Rivermen Get Early Lead and Hold On to Beat Toledo 4-3 in Regulation on the Road
Published on December 4, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
Toledo, Ohio - The Peoria Rivermen led 2-0 after one period, grabbing the lead to open a contest for just the third time this season, and held on to win 4-3 beating the archrival Toledo Storm before a crowd of 3,404 on Saturday night at the Toledo Sports Arena.
The victory allowed Peoria to snap a five-game winless skid (0-4-1) and pick up just their second win over the last 11 games (2-8-1).
The Rivermen (4-9-3, 11 points), who have notched both their road wins in Toledo, improved to 2-5-1 away from Carver Arena and 2-1-1 against the archrival Storm. Toledo (9-6-3, 21 points), who has lost three of its last four games, dropped to 5-3-0 at home this season.
Rivermen rookie goaltender Chris Beckford-Tseu (2-6-1), who replaced a slightly-injured Alfie Michaud at 4:06 of the second period, stopped 22 of 25 shots in the victory. He snapped a six-game winning streak with the win. Michaud stopped all seven shots he faced. Toledo's Scott Fankhouser (5-4-2) turned aside 16 of 20 in defeat.
The Rivermen opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal at 4:52 of the first period. Rivermen Captain Trevor Baker was the recipient of a funny redirection off the left-wing boards that allowed him to break in alone on the Toledo goal from the blue line. Baker got to the middle of the slot and roofed his fourth goal of the season into the upper left corner over the blocker of Fankhouser. Baker has both Rivermen shorthanded tallies this season, and they have both come on the road in Toledo.
Peoria made it 2-0 at 13:10 of the opening session on Baker's second of the period. Brian McCullough took a pass from Igor Valeev and broke into the Toledo zone down the middle of the ice. McCullough pulled up at the right side of the high slot and fired a low shot that deflected off a Toledo defender's leg and off the right pad of Fankhouser. Baker, driving to the net down the left side of the zone, snapped the loose puck up and into the open goal.
Toledo jumped on the scoreboard on the power play at 11:17 of the second. Tyler Knight, stationed in the left-wing corner, found Tomas Micka in the slot for a one-time slap shot goal. It was Micka's third tally of the season.
The Rivermen answered just 1:17 later. Trevor Baker raced into the Toledo zone on right wing and fed a breaking Brian McCullough, who slipped his sixth goal of the season under a sprawling Fankhouser from just off the left goal post.
Toledo made it 3-2 at 15:14 of the middle stanza. After a turnover and quick transition at the Toledo blue line, Jason Maleyko charged up the ice with Sam Paolini, carrying the puck into the Rivermen end on left wing. Maleyko looked off Paolini and snapped his second goal of the year through the legs of Beckford-Tseu.
Peoria answered for the second time in the second just 1:23 later. Justin Maiser worked into the Toledo zone on right wing and whistled low shot through the legs of a Toledo defender and off the left pad of Fankhouser. Maiser followed up his own rebound, and while nearly at the end red line at the side of the Toledo net, he sent a bad-angle shot behind Fankhouser up into the far left corner for his fifth tally of the season.
The Storm cut the lead to one goal for the third time of the night 6:36 into the third period on the power play. Micka fired a slap shot into the zone from center ice that Beckford-Tseu stopped, but the rebound got away from Beckford-Tseu and Tyler Knight jumped down to the front of the goal to roof the puck into the upper right corner for his seventh tally of the season.
Tomorrow afternoon - Sunday, December 5, the Rivermen host the Wheeling Nailers in the second of two games over three days between the clubs. Game time is 3:00 p.m. It is the first of four Peoria Journal Star/Insight Media/InPlay Family Days. Kids 12 and Under receive a $2 Upper Bowl admission, and there are $2.50 Kids Meals available. Arnold of "Hey, Arnold!" will also be on hand. It is also a Kaufman Wellness Center Night. Fans may receive a free spinal check and back massage, courtesy of the Kaufman Wellness Center staff, by making a donation to the Children's Hospital of Illinois.
ECHL Stories from December 4, 2004
- Gladiators Beat Ice Pilots 7-3 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Gators Skin Lynx 4-3 - Louisiana IceGators
- Rivermen Get Early Lead and Hold On to Beat Toledo 4-3 in Regulation on the Road - Peoria Rivermen
- Checkers fall to Columbia, 5-1 - Charlotte Checkers
- Reading Ekes By Trenton 2-1 - Trenton Devils
- 'Blades Run Winning Streak to Four Straight with 5-1 Win - Florida Everblades
- Pride fall to Everblades - Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz
- Atlantic City Rolls Over Chiefs - Johnstown Chiefs
- Bullies Pound Johnstown 6-1 - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
- Falcons Sign Falco, Release Rypien - Fresno Falcons
- Another Island Boy Joins the Fold - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Aeros Assign Three to Gators - Louisiana IceGators
- O'Keefe Placed On 7 Day Injured Reserve - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- San Diego Looks To Get Back On Winning Track - San Diego Gulls
- Parillo to Grand Rapids - Toledo Walleye
- Victoria Makes ECHL History Sunday - ECHL
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Aces stymied, 4-2 - Alaska Aces
- Checkers gain point in 3-2 shootout loss - Charlotte Checkers
- Ice Pilots Fly By Sea Wolves 4-1 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Ice Dogs Fall To Condors 3-2 In Shootout - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Condors Comeback Again, 3-2 in Long Beach - Bakersfield Condors
- Steelheads hand Gulls first home loss, 3-1 - Idaho Steelheads
- Idaho Edges Gulls, 3-1 - San Diego Gulls
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
