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ECHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen post 3-4-0 mark on seven-game road trip

March 21, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


THE RECAP:

Tuesday, March 15, 2005 @ Reading Game #58 ECHL Game #838

Rivermen 1 Reading 3

Nearly four months to the day since their first visit to the Sovereign Center this season, the Peoria Rivermen turned in a repeat performance as they fell 3-1 to the Reading Royals in front of 5,303 on Tuesday night.

The games were eerily similar, as Peoria trailed early on November 16 before tying the game 1-1 on a power play goal, just as it did in this game. In both games, Peoria surrendered a third-period special teams goal that decided the contest. On November 16, it was a shorthanded goal by David Masse, and on this night, it was a power play marker. And each contest finished with Reading sealing the win with a tally in the final minute of play. The goaltenders were even the same as Chris Beckford-Tseu tended nets for Peoria and Barry Brust for Reading.

The Royals would record the game winner with the man advantage early in the final period. Troy Milam, at the center point, rifled a low shot toward the Peoria net that Captain Cail MacLean, just above the goal crease, tipped through the legs of Beckford-Tseu at 3:43. It was MacLean's 16th marker of the year.

With Peoria's net empty and just after a power play expired, the Royals would add the empty-net tally with 46 seconds remaining in the game. Just as David Masse exited the penalty box, Graig Mischler found him at the center red line. Masse, who had a buffer along the left-wing boards between he and Rivermen rookie defenseman Aaron Forsythe, easily flipped the puck down the ice into the open Peoria goal. It was Masse's third goal in a Reading uniform this season in 12 games.

Peoria (30-21-7, 67 points) has lost three of its last four games to open a five-city, seven-game, nine-day road trip. The Rivermen dropped to 11-14-2 on the road this year. Despite the loss, Peoria has held the opposition to three goals or less in 25 of its last 30 games. Reading (35-18-5, 75 points) has won four of its last five contests and improved to 18-7-2 at home this season.

Thursday, March 17, 2005 @ Johnstown Game #59 ECHL Game #873

Rivermen 7 Johnstown 0

It was a collective effort in Johnstown on Tuesday night, as six different Peoria Rivermen players scored in a 7-0 hammering of the rival Johnstown Chiefs before a crowd of 1,446 at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena. It was Peoria's final trip in its ECHL history to Johnstown.

Russ Guzior, who was the night's only two-goal scorer, netted the only tally of the final period at 7:25 to make it 7-0. After rookie Travis Rycroft was stopped on a shot at the bottom of the right face-off circle, the rebound popped just off the left goal post and right to Guzior, who easily tapped in his second marker of the contest and fifth of the year.

Alfie Michaud stopped all 25 shots he faced, posting his fifth shutout this season and setting a 23-year Peoria professional hockey record for shutouts by a goaltender in a regular season. Michaud is one shutout away from his personal best of six in one season, registered in his third professional season (2001-2002). With one shutout in 2002-2003 for the Rivermen, Michaud's six in a Peoria uniform make him the All-Time Shutouts Leader in the Regular Season by a Rivermen Goaltender.

Newcomer Luke Stauffacher, who was signed before the game out of the University of Minnesota-Duluth, dropped the gloves early in the third period in his first professional contest, taking on Johnstown defenseman Ian Manzano. The diminutive forward (5'7", 175 pounds) held his own against Manzano. Stauffacher did not have his jersey tied down, so along with a five-minute fighting major came a game misconduct.

Peoria (31-21-7, 69 points) improved to 2-3-0 through five games of a seven-game, nine-day road trip and is now 12-14-2 away from Carver Arena this year. The Rivermen have held the opposition to two goals or less in 16 of the last 31 games. Peoria moved to within three points of fifth-place Toledo with a game in hand and to within four points of fourth-place Trenton with a game in hand. Johnstown (19-27-14, 52 points) has lost two straight and is winless in its last 12 games (0-9-3). The Chiefs fell to 12-12-8 at home this season.

