Rivermen Shut Out by Dayton 3-0 on the Road
February 12, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
Dayton, Ohio - It was certainly an unceremonious exit from the Nutter Center for the Peoria Rivermen on Saturday night. Playing its final game in Dayton in its history, Peoria was shut out 3-0 by the Bombers.
Adding to the unpleasant finale, the game got progressively more and more physical as the third period wore on, culminating in a line brawl, all 12 players on the ice dropping the gloves and tying up, with a little more than two minutes remaining in regulation.
Rookie Kris Kasper fought Alex Johnstone at 11:30 of the third in the Dayton zone with Kasper holding his own against the veteran Johnstone. Just 45 seconds later, with frustration boiling over, Peoria sniper Tyler Rennette got into a rare fight with Dayton rookie All-Star Tyler Kolarik at center ice. The scuffle didn't last long as both teams came to separate the offensive weapons.
Then with 2:05 left in regulation, Peoria tough man David Kaczowka started pounding away on Dayton defenseman Tyler Scott, who had just four penalty minutes coming into the game, right after the puck dropped on a face-off in the Dayton zone. Rivermen goaltender Alfie Michaud skated the length of the ice to keep Dayton goaltender Simon Lajeunesse, who had punched Kaczowka, in check.
In the end, all 12 players on the ice were assessed five-minute fight majors and game misconducts with Kaczowka receiving an instigating minor. For the melee, the teams racked up 182 penalty minutes (PIM, Peoria - 92, Dayton - 90), and for the game, they combined for 244 PIM (Peoria - 23/123, Dayton - 22/121).
The Rivermen (21-17-5, 47 points) fell back to a game under .500 on the road in 23 opportunities (10-11-2) and dropped to 3-3-2 against the Bombers this year with a game (season finale on April 9) remaining in the season set. Peoria's lone bright spot was on the penalty kill, as it snuffed out another seven opposition power plays and improved its continuing Peoria professional hockey record for consecutive penalty kills to 51. Dayton (16-26-3, 35 points) has won two straight and improved to 9-13-3 at home.
Michaud turned away four shots in relief of rookie Chris Beckford-Tseu over the final two periods. Beckford-Tseu (7-9-2), who was reassigned earlier in the day with Kaczowka from the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate - the Worcester IceCats, stopped just seven of 10 shots in the first period. Lajeunesse (4-8-1), the former Rivermen goaltender from two seasons ago, stopped all 34 Rivermen shots for the shutout.
The Bombers struck first at 7:04 of the opening period. Mathieu Brunelle's shot from in-close was stopped by Beckford-Tseu, but the puck was left in the goal crease with two Rivermen defensemen unable to clear it. The puck was easily poked in by Brett Nowak for the first of his two goals in the period and his 12th marker of the season.
Dayton made it 2-0 with 5:10 remaining in the first on the first of two shorthanded goals in a 1:06 span. Janne Jokila, just as he did the previous night on an even-strength goal, stole the puck at center ice and sent Scott Cameron on a breakaway. Cameron maneuvered in on Beckford-Tseu, finishing his 12th goal of the year.
With Peoria on the power play, Nowak gave the Bombers a 3-0 advantage with his second marker of the session. After Rivermen defenseman Ed Hill fell down just beyond his own blue line. Nowak broke in on a breakaway and beat Beckford-Tseu by slipping the puck inside the left goal post. It was the 13th tally of the season for Nowak.
There was no scoring in the final two periods, but Peoria dominated by outshooting Dayton 26-4.
The Rivermen host the rival Johnstown Chiefs tomorrow afternoon - February 12 - at Carver Arena at 3:00 p.m. It is the third of four Peoria Journal Star/Insight Media/InPlay Family Days. Kids 12 & Under receive a $2 Upper Bowl Admission, and there are $2.50 Kids Meals. Scooby Doo will appear courtesy of the Cartoon Network.
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ECHL Stories from February 12, 2005
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