Rivermen Outlast Griffins 4-3
March 4, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
PEORIA, Ill. (March 4, 2010) - The Peoria Rivermen turned the page on February with a victory to begin the month of March. Pascal Pelletier's goal with 4:19 remaining in the third period broke a 3-3 tie and sent the Rivermen to the 4-3 win over the Grand Rapids Griffins on Thursday at Carver Arena.
The win clinched the season series for the Rivermen who won the final five of their eight meetings on the year. The Rivermen are now 10-9-1-2 against the North Division and sit 10 points back of the Texas Stars for the final playoff spot in the West.
After a scoreless first period in which the Rivermen outshot the Griffins 15-7, Barry Tallackson scored just 1:46 into the second period with a fancy one-handed move to put Peoria ahead. Grand Rapids stormed back with two goals in 1:32 to give the Griffins the lead. After Justin Abdelkader tied the game at 4:44, Mattias Ritola scored shorthanded to put Grand Rapids in front for the first time. Just 11 seconds into a Rivermen power play, Ritola blocked a shot and strolled in on a breakaway to beat Ben Bishop. It was just the third shorthanded goal of the season scored against the Rivermen.
The Rivermen response came in the form of two goals in the final 4:02 of the period. Matt McIlvane, who was signed to a PTO prior to the game from the Bloomington Prairie Thunder (IHL), scored his first AHL goal at 15:58. Lars Eller then tipped a Jonas Junland shot past Thomas McCullom with only 19 seconds remaining in the period to give the Rivermen a 3-2 lead at the intermission.
Grand Rapids again tied the game on a power-play goal at 8:49 of the third. Jeremy Williams scored his 21st of the year just 9 seconds into a man advantage. Brad May, who was playing in his first minor league game of his 19 year professional career, setup Williams with a pass across the top of the crease.
Pelletier's game-winner came at 15:41 as his slapshot sailed past McCullom for his 11th of the year. Derek Armstrong's shot ricocheted wide of the goal and bounced right to Pelletier in the low circle who slapped it in from a sharp angle.
Bishop finished the game with 32 saves and his 17th victory while McCullom suffered his 10th straight loss.
The Lake Erie Monsters will come to Carver Arena on Saturday before the Rivermen head on the road for a seven-game trip. The game begins at 7 p.m. with the Rivermen Legends game beginning at 5 p.m. For tickets or more information stop by the Rivermen office, call 309-676-1040 or visit www.rivermen.net/tickets.
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