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ECHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen push win streak to nine before falling in weekend

March 15, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


THE RECAP:

Tuesday, March 9, 2004 vs. Trenton Game #61 ECHL Game #927

Rivermen 5 Trenton 3

The Peoria Rivermen won all six games of a season-long home stand, finishing the job with a 5-3 win over the Trenton Titans in front of 3,699 on Tuesday night at Carver Arena.

The six consecutive home wins are a new season high for the Rivermen, who outscored the opposition 29-13 over the home stand. The win was also Peoria's seventh in succession – a new season high.

Trenton got within one on the power play at 7:25 of the third period, making it 4-3. Scott Bertoli's shot from the center point was tipped just under the crossbar by Matt Zultek, who registered his 29th tally of the season from the top of the goal crease.

Peoria gave itself an insurance goal with 1:58 remaining in the game. Tyler Rennette stole the puck at center ice and fed Colin Hemingway, who worked into the Trenton zone on left wing on a 2-on-1 with Adam Edinger. Hemingway faked a pass to Edinger and rattled his 11th tally of the season off the inside of the left goal post.

Edinger led all scorers with three assists, while his linemates Rennette and Hemingway each had two points (1g, 1a). The line of Edinger, Rennette and Hemingway has averaged seven points per game over the last five with 35 points (13g, 22a) and a +27 plus/minus.

Peoria (37-16-8, 82 points) improved to 19-11-3 at Carver Arena with its six-game winning streak. Trenton (29-23-7, 65 points) is winless in its last three games (0-2-1) and fell to 2-3-1 through six games of a season-long, nine-game road trip. The Titans dropped to 11-17-4 on the road in defeat.

Friday, March 12, 2004 @ Toledo Game #62 ECHL Game #947

Rivermen 2 Toledo 0

Levente Szuper stopped all 26 shots he faced in his second shutout of the season, as the Peoria Rivermen beat the archrival Toledo Storm 2-0 before a crowd of 3,814 on Friday night at the Toledo Sports Arena.

Szuper, who has won five in a row, stopped five chances in the first period, a game-high 11 in the second and 10 in the final session, which included four Toledo power plays, for the blanking. It was Peoria's sixth shutout of the season.

Peoria (38-16-8, 84 points) extended its season-best winning streak to eight games and has won its last two road games (both in Toledo). The Rivermen remained unbeaten in regulation through 10 regular season meetings (8-0-2) with the Storm with two remaining. The game marked the beginning of seven straight on the road for Peoria. Toledo (21-30-9, 51 points) is winless in its last eight games overall (0-5-3) and dropped to 11-16-4 on home ice.

Saturday, March 13, 2004 @ Toledo Game #63 ECHL Game #963

Rivermen 2 Toledo 0

It was a repeat performance for the Peoria Rivermen on Saturday night in Toledo, literally. The Peoria Rivermen shut out the archrival Toledo Storm 2-0 in front of 4,272 at the Toledo Sports Arena on the strength of a 24-save performance by Rivermen goaltender Levente Szuper.

The Rivermen shut out Toledo on Friday night 2-0 with 26 saves from Szuper.

Saturday's win was Szuper's third shutout of the season and the seventh by a Rivermen goaltender this year. He turned away six shots in the first period, 10 in the second and eight in the final session for the victory. He has won six in a row, one shy of his own team season mark set on January 10.

Peoria (39-16-8, 86 points) has won a season-best nine straight overall and three in a row on the road (all against Toledo). The Rivermen, who improved to an ECHL-best 20-5-5 on the road, are unbeaten in regulation against the archrival Storm through 11 (9-0-2) of 12 season meetings. Toledo (21-31-9, 51 points) is winless in its last nine games (0-6-3) and fell to 11-17-4 on home ice.

Sunday, March 14, 2004 @ Wheeling Game #64 ECHL Game #969

Rivermen 3 Wheeling 5

The Peoria Rivermen can thank the first place and Brabham Cup Championship-leading Wheeling Nailers for handing them their last two regulation losses over the past 11 games. Peoria fell at home 4-2 on February 24 to the Nailers for a season-worst four-game losing streak. On Sunday, after the Rivermen had rattled off a season-best nine wins in a row, the Nailers did it again, winning 5-3 in front of 2,869 on Sunday afternoon at WesBanco Arena.

Peoria got within one goal, making it 4-3 with 4:47 left in regulation. Scott Turner took a pass from Mike Hoffman in the high slot, cut to the left face-off circle and directed a low snap shot inside the right post. It was Turner's 11th marker of the season, second of the afternoon and third in two games.

