AHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen Run Over First Place Stars

Published on December 9, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


CEDAR PARK, Tex. (December 9, 2009) - The Peoria Rivermen became the first team to score five goals against the Texas Stars in regulation as they cruised to a 5-1 win at the Cedar Park Center on Wednesday night. They are now 2-0-0 against the division leading Stars after beating Texas 5-4 in overtime on Nov. 11.

The Rivermen have scored 10 goals in two games against the Stars who entered play on Wednesday with a league-best goals-against average of 1.85. Ben Bishop finished with 18 saves, and an assist, for his eighth win of the season as Peoria held the Stars to just two shots on goal in the third period.

Cam Paddock deflected Tyson Strachan's shot past Matt Climie at 13:52 of the first period after controlling the play from the drop of the puck. It was Paddock's fourth of the season and was one of two even-strength goals scored in the game.

The Stars tied the game at 16:37 with Aaron Palushaj in the box for interference when Greg Rallo picked the top corner following a give-and-go with Francis Wathier. Peoria responded on their first power play and grabbed the lead before the end of the first period.

Pascal Pelletier, in his Rivermen debut following a trade from Columbus on Tuesday, earned an assist on Julian Talbot's goal at 19:32. Pelletier served the puck along the boards to Jonas Junland and then parked in front of the net to screen Climie. Talbot's wrist shot was his fifth goal of the season, and his fourth in the last nine games after being held scoreless in his first 11 contests of the year.

Penalty problems kept the Rivermen from threatening in the first half of the second period as Peoria was whistled for three minor penalties in the first seven minutes of the frame. After killing off the perpetual Stars' advantage, the Rivermen took a 3-1 lead with a power-play goal. At 10:09, Brett Sonne converted on a behind-the-back pass from Derek Armstrong and buried his third, overall and power-play, goal of the season.

Bishop stole the show at 15:59 of the second by adding to the Rivermen offense. Texas tried to dump the puck on goal and sneak a line-change but Bishop stopped the puck and fired it onto the stick of Barry Tallackson as he crossed into the offensive zone. Tallackson ripped a shot past the blocker of Climie for his seventh of the year.

Adam Cracknell capped the scoring with a shorthanded tally at 5:17 of the third. As Andrew Hutchinson fumbled with the puck in his skates at the Rivermen blue line, Cracknell through a body check that flipped Hutchinson into the Rivermen bench. He continued on with the puck and fired a shot off Climie that went high in the air. When it came down it hit Climie and rolled into the net. The goal was Cracknell's third in as many games and extended his point streak to six games.

The game featured three fights (Yan Stastny vs. Dan Jancevski; Danny Richmond vs. Warren Peters; and Tyson Strachan vs. Scott McCulloch) and a combined 66 penalty minutes. The Rivermen were whistled for 11 minors to go along with their three fighting majors.

Peoria's power play finished two-for-three while their penalty kill stopped seven of the Stars' eight opportunities. The two teams will not meet again until Jan. 31 when Texas visits Carver Arena for the second time.

The Rivermen finish off their road trip on Friday at 7:35 p.m. in Houston. The game can be heard on Hippie 101.1 FM locally or online through www.rivermen.net. Peoria returns home on Saturday to face the San Antonio Rampage at 7p.m. It's the annual Teddy Bear Toss as fans are encouraged to donate new stuffed animals to Toys for Tots. Tickets are available at the Rivermen office by calling 309-676-1040 or online at www.rivermen.net/tickets.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 9, 2009


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