Friday, March 18, 2005 @ Atlantic City Game #60 ECHL Game #845

Rivermen 4 Atlantic City 2

The Peoria Rivermen continued their regular season dominance of the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies, beating them 4-2 on Friday night in front of 1,868 at Historic Boardwalk Hall. After losing the season-opening matchup between the teams on November 5 at Carver Arena, it was Peoria's sixth straight victory against Atlantic City this season.

The Boardwalk Bullies cut the Rivermen lead to one for the second time in the game early in the third period. After Rivermen goaltender Alfie Michaud stopped Atlantic City's Jason Notermann on a point-blank chance, the rebound caromed out to the middle of the slot, where Fahey rifled the puck over Michaud, who was down on the ice after the initial save. It was Fahey's seventh goal of the season.

The Rivermen added the insurance tally with 41 seconds remaining in the game. Tyler Rennette maneuvered the puck into the Atlantic City zone on right wing, where three Boardwalk Bullies players converged on him. His eventual shot deflected off the leg of an Atlantic City player to the high slot, where Randy Rowe launched in his 19th marker of the year.

Rennette finished the night with the No. 1 Star, and Michaud collected the No. 3 Star.

Peoria (32-21-7, 71 points) improved to 3-3-0 through six games of its grueling five-city, seven-game, nine-day road trip and to 13-14-2 on the road. The Rivermen are now 25-9-4 in the 38 games following the Christmas Holiday. First-place Atlantic City (35-19-8, 78 points) had its two-game winning streak snapped in the loss. The Boardwalk Bullies, who will remain in first, dropped to 16-9-5 at home this season.

Saturday, March 19, 2005 @ Wheeling Game #61 ECHL Game #870

Rivermen 1 Wheeling 2

Peoria's 10th shorthanded goal allowed this season spelled defeat for the fourth time this year in Wheeling, W. Va., as the Rivermen lost to the Nailers 2-1 before 4,723 on Saturday night at WesBanco Arena.

Peoria finished its final ECHL regular season at 1-4-0 at WesBanco Arena and dropped to 2-4-1 in the season series.

The Nailers took their second lead of the night and tallied the game winner just less than five minutes into the final session of regulation. With Peoria on the power play, Ed McGrane and Ray DiLauro broke out of the Wheeling zone on a two-on-one. DiLauro brought the puck in down the right side of the Rivermen end, drawing a Peoria defender to him before sending a cross-ice pass to the left goal post. McGrane was nearly caught by Rivermen winger Brian McCullough, who retreated hard back into the Rivermen zone to recover defensively, but had just enough daylight off the left post to chip his 24th tally of the season past an outstretched Peoria goaltender Chris Beckford-Tseu.

Peoria (32-22-7, 71 points) finished its five-city, seven-game, nine-day road trip with a 3-4-0 record and fell to 13-15-2 on the road this season. The Rivermen and the Nailers have two games remaining in the season set next Friday and Saturday night at Carver Arena. Peoria has held the opposition to two goals or less in 18 of its last 33 games. Wheeling (36-23-4, 76 points) snapped a three-game losing streak in the loss and improved to 21-9-2 at home.

The Captain's Log

Just Points From the Playoffs

The Rivermen (32-22-7, 71 points) are five points back of the Wheeling Nailers (36-23-4, 76 points) for the fourth and final playoff spot in the eight-team North Division with two games in hand. Peoria is four points behind the archrival Toledo Storm (35-22-5, 75 points) for fifth place with a game in hand. The Rivermen are just nine points behind the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies (36-20-8, 80 points) for first place with three games in hand. Peoria has posted a 25-10-4 record (69 percent point-making percentage) in the 39 games following the Christmas Holiday.

Dogged Defense

For the last three games in a row, the Rivermen have held the opposition to two goals or less and have also done so in 18 of the previous 33 contests. During the span, Peoria has kept the opposition to three goals or less in 28 of those games. On average, the Rivermen are allowing 2.44 goals per game, good for fourth in the ECHL.

Returning Home From A Rugged Road Trip

The Rivermen finished their grueling five-city, seven-game, nine-day road trip with a 3-4-0 record. All told, the Rivermen arrived back at Carver Arena this past Sunday morning having traveled 2,356.67 miles. To use an analogy, that's just over seven roundtrips from Peoria to Chicago in nine days.

