AHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen Pull Even With Houston After 4-3 Win

Published on April 20, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


HOUSTON (April 20, 2009) - Monday night's seesaw affair at the Toyota Center ended in a high octane 4-3 victory for the Peoria Rivermen over the Houston Aeros. Peoria, down 2-1 with less than four minutes remaining in the second period, got power-play goals from Steve Wagner and Nicholas Drazenovic to give the Rivermen a lead they would not relinquish.

Manny Legace, who made 24 saves on 27 shots, weathered the storm to help even the series at two wins a piece and force a game six back at Carver Arena on Saturday.

Cam Paddock gave Peoria a 1-0 lead only 9:11 into the first period when Jim Jackson's wrister deflected off of the back wall into the crease. The rebound slid amidst traffic and found Paddock's stick, and the Rivermen center pushed the puck past Anton Khudobin. Paddock's goal was his second of the series.

Houston came out strong to start the second period and quickly tied the game. Paul Albers ripped a snapshot from the high slot that was tipped by Tony Hrkac past Legace to tie the game 5:43 into the middle frame. The Aeros struck again at the 7:58 mark, this time on the power play, when Tomas Mojzis ripped a one-timer from the left circle under Legace's blocker to give Houston a 2-1 lead.

But the final few minutes of the second period belonged to the Rivermen. Peoria, whose power play unit had scored only twice in its last 15 opportunities, came up with two late goals to help the Rivermen regain the lead. At 17:29, Wagner knotted the score at 2-2 after squirting in a one-timer off of a spectacular pass across the bottom of the slot from the corner by Jori Lehtera. Then, only 44 seconds later, Drazenovic blasted a shot from the right circle off the glove of Khudobin that bounced into the net to give Peoria a 3-2 lead. Peoria finished the game 2-for-5 on the man advantage.

Peoria captain Trent Whitfield gave the Rivermen some insurance after banging home a rebound off of an Alex Pietrangelo slap shot at 5:46 of the third to chase Khudobin from the game. Matt Climie, just assigned by the Dallas Stars before the game, made three saves over the games final 12:28.

Jesse Schultz made it a 4-3 game at the 15:21 mark, and Houston outshot Peoria 13-5 in the third period, but Legace and his mates survived the Aeros' late push to even the series.

Over 200 people witnessed the game at Hooters of Peoria where they were broadcasting the game on their TV's. Game five of the West Division Semifinals will also be broadcast live at Hooters and all fans are invited free of charge.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 20, 2009


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