AHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen Downed by Chicago 10-5 at Home

Published on November 4, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


Peoria, IL - The Peoria Rivermen shorthanded struggles continued on Saturday night, as they gave up six power play goals, en route to a 10-5 thumping at the hands of the Chicago Wolves in front of 4,244 at Carver Arena.

Prior to the game on October 22 at Toronto, the Rivermen penalty-killing unit had led the league at a 94.3 percent efficiency rating. However, after giving up at least three power play goals in three of their last four games, Peoria has staved off 70 of 85 power play opportunities, falling to 14th in the AHL at 82.1 percent.

The game had an ominous start when center Joel Perrault, who was skating with the Rivermen for conditioning purposes, barreled into the Wolves goaltender Michael Garnett and was called for a questionable charging major.

The Wolves (8-3-1-0, 17 pts) capitalized on the opportunity and began a string of three power play goals in a span of 2:06 with their first goal at 8:48 of the opening period. A wrist shot from the right face-off circle by left wing Brett Sterling that was tipped by a Rivermen defenseman and the puck slid to the left side of the net. Center Jason Krog skated up to the puck just off the left goal post and slapped a backhand shot in between the legs of rookie goaltender Marek Schwarz, who appeared to be screened. It was Krog's for his seventh marker of the season and first of seven points in the game.

Chicago scored their second power play goal at 10:09 of the first. Krog, who was down low in the left face-off circle, fired a pass to defenseman Nathan Oystrick at the left side of the high slot, where he blasted a shot over the right shoulder of Schwarz. The goal was Oystrick's fourth of the season, giving the Wolves' a 2-0 advantage.

Just 45 seconds later, the Wolves utilized quick passing in tallying their third man-advantage goal after Perrault's major penalty. From behind the net, Sterling fired a pass to Krog, who was in the left face-off circle and tipped the puck cross-ice to right wing Darren Haydar, who simply needed to tap it home into the vacated net. It was Haydar's 10th tally of the year.

Chicago then notched an even-strength goal, increasing their lead to 4-0 at 19:06 of the first frame. Center Derek MacKenzie won the face-off in the right circle that left wing Jordan LaVallee in the slot, where he wristed a shot between the right post and left arm of Schwarz. The tally was the third of the year for LaVallee.

The Rivermen (5-5-0-1, 11 pts) were able to get on the board during a man-advantage at 2:40 of the second stanza. Center Trent Whitfield fired a shot from the left face-off circle that was stopped by Chicago goaltender Michael Garnett. The puck landed in front of the crease and Whitfield followed his shot, slamming it through Garnett's legs on third-chance attempt for his fifth goal of the campaign.

At the 4:28 mark of the second, goaltender Garnett was taken out of the game after Mike Glumac accidentally kneed him in the head as he was skating through the crease, trying to grab a loose puck.

Peoria netted another goal at 5:21 of the second to cut Chicago's lead to 4-2. Left wing Peter Sejna skated up toward the blue line along the right wing boards and fired a pass to defenseman Tomas Mojzis, who was deep in the slot. Mojzis slapped a shot that was deflected by right wing David Backes, who was parked in the slot, which bounced past new Wolves netminder Dave Caruso's right pad.

Chicago then started another rally of their own, scoring an unbelievable five unanswered goals in a span of 3:36 in the second period. The first came at 9:22, after numerous fantastic point blank saves by new Rivermen netminder Jason Bacashihua, who replaced Schwarz to start the second period. However, Sterling was finally able to beat Bacashihua as he lifted a rebound over the sprawled out goalie. Defenseman Braydon Coburn and Krog were credited with assists.

Twenty-six seconds later, the same combination of players netted another goal. Sterling, who was at the top of the left face-off circle, blasted a shot that slipped through a screen and the legs of Bacashihua for Sterling's second goal of the period and sixth on the year.

Wolves right wing Kyle Wanvig got in on the scoring, making the game 6-2 as he took the puck from the left wing boards, wrapped around the net and as he was falling to the ice, backhanded it past the outstretched left leg of Bacashihua at 10:58.

Fifty-eight seconds later, Krog tallied his sixth point of the game, and tenth against the Rivermen, in two games, this season, as he snapped a shot from the right circle that flew by the left arm of Bacashihua.

The fifth unanswered Wolves goal made the game 9-2 and was scored at 12:58. Wanvig skated deep into the left face-off circle and fired a pass to right wing Joey Crabb in the slot, where he tipped the puck over the left pad of Bacashihua.

Peoria capped off the second-period scoring at 14:20. Whitfield dumped the puck off to Sejna at the right-wing boards, where he took it around the net and backhanded a shot off of the back of Caruso and into the goal for his second marker of the year.

The Rivermen scored first in the third period, making the game 9-4 at 1:50. From the slot, defenseman Jeff Woywitka sent a pass to left wing D.J. King in the left circle, where he snapped a shot the bounced off of the left post. The puck slid along the goal line, behind Chicago netminder Caruso, to center Ryan Ramsay, who was standing along the right post, where he simply tapped it into the net for his first goal of the year.

Peoria registered another goal just 1:07 later, at 2:57 of the third. Left wing Magnus Kahnberg skated into the left face-off circle and dished a pass off to center Cam Keith in the slot, where he tapped the puck past a sliding Caruso to make it 9-5.

Chicago recorded its sixth goal on the man-advantage at 7:00 of the third frame. After the initial shot from the right point by Haydar was stopped, the rebound rolled to the right dot, where Krog flung it between the right post and left leg of Bacashihua for his third goal of the game.

The Rivermen will host the Iowa Stars at 4:00 p.m. tomorrow afternoon on the first Insight "Family Day." Fans may purchase four upper bowl tickets, four hot dogs, cokes and chips for only $38. There will be a post-game skate with the Rivermen; fans are required to bring their skates in order to participate in the promotion.

Check out the Peoria Rivermen Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from November 4, 2006


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