Rivermen Fall 3-2 in a Shootout to Atlantic City on the Road
February 4, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
Atlantic City, NJ (February 4, 2004) â The Peoria Rivermen battled back to the tie the game but could not prevail in a shootout, losing 3-2 to the defending Kelly Cup Champion Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies on Wednesday at the Boardwalk Hall.
The Rivermen knotted the game 2-2 on Bret DeCecco's eighth of the season, which came on the power play. Joe Vandermeer wristed a shot from the center point that DeCecco, between the hash marks in the slot, batted down and past Atlantic City goaltender Scott Stirling at 14:11.
Peoria was 1-for-4 on the power play for the game, while Atlantic City was 1-for-5.
The goal ultimately sent the game to a shootout, where Peoria fell to 4-4 in shootouts and Atlantic City improved to 5-2 on the year.
The Rivermen struck first in the opening shootout round, as Adam Edinger scored his fifth shootout tally. After Jon Cullen was stopped by Peoria's Mike Valley, Atlantic City scored on its next three opportunities with goals from Preston Mizzi, Josh Prudden (shootout winner) and Luke Curtin. Tyler Rennette, DeCecco and Marty Johnston missed for Peoria.
Peoria (25-12-8, 58 points) dropped to 14-4-5 on the road in the shootout loss. The Rivermen stayed unbeaten in regulation, though, in three meetings (1-0-2) against the Boardwalk Bullies. The teams have yet to decide any of their matchups in regulation. The Rivermen, in third place, remain three points in front of the rival Johnstown Chiefs, who battle Friday and Saturday on the road. Atlantic City (31-10-3, 64 points) has participated in five straight shootout decisions with a 3-2 record. The Boardwalk Bullies improved to 16-3-2 at home and are 11-1-2 in their last 14 games. Atlantic City is one point behind the first place Wheeling Nailers with two games in hand.
Valley stopped 22 of 24 shots in regulation and overtime but just one of four in the shootout; he drops 0-4 in shootouts on the year. Stirling turned away 32 of 34 chances in overtime and regulation and three of four in the shootout; he improved to 3-1 in shootouts on the season.
Peoria opened the scoring at 4:51 of the first period in a 4-on-4 situation. Johnston stole an Atlantic City clearing attempt near the center point and snapped a quick pass to Scott Crawford, who was streaking into the zone on right wing. Crawford maneuvered to the bottom of the face-off circle and sent a low shot at the Atlantic City goal. Stirling made the initial save, but Edinger was at the top of the goal crease and able to put a backhand chip shot past Stirling with two defenseman draped all over him. It was Edinger's 12th tally of the season.
Atlantic City tied it up at 7:38 of the opening period. Defenseman Brian Fahey wrapped the puck around the boards in behind the Peoria net, where Cullen grabbed the puck and circled out to the right face-off dot. Cullen then faked like he was going to drive the net and wristed his 20th goal of the year over Valley, who was down and screened. Cullen leads all ECHL rookies in points.
The Boardwalk Bullies took their first lead of the night on the power play at 9:00 of the second. Fahey grabbed a loose puck that popped out to the left point, pushed it inside the face-off circle and fired a shot through a maze of players past Valley for a 2-1 lead and his seventh tally of the season.
On Friday, February 6, the Rivermen travel to Johnstown, Pa. to face off against the rival Chiefs in the first of two in a row between the clubs. Game time is 6:00 p.m. CT at the Cambria County War Memorial.
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