AHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen Roll Over Griffins 5-1

December 27, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (December 27, 2009) - The Peoria Rivermen showed no signs of rust, in their first game following their week break for Christmas, as they scored three times in the first on their way to a 5-1 win over the Grand Rapids Griffins. Julian Talbot recorded his first two-goal game of the year, a feat he accomplished three times last season.

The Rivermen have won six of their last seven games and are now 8-2-0 in the month of December. Peoria is just five points behind the division-leading Texas with two games in-hand over the Stars.

Pascal Pelletier scored his first goal as a Rivermen to open the scoring 11:39 into the first period. It snapped a 21-game goalless drought, dating all the way back to Nov. 30, the longest of his career. His fourth of the year was setup by Talbot and Tyson Strachan.

Lars Eller and Talbot each scored over the next 5:10 to give the Rivermen a 3-0 lead heading into the first intermission. Eller wristed one over the glove of Daniel Larsson, at 13:00, for his sixth of the season from Cracknell and Stastny. Talbot's first of the night came seconds after drawing a high-sticking penalty. After taking a stick to the face, he gathered the puck and turned a shot on goal for his eighth of the year.

Peoria had ample opportunity to add to their lead with a lengthy power play in the opening minutes of the second period. With Paul Crosty already in the box, Jakub Kindl was called for a double-minor at the same time as Jeremy Williams called for tripping. Peoria failed to convert on the two-minute five-on-three and the six-minute power play but grabbed a 4-0 lead shorthanded at 18:08.

Ben Bishop, who finished with 20 saves in the game, picked up an assist by sending Barry Tallackson on a breakaway. Tallackson beat Larsson low on the glove-side for his team-leading 10th goal of the season.

The Griffins only goal came on the power play at 7:14 of the third period. Peoria killed off a five-on-three and all but five seconds of Grand Rapids eighth power play of the game. Kindl blasted a slap shot through Bishop for his second of the season from Kris Newbury and Michael Nylander.

Things got rough in the final five minutes of regulation as Yan Stastny and Newbury picked up fighting majors while Kindl, twice, Crosty and Chris Porter all received roughing minors. With the Rivermen on the power play, Talbot collected his second of the game. Aaron Palushaj slid a pass across the offensive zone to setup Talbot for a one-timer with only 42 second left in regulation. The goal stopped a stretch of 13 consecutive power plays without a goal. Both teams finished 1-for-8 on the power play.

The Rivermen outshot the Griffins 33-21 in the game and are now 2-3-0 against Grand Rapids after dropping the first three meetings of the year.

The Rivermen's road trip will on Tuesday in Lake Erie and Toronto on Wednesday before Peoria returns home to face Chicago on New Year's Eve. All tickets to the game, purchased between noon and 6 p.m. on Dec. 31 at the Civic Center box office will be just $10. Plus Bud and Bud Light cans will be sold for just $2 throughout the game. Call 309-676-1040 for more information or check www.rivermen.net.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 27, 2009


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