Rivermen Fall 2-1 in Regulation in Reading; Three Points Out of the Playoffs
April 3, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
Reading, Pa. (April 3, 2005) â The Peoria Rivermen were again denied a win at Sovereign Center in Reading, Pa., falling 2-1 to the Reading Royals in regulation in front of 5,098 on Sunday afternoon. Including last year's two playoff meetings between the teams, Peoria has lost its last six contests (0-5-1) in Reading with its last win coming by way of shootout (2-1) on December 21, 2003.
The Rivermen remain in fifth place in the eight-team North Division, trailing the archrival Toledo Storm by three points with three games to play for the fourth and final playoff spot.
Peoria (37-24-8, 82 points) dropped to 1-2-1 through four games of its six-game road swing. The Rivermen have held the opposition to two goals or less in 23 of the last 41 games. Reading (41-20-7, 89 points) clinched a playoff spot with the victory and moved into first place in the North Division, one point in front of the idle Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies with two games in hand. The Royals improved to 23-8-3 at home on the year.
Rivermen goaltender Mathieu Chouinard (11-10-3), a former Royal, stopped 18 of 20 shots in defeat. Royals rookie Barry Brust (26-9-4) turned away 32 of 33 chances, having beaten Peoria in all three games at the Sovereign Center this season and allowing one goal in each.
Reading came out shooting, jumping to an early lead just 10 seconds into the game. Jon Francisco, stationed at the left-wing corner, sent the puck out to David Masse just off the left goal post. Masse quickly fired a pass off to Cail MacLean who was waiting just off the right post. MacLean was easily able to tip the puck inside the right post past Chouinard, who was pulled out of position. It was MacLean's 23rd tally of the season.
Peoria tied the game 1-1 with just one second remaining on the power play at 9:49 of the middle period. Trevor Baker, low in the right circle, sent a cross-ice pass ahead to Brian McCullough, who was just inside the left face-off circle. McCullough walked into the slot, made a great move to pull Brust away from the net, and fired in his team-leading 37th goal of the year on a backhand shot.
Reading took its one-goal lead back at 19:01 of the second. Mikko Viitanen took a shot from the low slot that was initially blocked by Chouinard, but Ian Turner picked up the rebound as it popped out to the high slot and whistled a shot into the upper right corner. It was his fourth goal of the year.
There was no scoring in the third period, despite the fact that Peoria pulled Chouinard for more than two minutes.
On Tuesday, April 5, the Rivermen face off against the Royals again. Game time is 6:00 p.m. CT at the Sovereign Center.
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