Rivermen Outlast Griffins For Fourth Straight Win
December 15, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
PEORIA, Ill. (December 15, 2009) - For the fourth time in as many meetings, the Peoria Rivermen and Grand Rapids Griffins battled in a close game to the bitter end. But for the first time the Rivermen came out on top with a 4-3 shootout victory on Tuesday night at Carver Arena. Julian Talbot scored in regulation and picked up the game-winner in the shootout to extend Peoria's season-high winning streak to four games.
The win was Ben Bishop's sixth straight as he finished with 27 saves and stopped three of four in the shootout. Peoria picked up two points in the standings on the division-leading Texas Stars and are now just seven points back of first.
It was a comeback win for the Rivermen as Grand Rapids converted on their first power play of the game at 3:42. Jamie Tardif unintentionally blocked a shot from Jeremy Williams and quickly turned and flipped it over the pad of Bishop. Michael Nylander, assigned from the Washington Capitals prior to the game, earned his first of three assists on the night.
The Rivermen responded with Talbot's sixth of the season at 7:29. Daniel Larsson lost his stick as Peoria beat out an icing and Aaron Palushaj helped keep the play alive long enough to generate a number of shots. Mitch Love wristed a shot off the back wall that bounced into the crease where Talbot was waiting to push it in.
Peoria's first power play ended with a 2-1 Rivermen lead as Lars Eller scored for the fifth time this season. A pass from Eller to Palushaj was quickly returned and Eller converted on a one-timer for his first power-play goal.
Francis Pare tied the game at 4:10 of the second period after converting on a rebound from a shot Logan Pyett.
Adam Cracknell deflected home his sixth of the season to put the Rivermen back on top at 9:38. Brett Sonne wristed one into the crease and it bounced off Cracknell and past Larsson. The 3-2 lead stuck until the final minute of regulation when Grand Rapids pulled Larsson for the extra attacker. Patrick Rissmiller's shot clipped off the stick of Tyson Strachan and bounced past Bishop with 26.6 seconds remaining in regulation.
In the shootout, Palushaj and Talbot scored while Bishop was able to stop all but Williams in the first four shooters. Barry Tallackson ended the game with his second shootout goal of the season.
The Rivermen are now 5-2 in shootouts and 8-3 overall in games that go past regulation. It was the first loss of the year for Grand Rapids in five overtime games.
Peoria begins a five-game road trip on Saturday in Abbotsford, BC at 8 p.m. They will travel to Grand Rapids (Dec. 27), Lake Erie (Dec. 29), and Toronto (Dec. 30) before returning home to face Chicago on New Year's Eve. All tickets to the game, purchased between noon and 6 p.m. on Dec. 31 at the Civic Center box office will be just $10. Plus Bud and Bud Light cans will be sold for just $2 throughout the game. Call 309-676-1040 for more information or check www.rivermen.net.
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