ECHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen post five straight wins

Published on March 7, 2005 under ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


THE RECAP:

Friday, March 4, 2005 vs. Toledo Game #51 ECHL Game #761

Rivermen 6 Toledo 3

Leading scorer Brian McCullough scored the insurance goal late in the third period and added two assists, as the Peoria Rivermen beat the archrival Toledo Storm 6-3 in front of 4,506 on Friday night at Carver Arena.

McCullough gave Peoria a 5-3 lead with 4:39 left in regulation. Ed Hill's clearing attempt from back in the Peoria end near the left face-off circle was caught up to by McCullough near the Toledo blue line. It was not ruled a two-line offside pass, and McCullough darted by Toledo defenseman Sylvain Dufresne, streaked in on goaltender Drew MacIntyre and snapped his team-leading 27th tally of the season through the five-hole. McCullough was named the game's No. 1 Star.

Igor Valeev sealed the win at 19:03 with an empty-net goal from the slot after he stole the puck from the Toledo defense for his second tally of the night and seventh of the season.

Peoria (26-18-7, 59 points) has won three in a row and registered its first points against the Storm at home this season in four opportunities (1-3-0). The Rivermen improved to 16-7-5 at Carver Arena and are now 5-1-2 through eight games of a Peoria professional hockey record 11 in a row at home. Toledo (31-21-4, 66 points) has lost two in a row and four of its last six games. The Storm dropped to 13-13-3 on the road this year.

Saturday, March 5, 2005 vs. Toledo Game #52 ECHL Game #776

Rivermen 3 Toledo 1

An inadvertent deflection off a skate got the scoring started for the Peoria Rivermen on Saturday night, as they used that to buoy themselves to a 3-1 victory over the archrival Toledo Storm before a season-high 7,815 at Carver Arena.

After a scoreless first period, the disputed goal came off the skate of rookie Jake Riddle, giving the Rivermen a 1-0 lead at 13:01 of the second. Russ Guzior held the puck in at the left point and waited before snapping a low shot toward the right goal post that deflected in off Riddle's skate. Riddle did not appear to celebrate much, thinking the goal would be waved off, but it stood for his sixth tally of the season.

Peoria (27-18-7, 61 points) has won four in a row and improved to 6-1-2 through nine games of a Peoria professional hockey record 11 in a row at Carver Arena. The Rivermen are now 17-7-5 on home ice this season and 4-3-1 against the Storm. Peoria has held its opponents to two goals or less in 13 of its last 24 games. Toledo (31-22-4, 68 points) has lost three straight and five of its last seven games. The Storm dropped to 13-14-3 on the road.

Sunday, March 6, 2005 vs. Trenton Game #53 ECHL Game #785

Rivermen 3 Trenton 0

Despite the rigors of playing their third game in less than 48 hours, the Peoria Rivermen and goaltender Alfie Michaud shut out the Trenton Titans 3-0 in a sluggish affair before 4,858 on Sunday afternoon at Carver Arena.

Michaud (20-8-4) stopped seven shots in the first period, nine in the second and a game, period-high 15 in the final session for a 31-save shutout, his fourth of the season and the 15th of his career in the regular season. The sixth-year netminder has given up just one goal in the last 151:49.

The Rivermen broke a scoreless tie just 1:32 into the third period. At center ice, rookie defenseman Aaron Forsythe flipped the puck high in the air into the Trenton zone, and when it came down, rookie left wing Justin Maiser had caught up to it down the right side of the slot. Just after he passed the right hash marks, Maiser roofed a backhand shot into the upper right corner for his 14th tally of the season.

Captain Trevor Baker's 12th goal of the year gave Peoria a little bit of cushion with 4:57 left in the game. Chris Bogas rifled a shot from center point that went wide left of the net, but the rebound caromed off the endboards right to Baker, who was at the right side of the bottom of the left face-off circle and snapped it inside the right goal post about waist high.

Baker then set up Rennette for an empty-net tally with 31 seconds remaining in regulation. He found Rennette streaking through the neutral zone toward the Trenton blue line all alone. Rennette finished his 15th marker of the season from the slot.

Peoria (28-18-7, 63 points) has equaled a season-high, five-game winning streak, which was established on January 28. The Rivermen improved to 7-1-2 through 10 games of a franchise-record 11 in a row at home. Peoria, now 18-7-5 at home this year, is 4-0-0 against the Titans. The Rivermen have held the opposition to two goals or less in 14 of their last 25 games. Trenton (29-18-8, 66 points) is winless in its last two games and dropped to 12-10-4 on the road this season.

The Captain's Log

Post-Christmas Prowess & Playoffs In Sight

The Rivermen (28-18-7, 63 points) are just three points out of the fourth and final playoff spot in the tightly-packed North Division and just eight points back of the first-place Reading Royals (33-17-5, 71 points). Peoria is three points back of the Trenton Titans (29-18-8, 66 points) with two games in hand and the Toledo Storm (31-22-4, 66 points) with four games in hand. The Rivermen will make up one of those games on Toledo on Tuesday at home against the Titans. Peoria has posted a 21-6-4 record (74 percent point-making percentage) in the 31 games following the Christmas Holiday. The Rivermen, 7-1-2 in their last 10 games, are eight points out of first place in the North Division.