The Nailers sealed the victory with an empty-net goal with 1:18 remaining in regulation. Jake Ortmeyer took a pass from Mark Kosick at the Wheeling blue line, skated the puck the length of the ice and flipped it into the open goal. It was Ortmeyer's 12th tally of the season.

Peoria (39-17-8, 86 points) had its three-game road winning streak halted as well and dropped just its sixth game in regulation on the road in 31 opportunities (20-6-5). The Rivermen finished the season series 3-4-1 against the Nailers. Wheeling (48-14-3, 99 points) snapped a mild two-game winless skid (0-1-1) and improved to 18-0-2 in its last 20 home games. The Nailers are 27-4-3 at WesBanco Arena this season. They finished 5-2-1 against the Rivermen this year.

The Captain's Log

Pushing For The Playoffs

Despite the end to a season-best nine-game winning streak on Sunday in Wheeling by way of a 5-3 loss, the Rivermen (39-17-8, 86 points), in third place in the nine-team Northern Division, are just four points from clinching a playoff spot for the eighth straight season in the ECHL. Any combination of four points earned by Peoria or lost by the Trenton Titans (31-24-7, 69 points) will earn the Rivermen a postseason berth. By finishing third or better in the nine-team Northern Division, Peoria will avoid a Wild Card game between the fourth and fifth place finishers in the Division. The Wild Card winner will take on the Division Champion in a five-game Northern Division semifinal series. The Rivermen are four points in front of the rival Johnstown Chiefs (38-19-6, 82 points) with one more game played. Peoria has eight games remaining in the 2003-2004 regular season, all against Northern Division teams. Three of Peoria's remaining contests – all of which come on this six-game, 10-day road swing – are against winning teams, while five games are against losing teams. In their schedule against winning teams, the Rivermen battle the Reading Royals (31-22-9, 71 points) on Tuesday, the Trenton Titans (31-24-7, 69 points) on Wednesday and the second place and defending Kelly Cup Champion Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies (41-15-5, 87 points) on Friday. Against those with a losing record, the Rivermen battle the archrival Dayton Bombers (21-37-5, 47 points) three times, the archrival Toledo Storm (22-31-9, 53 points) and the Cincinnati Cyclones (24-37-3, 51 points) once.

Road Record Still Right On

The Rivermen continue to own the ECHL's best road record at 20-6-5 (73 percent point percentage). Peoria opened seven in a row on the road on Friday and Saturday with two straight 2-0 shutout wins over the archrival Toledo Storm before falling to the first place and Brabham Cup Championship-leading Wheeling Nailers (48-14-3, 99 points) 5-3 on Sunday. The loss was just Peoria's sixth in regulation in 31 road opportunities. The Rivermen are in the midst of a six-game, 10-day road swing that concludes on Friday, March 19 in Atlantic City; they will make a day trip to Cincinnati on March 24 to complete seven straight on the road.

We Keep Collecting At Carver Arena

The Rivermen won all six games of a season-long, six-game home stand by beating the Trenton Titans 5-3 at home on Tuesday, establishing a new season mark for consecutive home wins at six and improving to 19-11-3 at Carver Arena. Over its last 13 home games, Peoria is 10-3-0. Over each of their 19 home wins, the Rivermen are averaging 4.26 goals per game (81 goals). They are averaging 1.21 goals per game (17 goals) over 14 home defeats, which include three overtime losses. For the first time in their eight-year ECHL tenure, the Rivermen have lost more than nine games in regulation in one season at Carver Arena. Peoria owns a 194-57-30 lifetime ECHL record (74 percent point percentage) 33 games into its eighth ECHL season. Last year, the Rivermen posted a 26-5-5 home mark with the second fewest home losses in one season in ECHL franchise history. Peoria notched a 27-4-4 record at home in its first ECHL season (1996-1997).

Still Deft Defensively

The Rivermen rank third in the ECHL in goals against average (GAA), surrendering just 2.44 goals per game. Over the last 22 games, Peoria has given up two goals or less in 13 of those games, including four one-goal games and three shutouts. Peoria is ahead of Wheeling, who is fourth in the ECHL with a 2.57 GAA. Last season, Peoria ranked first in the League, allowing 2.51 goals per game. Defending Kelly Cup Champion Atlantic City currently leads the League with a 2.25 GAA. Peoria goaltenders Mike Valley and Levente Szuper have posted 2.26 and 2.32 GAAs, respectively. Valley is ranked third in the ECHL in GAA, while Szuper is ranked seventh.

