AHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen Ride Power Play to 5-2 Win Over Flames

Published on March 4, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


PEORIA, Ill. (March 4, 2009) - The Peoria Rivermen scored three power-play goals, and another shorthanded, to beat the Quad City Flames 5-2 on Wednesday night at Carver Arena. Peoria moved to 7-1-0 against the Flames this season and extended their home win-streak to six over Quad City.

The Rivermen (30-29-1-1) worked their power play for three goals for the first time since Dec. 5 and only the third time this season. Their penalty kill finished 4-for-5 but helped kill off a four-minute double minor for high sticking call at 12:10 of the first period to keep the game scoreless. Manny Legace signature save in the opening frame came when he pinned a puck between his helmet and left shoulder pad off of a slap shot by David Van der Gulik from the left dot.

Shortly after the penalty kill, Quad City's Matt Pelech was tagged with a five-minute major after boarding Chris Porter behind the Flames' net. Justin Fletcher wasted little time on the extended man-advantage. At 18:45, only 20 seconds into the power play, Fletcher slipped a puck from the slot through the legs of a screening Steve Regier and, more importantly, through the legs of Flames' goalie Leland Irving to give Peoria a 1-0 lead. Drazenovic and Trent Whitfield picked up helpers on Fletcher's sixth goal of the season.

Peoria opened up the floodgates in the middle frame. Still on the five-minute advantage to open the period, the Rivermen doubled their lead when Fletcher hit Whitfield in the low slot for Peoria's second power-play goal of the night at 3:00. Fletcher's hard pass induced Irving into sliding the wrong way and Whitfield netted his 17th goal of the year.

Kyle Greentree answered on a penalty-shot goal against Legace at 5:50. The Flames' leading scorer wristed a forehand shot past Legace's glove, but the Rivermen suffered a greater loss than the goal. Legace, who sprawled to his left and tried to lay on a loose puck the play before the penalty shot, suffered an injury and took himself out of the contest after allowing the goal.

Chris Holt finished the game for the Rivermen by making 13 saves on 14 shots.

The Rivermen built a 3-1 lead when Yan Stastny, who was behind the Flames' net, hit Porter in front of the Irving's crease at 11:19 in the second period. The Flames' netminder did the splits and stretched his glove for the puck, but Porter one-timed it up and over Irving's free hand for Peoria's league-leading 15th shorthanded goal of the season.

Ivan Vishnevskiy snagged a piece of the score sheet at 17:23 after skating coast-to-coast and around Anders Eriksson to net his fourth goal of the year through Irving's five-hole.

Both squads exchanged goals in the third period - Carsen Germyn for the Flames and an empty-netter from Peoria's Cam Paddock.

Peoria outshot Quad City 32-26 and moved to within only one point of Iowa for fifth-place and five points of Houston for fourth-place in the West Division.

The Rivermen's next game is Friday at 7:00 p.m. when they host the Wolves. The game will have a live radio broadcast available on Hippie 101.1FM as well as www.rivermen.net.

It is WWE Legends Night as "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, Jerry "The King" Lawler, and Koko B. Ware will be in attendance and signing autographs. It is also Rivermen Hall of Fame Night as Joe Rybar and Don Granato are inducted into the Peoria Rivermen Hall of Fame. Tickets are available at the Peoria Civic Center Box Office, by calling (309) 676-1040 or online at www.rivermen.net/tickets.

Check out the Peoria Rivermen Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from March 4, 2009


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