ECHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen go 1-2-1 on the road with three games left

Published on April 4, 2005 under ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


THE RECAP:

Wednesday, March 30, 2005 @ Trenton Game #66 ECHL Game #934

Rivermen 3 Trenton 4 Shootout

The Peoria Rivermen battled back from a two-goal, third-period deficit to earn a point in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Trenton Titans in front of 4,518 on Wednesday night at the Sovereign Bank Arena.

That point coupled with a Toledo loss (5-3) in Dayton and a Wheeling loss (4-2) in Atlantic City gave the Rivermen outright possession of the fourth and final playoff spot in the eight-team North Division with six games remaining in the 2004-2005 ECHL regular season.

The Rivermen got within one at 12:22 of the final period, making it 3-2. Veteran Reggie Stringer won a face-off in the left circle back to his right for Brian McCullough, who rifled his team-leading 36th tally of the season over the glove of Trenton goaltender Andrew Allen and into the upper right corner.

Peoria tied it 3-3 with 1:17 left in regulation and its goaltender Alfie Michaud pulled. After collecting a Tyler Rennette rebound in the slot and getting stopped on an initial chance, Rivermen Captain Trevor Baker pushed the puck to the right circle and slid it down low to defenseman Ed Hill. Hill, who was at the bottom of the right face-off circle, slung his sixth goal of the year in behind Allen.

The Rivermen outshot the Titans 4-0 in the overtime, but the game went to a shootout. Peoria's Tyler Rennette struck in the first round, but that was all the Rivermen scoring there would be. Trenton's Rick Kowalsky, Scott Bertoli – who registered the shootout winner, and B.J. Abel each scored in the second, third and fourth rounds, respectively.

Peoria dropped to 3-6 in shootouts on the year, while Trenton improved to 7-5.

For the Rivermen (36-22-8, 80 points), it was first time in six meetings (5-0-1) this season they did not garner two points against the Titans. Peoria also had its four-game winning streak, which came over four home games, snapped. Trenton (37-20-9, 83 points) moved into a tie with the Reading Royals (38-20-7, 83 points) for second place in the North Division with one more game played. The Titans, who have won five in a row, improved to 22-8-4 at home this season.

Friday, April 1, 2005 @ Atlantic City Game #67 ECHL Game #936

Rivermen 2 Atlantic City 3

Down 3-1 entering the third period for the second game in a row, the Peoria Rivermen were unable to "fool" the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies into giving up the two goals needed to allow them to tie the contest, losing 3-2 in front of 1,894 on Friday night at Historic Boardwalk Hall.

The Rivermen did score with 1:35 remaining in the game and their netminder Alfie Michaud pulled for the extra attacker; Michaud was pulled with just less than four minutes remaining. Tyler Rennette, in behind the Atlantic City goal, took a pass from defenseman Ed Hill and found defenseman Trevor Byrne, who – from just above the left hash marks – pumped his fifth tally of the season past Atlantic City goaltender Trevor Koenig.

Peoria (36-23-8, 80 points) fell to 13-16-3 on the road and lost for the first time this season at Boardwalk Hall in four opportunities. The Rivermen had won six in a row against the Boardwalk Bullies dating back to November 6. The loss combined with a Toledo win at home over the Johnstown Chiefs dropped Peoria out of the fourth and final playoff spot by one point. Atlantic City (40-21-8, 88 points) maintained its hold on first place, keeping itself three points in front of the Reading Royals with three more games played. The Boardwalk Bullies have won four in a row overall and five straight at Boardwalk Hall, improving to 21-9-5.

Saturday, April 2, 2005 @ Trenton Game #68 ECHL Game #962

Rivermen 3 Trenton 1

The Peoria Rivermen made sure they started playing in the first period Saturday night and not the third, as they beat the Trenton Titans 3-1 in front of 7,508 at the Sovereign Bank Arena.

The Rivermen started their six-game road trip by struggling in the first 40 minutes of each game, which resulted in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Titans on Wednesday and a 3-2 regulation loss to the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies on Friday.

The Titans tied the game 1-1 with 6:26 remaining in regulation. Defenseman Rosario Ruggeri held the puck in at the center point and dished it off to the right point for Stephen Wood. Wood wristed a waist-high shot toward the Peoria goal that Brent Robinson, at the left side of the right face-off circle, tipped down and past Rivermen goaltender Alfie Michaud for his 18th goal of the year.

The Rivermen grabbed their lead right back 1:35 later. Brian McCullough chipped the puck to Jake Riddle, who worked down the left-wing boards in the Trenton zone, cut underneath one defenseman at the face-off circle and then hopped around another just off the left post. In the low slot, Riddle pulled Trenton goaltender Andrew Allen out of position and backhanded his 11th marker of the season inside the right post. It would prove to be the game winner.

Peoria sealed the win on Rivermen Captain Trevor Baker's second goal of the game with Trenton's net empty. Tyler Rennette stole a Titans clearing attempt floating a backhand shot on net from the left face-off circle that Baker, from the top of the goal crease, knocked down as it was heading to the net. It was Baker's 17th goal of the season.

