Rivermen Doubled Up by Wheeling 4-2 at Home; Reach New Season Mark for Futility with Fourth Loss in
Published on February 24, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
Peoria, Ill. (February 24, 2004) â The Peoria Rivermen tied the game in early in the third but let the lead slip midway through session, eventually losing 4-2 to the first place Wheeling Nailers in front of 3,098 on Tuesday night at Carver Arena.
Peoria reached a new season mark for futility, losing four in a row overall. The Rivermen have also dropped three in a row at home for the first time, falling to 13-11-3. They are averaging 1.21 goals per game (17 goals) over 14 Carver Arena defeats, which include three overtime losses.
The Rivermen tied the game 2-2 at 2:19 of the third on the power play. George Halkidis' shot from the right point was stopped by Wheeling goaltender Joe Exter. The rebound was swept at by Randy Rowe but Marty Johnston â with his back to the net â lifted a backhand shot into the open goal with Exter down. It was Johnston's 18th tally of the season.
The Nailers took their second lead of the night at 11:19 of the third on a power play of their own. Mario Larocque hammered a slap shot from the left point just inside of the right goal post. The puck looked to have been tipped by Jason Jaffray, who had the game winner on Sunday but the goal was credited to Larocque, who was credited with eighth goal of the season.
Each team finished the night 1-for-4 with the man advantage.
Larocque finished the scoring with an empty-net tally at 19:52 on a slap shot up the middle of the ice from his own zone.
Peoria (30-16-8, 68 points) fell to 3-3-1 against the Nailers this season and 25-14-8 against the Northern Division. Wheeling (39-13-2, 80 points) has won four in a row and improved to 16-9-0 on the road. The Nailers are in the lead for the Brabham Cup Championship (Regular Season Points Champion) with a four-point advantage over the defending Kelly Cup Champion Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies and the San Diego Gulls.
Peoria goaltender Mike Valley turned away 13 of 16 shots in his seventh regulation loss of the season (17-7-6). Exter stopped 31 of 33 chances in his third professional win.
The Rivermen grabbed a 1-0 lead at 8:18 of the opening period. Johnston barreled in on the Wheeling net from the left face-off circle, snapping a shot that Exter stopped. Adam Edinger, trailing the play, picked up the loose puck and shoved it past Exter for his 14th goal of the season.
The Nailers equalized at 1:09 of the second. Eric Erb fired a shot at the Peoria net from the left wing boards. Alex Rouleau, who was circling behind the goal, tipped the puck through the legs of Valley just off the left goal post.
Wheeling took its first lead of the night at 4:10 of the second. Mark Kosick took a Brad Mehalko pass at center ice, worked into the Rivermen zone on left wing, split the defense and beat Valley through legs with his 15th marker of the season.
Tomorrow night â February 25 â the Rivermen travel to Toledo, Ohio to battle the archrival Toledo Storm for the seventh time this season. Game time is 6:00 p.m. CT at the Toledo Sports Arena.
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