Rivermen Double up the Reading Royals 4-2 in Game Two of the Northern Division Finals
April 19, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
Peoria, Ill. - Game Twos of playoff series are becoming a familiar place to step into the spotlight for Peoria Rivermen rookie left wing Garett Cameron.
For the second series in a row, Cameron netted two goals in a Game Two leading the Rivermen to a 4-2 victory over the visiting Reading Royals on Monday night before 1,785 in Game Two the Northern Division Finals at Carver Arena.
Cameron needed just two shots for both his tallies in this game and earned a +1 plus/minus. In Game Two of the Northern Division Semifinals in Atlantic City, he collected two goals and added an assist with a +3 plus/minus in a 6-3 series-evening win.
The Rivermen gave themselves a needed insurance goal with 6:19 left in regulation. Marty Johnston knocked down a Reading clearing attempt at the right point and touched a pass to Cameron as he maneuvered down the wing. Cameron cut in under Royals defenseman Mat Snesrud and powered to the near post, pushing his second tally of the game and team-leading fourth of the playoffs through the legs of Reading goaltender Cody Rudkowsky.
Peoria (4-2, 8 points) improved to 3-1 at home in the postseason. Reading (5-3, 10 points) dropped to 4-2 on the road in the playoffs.
Peoria goaltender Mike Valley turned away 19 of 21 shots in the victory, his third of the playoffs (3-1). Rudkowsky stopped 28 of 32 chances in the loss, his third of the postseason (5-3).
The Rivermen opened the scoring just 27 seconds into the game. Joe Vandermeer carried the puck into the left wing corner from the point and fired a pass to the top of the goal crease. Jason Norrie, who fought his way to the front of the net, popped in his first goal of the playoffs from just off the right goal post past a sliding Rudkowsky.
The Royals tied it 1-1 on Nick Lees' second marker of the postseason. Taking the spot of the team's leading scorer - David Masse - who was on suspension for an alleged incident with a fan in Game One, Lees took a pass on left wing from Peter Hay on partial two-on-one break into the Peoria zone. Lees stickhandled to the bottom of the face-off circle and backhanded in a bad angle shot that appeared to go through the legs of Valley.
Peoria gave itself a 2-1 lead 3:28 into the second session. Marty Johnston took a pass along the left wing boards at the face-off circle from Tyler Rennette, snapping a pass to the low slot for Cameron. Cameron, a few steps above Reading defenseman Reagan Rome, laid his stick out for a deflection into the upper right corner that Rudkowsky had no chance of stopping.
The Royals tied the game up just two minutes later with Peoria on the power play. Kayle Short pinched from the right point to the top of the face-off circle, which allowed Kent Davyduke to take a check from him and dish the puck off to Dean Arsene. Arsene broke out of the Reading zone to center ice with Judd Medak on a two-on-one break. Medak took a pass at the top of the right face-off circle in the Peoria zone and maneuvered in on Valley to beat him between the legs.
The Rivermen took their third lead of the game at 9:58 of the second with a shorthanded goal of their own, making it 3-2. Chad Starling collected the rebound off an Adam Edinger blocked shot at the left point and wristed a high shot toward the Reading net. The puck appeared to have hit Reading's Graig Mischler in front of the goal and deflected over Rudkowsky, who came well out of his goal to play the puck, and into the net. It proved to be the game winner.
The Rivermen face off against the Royals on the road in Game Three of the Northern Division Finals on Wednesday, April 21. Game time is 6:00 p.m. CDT at the Sovereign Center.
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