the second period. Brett Sonne dragged an Adam Cracknell rebound off to the side of the bottom of the circle and forced it through Ford. It was the ninth of the season for Sonne and fifth in his past 10 games.

Again, Texas had the answer still inside the second frame. Scott McCulloch beat Toivonen on a wraparound at 15:42 to tie the game.

After being outshot 15-10 in the second, the Rivermen turned the tables and finished with their strongest period in the third and a 13-6 edge in the shot department. Nicholas Drazenovic gave the Rivermen the lead for good at 5:58 with his 14th of the season. On the power play, Jonas Junland let go of a heavy shot that deflected to the side of the goal for Drazenovic.

Chris Porter scored the eventual game-winner at 13:50 the give the Rivermen a 4-2 lead. He intercepted a pass at the blue line and raced around the outside with one hand on his stick. After he threw it towards the goal, it bounced off the post and he tipped it past Ford for his 10th of the season. It was just the seventh unassisted goal of the year and first for Porter.

With the net empty and already on a power play, Maxim Fortunus slapped home the third Stars' goal with 2:47 remaining in regulation.

Toivonen finished with 29 saves and earned his second consecutive win. Peoria was 1-for-2 on the power play while the Stars were 1-for-4.

The Rivermen will take on the first, second and third place teams of the West Division this weekend when they host the Chicago Wolves on Friday, travel to Rockford on Saturday, and wrap up against the Milwaukee Admirals on Sunday at home.

All lower bowl tickets to Friday night's game will be available for $10 at the Peoria Civic Center box office on Friday only. For more information stop by the Rivermen office, call 309-676-1040 or visit www.rivermen.net/tickets.

Check out the Peoria Rivermen Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from February 23, 2010


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