Power Play Performing From The Point

Since Tyler Rennette took a new position at the right point on the Rivermen power play on February 25, it has paid dividends. The Rivermen are 10-for-39 (26 percent) on the power play over the 10-game stretch. On the season, Peoria is ranked 19th out of 31 ECHL teams with a 15.8 percent conversion rate.

Szuper Is Good

Rivermen goaltender Levente Szuper, in his fourth professional season, has a current 132:35 shutout streak after two consecutive 2-0 shutouts on Friday and Saturday in Toledo. They were Szuper's second and third shutouts of the year and the sixth and seventh by a Rivermen goaltender this season. He has won his last six consecutive starts – one shy of his team, season high set on January 10. After opening the season with a 0-3-1 record, a 4.53 goals against average (GAA) and a .818 save percentage, Szuper has gone 17-4-0 with a 1.94 GAA and a .929 save percentage. He is currently seventh in the ECHL in GAA at 2.32.

Injury, Call-up & Transaction Report

· Rivermen left wing Marty Johnston has been activated from the 7-day injured reserve, 03/14/04.

· Rivermen goaltender Mike Valley has been returned from the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 03/12/04.

· Rivermen left wing Randy Rowe remains on call-up to the St. John's Maple Leafs (AHL), 03/11/04.

· Rivermen right wing Ken Goetz remains on the 30-day injured reserve, 03/07/04.

· Rivermen right wing Joe Pereira remains on the 7-day injured reserve, 03/07/04.

· Rivermen center Brendan Brooks remains on reassignment to the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 01/14/04.

Steering Our Way Through The Schedule

GAMES:

· On Tuesday, March 16, the Rivermen face off against the Reading Royals for the second time on the road and the sixth and final time this season. Peoria has won the last three meetings with the Royals. In recent action on February 27-28 in Peoria, the Rivermen secured a 2-0 shutout and a 5-3 win, respectively. Peoria is 3-1-1 against the Royals this season and is 24-7-7 lifetime in the ECHL against them. Reading (31-22-9, 71 points) has lost four in a row, is winless in its last eight games (0-7-1) and is just two points in front of the Trenton Titans for the fifth and final playoff spot in the nine-team Northern Division with one more game played. The Royals are led by center Graig Mischler, who has 51 points (12g, 39a), in 59 games. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 1290 AM, Insight Communications (Peoria-44; Bloomington-Normal-22; Pekin, Morton & Galesburg-70) and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 5:50 p.m. from the Sovereign Center. Game time is 6:00 p.m. CT.

· On Wednesday, March 17, Peoria takes on the Trenton Titans for the third and final time this season in its only visit to the Sovereign Bank Arena this season. The Rivermen took both games in Peoria at Carver Arena March 7 & 9, winning 5-4 and 5-3, respectively. The Rivermen own a 8-3-1 lifetime record in the ECHL against the Titans during regular season action and a 7-6 mark in postseason play between the clubs. Trenton (31-24-7, 69 points) is two points back of the Reading Royals for the fifth and final playoff spot in the Northern Division with a game in hand. The Titans are led by left wing Matt Zultek, who has 55 points (32g, 23a) in 55 games. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 1290 AM, Insight Communications (Peoria-44; Bloomington-Normal-22; Pekin, Morton & Galesburg-70) and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 5:50 p.m. from the Sovereign Bank Arena. Game time is 6:00 p.m. CT.

· On Friday, March 19, the Rivermen battle the second place and defending Kelly Cup Champion Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies for the fourth and final time this season. All three meetings this season between the clubs have gone beyond regulation with Atlantic City taking two of three decisions – one by way of overtime (3-2 on December 31 in Peoria) and a shootout (3-2 on February 4 in Atlantic City). Peoria was victorious 4-3 at home in overtime on January 2. Atlantic City (41-15-5, 87 points) is in second place in the nine-team Northern Division, one point in front of the Rivermen with three games in hand. The Boardwalk Bullies are led by left wing Luke Curtin, who has 76 points (32g, 44a) in 61 games with a +16 plus/minus. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 1290 AM, Insight Communications (Peoria-44; Bloomington-Normal-22; Pekin, Morton & Galesburg-70) and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning a 5:50 p.m. from Boardwalk Hall. Game time is 6:00 p.m. CT.

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