ECHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen Edge Atlantic City 2-1 in Overtime on Edinger's Game Winner

April 12, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


Peoria, Ill. (April 12, 2004) – Just 2:17 into overtime play, Adam Edinger potted the game winner as the Peoria Rivermen beat the defending Kelly Cup Champion Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies 2-1 in front of 1,955 on Monday night in Game Three of the Northern Division Semifinals.

Edinger, the team's face-off specialist, won a draw in the right circle over Atlantic City Captain Stefan Rivard. Edinger, ala Tyler Rennette, then pushed it forward past Rivard, sidestepping him and maneuvering in on alone on Boardwalk Bullies goaltender Scott Stirling. Edinger chipped a backhand shot just inside the near post past Stirling's swiping glove for the winner and his second tally of the postseason.

Captain Trevor Baker scored a similar goal to give Peoria its first lead of the series in Game Two at 10:27 of the second period on Friday in Atlantic City. The technique is a trademark move of Rivermen Team MVP Tyler Rennette.

Peoria (2-1, 4 points) extended its home winning streak to 10 games with the victory. Atlantic City (1-2, 2 points) dropped just its 12th game in regulation on the road this season in 37 opportunities (23-12-2).

Peoria goaltender Mike Valley, who had not seen game action since March 16 in Reading, Pa., in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Royals, stopped 37 of 38 Boardwalk Bullies chances in the win. Stirling, the ECHL MVP and Goaltender of the Year, making his first start of the postseason, stopped 40 of 42 in the loss.

The Rivermen grabbed a 1-0 lead at 7:39 of the opening period. Baker dug the puck out of the left wing corner and popped it to Kenny Goetz. Goetz, near the end redline off the left post, moved toward the goal and dropped a backhand pass between his legs to David Kaczowka, who snapped a backhand between the legs of Stirling.

Goetz was activated from the 30-day injured reserve before the game after Colin Hemingway was reassigned to the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate – the Worcester IceCats – before the game.

Peoria held on to a 1-0 lead until late in regulation. With the Boardwalk Bullies pressing in 5-on-5 action, Preston Mizzi took a pass at the center point from Jimmy Henkel and rifled his second goal of the playoffs into the upper left corner past Valley. The marker came at 18:28.

Henkel was returned from loan with the Lowell Lock Monsters (AHL) before the game. The Boardwalk Bullies also received defenseman Brian Fahey back from the Hershey Bears (AHL); Fahey, property of Worcester (AHL), had been on loan to the Bears.

On Tuesday, April 13 – tomorrow night – the Rivermen face off against the Boardwalk Bullies in Game Four of the Northern Division Semifinals. Game time is 7:00 p.m. at Carver Arena.

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ECHL Stories from April 12, 2004


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