ECHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen Hold Off Reading at Home 4-2

Published on February 26, 2005 under ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


Peoria, Ill. - The Peoria Rivermen fought off two third-period comebacks by the Reading Royals on Saturday night to hold on for a 4-2 win before 5,792 at Carver Arena.

The Royals finally got on the board 2:08 into the final period of regulation, making it 2-1. Eric Fortier, on one knee at the right side of the low slot, took a pass from Dan Welch, after a steal in behind the Peoria net, and scooped the puck into the upper left corner. It was Fortier's 17th tally of the year.

Peoria gave itself its two-goal lead back just 2:31 later. Igor Valeev held the puck along the right-wing boards in the Reading zone, waiting to find Trevor Byrne, who joined the play at the left point and took Valeev's pass. Byrne faked a shot and found Brian McCullough just off the right goal post for an easy, one-time slap shot goal past diving Reading netminder Cody Rudkowsky. It was his team-leading 26th goal of the season, and it would prove to be the game winner.

Reading got within one again at 6:14 of the third. Tom Galvin's shot from the top of the right face-off circle was stopped by Rivermen goaltender Alfie Michaud with the left pad, but the rebound was left just above the goal crease off the right post for an easy chip-in by Welch. It was Welch's fourth goal of the year.

Peoria finished the scoring with a laser of an empty-net goal by Igor Valeev from near the top of the face-off circle in the Rivermen end. It was Valeev's fifth tally of the season.

Peoria (25-18-7, 57 points) is now 4-1-2 through seven games of a Peoria professional hockey record 11 in a row at Carver Arena. The Rivermen, who improved to 2-3-0 against the Royals this season, collected their 15th win on home ice in 27 opportunities (15-7-5) this year. Reading (29-16-5, 63 points) has lost two in a row and fell to 15-11-3 on the road.

Michaud (17-8-4), who was reassigned back from the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate - the Worcester IceCats - earlier in the day, stopped 24 of 26 Reading shots in the victory. Rudkowsky (5-6-0) turned away 30 of 33 Peoria chances in the losing effort.

Peoria was stopped twice early in the first period on amazing saves by Rudkowsky. Justin Maiser's backhand attempt was denied on a diving glove save by Rudkowsky, and then Randy Rowe got poke-checked in the high slot by Rudkowsky after breaking away from the Reading defense at the left point.

The Rivermen took a 1-0 lead with just 33 seconds left in the opening session. Byrne held the puck in at the left point and wristed a shot toward the net that Reggie Stringer, in the low slot, tipped down and through the legs of Rudkowsky. It was Stringer's 13th tally of the season.

Peoria gave itself a 2-0 lead on the power play at 12:20 of the second period. Trevor Baker, stationed at the right side of the Reading goal, fed Tyler Rennette at the top of the right face-off circle for a one-time blast into the upper right corner. It was Rennette's 13th marker of the year.

The Rivermen and the archrival Toledo Storm battle on Friday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m. It is Disco Night, and the team will wear special Disco-themed jerseys to be auctioned off after the game to benefit Counseling & Family Services. Local favorites "Jamsammich" will perform in a post-game concert. It is also Circle K Team Photo Night, as the first 4,000 fans will receive a Rivermen Team Photo.

Check out the Peoria Rivermen Statistics

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ECHL Stories from February 26, 2005


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