Despite their victory, Peoria (37-23-8, 82 points) remained in fifth place, one behind the archrival Toledo Storm, because Toledo beat the Wheeling Nailers 3-2 on the road on the strength of three unanswered goals. It was the 22nd time the Rivermen had held the opposition to two goals or less in the last 40 games. With the win, Peoria improved to 14-16-3 on the road and picked up its first win in three games (1-1-1) on a critical six-game road trip that will determine its playoff fate. Trenton (38-21-9, 85 points) had its six-game winning streak snapped in the loss and dropped to 22-9-4 at home this season. The Titans finished their seven-game season series with the Rivermen with a 1-4-2 mark.

Sunday, April 3, 2005 @ Reading Game #69 ECHL Game #969

Rivermen 1 Reading 2

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.

The Captain's Log

Just Points From The Playoffs

The Rivermen (37-24-8, 82 points) are just three points out of the last playoff spot in the eight-team North Division with three games to play. Peoria trails the archrival Toledo Storm (40-24-5, 85 points) and the Trenton Titans (38-21-9, 85 points) for that postseason slot; the Titans have a game in hand on the Rivermen and the Storm. The Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies (40-22-8, 88 points) are in second place, six points ahead of the Rivermen with one more game played. The first-place Reading Royals (41-20-7, 89 points) are the first team to clinch a playoff spot in the North. Peoria has powered its way back into the playoff picture with a torrid 30-12-5 record (69 percent point-making percentage) in the 47 games following the Christmas Holiday.

Dandy Defense

The Rivermen have held the opposition to two goals or less in the last two straight games and in 23 of the last 41 contests. They have kept opposing teams to three goals or fewer in 35 of those games. The Rivermen are allowing 2.39 goals per game, which is good for second place in the ECHL.

Injury, Call-up & Transaction Report

· Rivermen left wing Igor Valeev has been placed from the 7-day injured reserve, 04/01/05.

· Defenseman Tim Branham has been activated from the 7-day injured reserve, 04/01/05.

· Defenseman Trevor Byrne remains on reassignment from the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 03/17/05.

· Right wing Colin Hemingway remains on reassignment to the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 03/02/05.

· Rivermen left wing David Kaczowka has been suspended by the ECHL (two games), 02/16/05.

· Rivermen left wing David Kaczowka remains on reassignment to the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 02/14/05.

· Left wing Igor Valeev remains on reassignment from the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 02/10/05.

· Rivermen rookie center Troy Riddle remains on reassignment to the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 12/01/04.

Steering Our Way Through The Schedule

GAMES:

· On Tuesday, April 5, the Rivermen face off against the Reading Royals in the second of two in a row between the clubs and the eighth and final meeting of the regular season between them. Peoria lost 2-1 in regulation this past Sunday in Reading and remains winless (0-3-0) in three meetings at the Sovereign Center this season. In fact, Peoria is winless in its last six games (0-5-1) in Reading, dating back to December 21, 2003. The Rivermen are 2-5-0 against the Royals this season and 8-7-3 lifetime in the ECHL against them. Reading (41-20-7, 89 points) sits in first place in the eight-team North Division, having just clinched the Division's first playoff spot with its 2-1 regulation win over the Rivermen this past Sunday. The Royals are led by center Graig Mischler, who has 60 points (10g, 50a) in 55 games. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WIRL, Classic Country 1290 AM and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 5:45 p.m. from the Sovereign Center. Game time is 6:00 p.m. CT.

· On Friday, April 8, Peoria finishes its four-city, six-game road trip against its archrival, the Toledo Storm. It will be the sixth and final meeting of the regular season in Toledo and the 11th total on the year. To make the playoffs, the Rivermen will have to win this game. Peoria lost its two most recent meetings with the Storm by way of 3-2 and 6-1 losses on March 11 and 12, respectively, in Toledo. The Rivermen are 4-5-1 against the Storm this season and own a 58-27-6 lifetime ECHL regular season record against them. Toledo (40-24-5, 85 points) maintains a three-point advantage on the Rivermen for the fourth and final playoff spot in the North Division with three games played. The Storm are led by forward Kevin Bergin, who has 53 points (18g, 35a) in 68 games. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WIRL, Classic Country 1290 AM and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 6:15 p.m. from the Toledo Sports Arena. Game time is 6:30 p.m. CT.

· On Saturday, April 9, the Rivermen and the Dayton Bombers battle in the regular season finale. It will be the ninth and final meeting of the season between the teams. Peoria is 3-3-2 against the Bombers this year and owns 49-28-11 lifetime ECHL regular season record against the Bombers. Dayton (23-39-7, 53 points) is in eighth place in the eight-team North Division. The Bombers are led by left wing Janne Jokila, who has 46 points (24g, 22a) in 67 games. It is Ralph Rashid/UFS Savings Center/Ashley Furniture Fan Appreciation Night. Thousands of dollars in prizes will be given away from our Rivermen corporate partners as part of the team's last regular season game in the ECHL. All fans in attendance will have the opportunity to win a room of Ashley Furniture. The game broadcast can be heard TAPE DELAY on WIRL, Classic Country 1290 AM and LIVE online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 6:45 p.m. from Carver Arena. Game time is 7:00 p.m. CT.

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