More Than Amazing Michaud

With 25 saves last Thursday in Johnstown in a 7-0 shutout, Alfie Michaud posted his fifth shutout this season and set a 23-year Peoria professional hockey record for shutouts by a goaltender in a regular season. Michaud is one shutout away from his personal best of six in one season, registered in his third professional campaign (2001-2002). With one shutout in 2002-2003 for the Rivermen, Michaud's six in a Peoria uniform make him the All-Time Shutouts Leader in the Regular Season by a Rivermen Goaltender. He ranks third in the ECHL in goals against average (GAA) at 2.02. For the season, he is 23-10-4 with a .930 save percentage.

Gettin' Goals

Three-time ECHL All-Star Brian McCullough has 14 goals in his last 18 games, ranking second in the ECHL behind Alaska's Chris Minard, who has the assistance of the League's assist king and second-leading scorer Scott Gomez (62a, 73pts); Gomez is a five-year NHL veteran with the New Jersey Devils and a former Calder Trophy winner for Top Rookie. McCullough's 57 points (33g, 24a) have him tied for 12th among the League point leaders; he is second in the League in game-winning goals with eight.

Injury, Call-up & Transaction Report

· Forward Luke Stauffacher has been waived, 03/21/05.

· Rivermen left wing Kris Kasper has been returned from the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 03/17/05.

· Defenseman Trevor Byrne has been reassigned from the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 03/17/05.

· Rivermen defenseman Ed Hill has been placed on the 7-day injured reserve, 03/17/05.

· Rivermen left wing Igor Valeev has been placed on the 7-day injured reserve, 03/17/05.

· Goaltender Ryan Person has been activated from the 7-day injured reserve and waived, 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 defenseman James Sanford remains on reassignment to the Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL), 01/03/05.

· 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, March 22, the Rivermen battle the rival Johnstown Chiefs in the first of two in a row between the clubs. It will be the seventh of eight total meetings this season between the teams. In its final ECHL visit to Johnstown, Pa., last Thursday, Peoria hammered the Chiefs 7-0 for its sixth team shutout of the year. The Rivermen are 3-2-1 in the season series and own a 36-17-7 lifetime ECHL regular season record against the Chiefs. Johnstown (20-28-14, 54 points) is out of playoff contention in seventh place in the eight-team North Division. The Chiefs are led by center Brian Collins, who has 50 points (22g, 28a) in 66 games. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WIRL, Classic Country 1290 AM and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 6:45 p.m. from Carver Arena. Game time is 7:00 p.m. CT.

· On Wednesday, March 23, Peoria hosts Johnstown for the final time in its ECHL tenure in the second of two in a row between the clubs. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WIRL, Classic Country 1290 AM and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 6:45 p.m. from Carver Arena. Game time is 7:00 p.m. CT.

· On Friday, March 25, the Rivermen host the Wheeling Nailers in the first of two straight between the teams and the third of four matchups at Carver Arena this season. After a 2-1 regulation loss this past Saturday at WesBanco Arena, Peoria dropped to 1-3-0 this year in Wheeling and 2-4-1 through seven games of the nine-game season series. The Rivermen own a 32-26-9 lifetime ECHL regular season record against the Nailers. Wheeling (36-23-4, 76 points) currently own the fourth and final playoff spot in the eight-team North Division, one point behind the Trenton Titans (34-20-9, 77 points) and one point in front of the Toledo Storm (35-22-5, 75 points). The Nailers are led by center Ed McGrane, who has 57 points (24g, 33a) in 62 games. All attending fans will receive a free subscription to the Sporting News. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WIRL, Classic Country 1290 AM and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 7:15 p.m. from Carver Arena. Game time is 7:30 p.m. CT.

· On Saturday, March 26, Peoria and Wheeling battle again for the ninth and final time this regular season. The first 2,500 fans will receive a FREE Duffle Bag, courtesy of OSF-St. Francis Medical Center and the Children's Hospital of Illinois. It is also a Cutting Edge Salon of Morton "Haircuts for Charity" Night. Fans may receive a free haircut on the inner concourse in Section 9 by making a donation to the Children's Hospital of Illinois. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WIRL, Classic Country 1290 AM and 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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