Goals Against Going Away

Peoria allowed two goals or less in two of their three games this past weekend and has kept the opposition to two or less in 14 of the last 25 games. The Rivermen have not allowed more than three goals in 21 of their last 25 contests. On average, Peoria is allowing 2.42 goals per game, good for a tie for third in the ECHL with the Pensacola Ice Pilots.

Michaud Still Motoring

With a 31-save, 3-0 shutout over the Trenton Titans this past Sunday, sixth-year Alfie Michaud has allowed just one goal over the last 151:49, dating back to Friday's 6-3 win over the archrival Toledo Storm. Sunday's shutout was his fourth of the season and the 15th of his career in the regular season. Along with a 3-0-0 week, Michaud posted a 1.33 goals against average (GAA) and a .951 save percentage. Over his last 19 appearances, he has a 14-1-2 record, a 1.50 GAA (27 GA), a .945 save percentage (463/490) and four shutouts. During the span, he has also posted an 18-save, 3-1 win for the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Worcester IceCats, over the San Antonio Rampage on February 24.

Tops After Ten... In A Row At Home

The Rivermen are 7-1-2 through 10 games of 11 in a row at Carver Arena, a 23-year Peoria professional hockey record. The span stretches from Sunday, February 13 to Wednesday, March 8. Peoria has won 14 of its last 19 home games (14-2-3) at Carver Arena, which includes a season-best seven straight that ended with a 5-3 loss to Toledo on January 29. The Rivermen are 18-7-5 at home this season and own a 214-64-35 lifetime regular season ECHL record (74.0 percent point percentage) at Carver Arena.

Injury, Call-up & Transaction Report

· Rivermen left wing Justin Maiser has been reassigned from the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 03/05/05.

· Rivermen goaltender Alfie Michaud has been reassigned from the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 03/04/05.

· Rivermen left wing Jake Riddle has been activated from the 30-day injured reserve, 03/04/05.

· Defenseman Trevor Byrne and right wing Colin Hemingway have been reassigned to the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 03/02/05.

· Rivermen left wing Kris Kasper remains on reassignment to the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 03/01/05.

· Rivermen defenseman Patrick Wellar remains on the 7-day injured reserve, 02/24/05.

· 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 right wing Travis Rycroft remains on the 30-day injured reserve, 02/03/05.

· 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.

· Forward Colin Hemingway remains on reassignment from the Worcester IceCats (AHL) by the St. Louis Blues (NHL), 11/03/04.

Steering Our Way Through The Schedule

GAMES:

· On Tuesday, March 8, the Rivermen battle the Trenton Titans for the second straight game and for the fifth time this season. Peoria, who shut out the Titans this past Sunday 3-0, is 4-0-0 against them this season with a 12-4-1 lifetime ECHL regular season record. Trenton (29-18-8, 66 points) is tied with the Toledo Storm (31-22-4, 66 points) for the fourth and final playoff spot in the North Division with two games hand. They are three points in front of Peoria with two more games played. The Titans are led by left wing Scott Bertoli, who has 47 points (20g, 27a) in 53 games. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 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 11, Peoria travels to Toledo, Ohio for the fourth of six meetings at the Toledo Sports Arena with the archrival Storm. This past weekend, the Rivermen posted a 6-3 and a 3-1 win, respectively, on Friday and Saturday. The victories were the first in Peoria this year after opening the season set at Carver Arena with a 0-3-0 record against the Storm. The Rivermen are 2-0-1 at the Sports Arena this season and own a 4-3-1 mark against Toledo on the year. The Rivermen own a 58-25-6 lifetime regular season record in the ECHL against the Storm. Toledo (31-22-4, 66 points) is tied with the Trenton Titans (29-18-8, 66 points) for the fourth and final playoff spot in the North Division with two more games played. The Storm are led by Captain and left wing Sam Paolini, who has 45 points (13g, 32a) in 54 games. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 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, March 12, the Rivermen and the Storm face off again. It will be the 10th of 11 meetings between the clubs. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 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 Sunday, March 13, Peoria travels to Wheeling, W.Va. for the fourth of five meetings at WesBanco Arena this season. The Rivermen are 1-3-1 against the Nailers this year, having lost the most recent get-together – a two-game set in Wheeling the weekend before Christmas by 3-2 & 2-0 scores, respectively, on December 18 & 19. The Rivermen own a 31-25-9 lifetime ECHL regular season record against the Nailers. Wheeling (33-19-4, 70 points) is in second place in the North Division, just one point behind the Reading Royals (33-17-5, 71 points) with one more game played. The Nailers are led by center Ed McGrane, who has 49 points (21g, 28a) in 56 games. The game broadcast can be heard JOIN-IN-PROGRESS AT 4:30 PM CT on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 1290 AM and LIVE online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 3:45 p.m. from the Toledo Sports Arena. Game time is 4:00 p.m. CT.

Check out the Peoria Rivermen Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



ECHL Stories from March 7, 2005


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central