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ECHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen take two from Dayton, push winning streak to four games

December 14, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


THE RECAP:

Friday, December 10, 2004 @ Dayton Game #18 ECHL Game #263

Rivermen 4 Dayton 3

The Peoria Rivermen lost two players in the first period but gutted out a 4-3 win over the Dayton Bombers on the road on Friday night at the Nutter Center. Peoria has now won three in a row and remains unbeaten in regulation in its last four contests (3-0-1).

The Bombers had gotten within one just 1:51 into the third period. Justin Kinnunen, after taking a pass out of the left-wing corner from Tyler Kolarik, rifled a one-time slap shot by Rivermen rookie goaltender Chris Beckford-Tseu from the face-off circle.

Peoria grabbed its two-goal lead back just 1:18 later on Brian McCullough's seventh goal of the season. Randy Rowe intercepted a Dayton clearing attempt out at center ice and dropped a backhand pass to McCullough, who worked into the zone to the left face-off circle and whistled a deflected shot inside the near post.

Dayton made it 4-3 on the power play at 11:15 of the third. Michael Schutte fired his second tally of the season inside the right post off a pass from Kolarik.

The Rivermen (6-9-3, 15 points) improved to 3-5-1 on the road and 2-1-1 against the Bombers this season. Dayton (9-11-0, 18 points) had its three-game winning streak snapped in the loss and dropped to 6-4-0 at the Nutter Center this season.

Saturday, December 11, 2004 vs. Dayton Game #19 ECHL Game #282

Rivermen 4 Dayton 3

The Peoria Rivermen scored two goals in the final 3:26 of regulation to come back and beat the Dayton Bombers 4-3 in front of 4,502 on Saturday night at Carver Arena. Peoria has won four in a row and remains unbeaten in regulation in its last five games (4-0-1).

The Rivermen tied the game 3-3 at 16:34 of the third. Rookie Kris Kasper, hovering near the bottom of the right face-off circle, tipped a Brian McCullough shot from the right point down and past Dayton rookie goaltender Mike Ayers for his second professional tally.

Peoria tallied the game winner with 55 seconds remaining. Trevor Johnson took a shot from the right point that Ayers stopped, but Rivermen Captain Trevor Baker was at the top of the goal crease to chip in his sixth marker of the season and second game-decider.

The Bombers had tied the game 2-2 early in the third period on Bryan Nathe's first professional goal. A Peoria clearing attempt bounced off a body and popped free at the top of the right face-off circle, where rookie Bryan Nathe sent a handcuffing wrist shot past Rivermen rookie netminder Chris Beckford-Tseu.

Dayton grabbed its first lead of the night on the power play. Ben Knopp, stationed along the endboards, fed a breaking Matt Herneisen, who chipped his second goal of the game and fourth of the season into the upper right corner from just off the left post at 10:07. Dayton finished 1-for-5 with the man advantage.

The Rivermen (7-9-3, 17 points) improved to .500 on home ice through 10 games (4-4-2) and are now 3-1-1 against the Bombers this year. Dayton (9-12-0, 18 points) dropped to 3-8-0 on the road and fell 2-3-0 against Peoria this season.

The Captain's Log

Four For Fun

The Rivermen (7-9-3, 17 points), after posting a 2-9-0 November record, have rebounded to open the month of December by earning nine of a possible 10 points over two weekends of play. Peoria is currently riding a season-best, four-game winning streak. This past weekend in a home-and-home set against the Dayton Bombers, the Rivermen earned two 4-3 decisions in two entirely different ways. On Friday in Dayton, Peoria jumped out to a 3-0 lead and then held on for the victory, and on Saturday in Peoria, the Rivermen couldn't hold a 2-1 advantage and needed to tally two goals in the final 3:26 of regulation for the win. After suffering through two four-game losing streaks over a nine-game period, the Rivermen are unbeaten in regulation in their last five games (4-0-1).

Our Next Game... Surprise! Against The North

The Rivermen play their first 23 games of the season against teams in their own North Division with 60 of their 72 total games coming against the North. Peoria (7-9-3, 17 points), with four games left in their North Division stretch before welcoming the Fresno Falcons to Peoria on December 28 & 29 for two straight games, is ranked eighth in the eight-team North Division and 25th in the 28-team ECHL.

Making Headway At Home

With a 2-0-1 record over their last three home games, the Rivermen improved to .500 at Carver Arena this season through 10 games (4-4-2) and are now 201-61-32 in more than eight years of play in the ECHL at Carver Arena, which is good for a 73.8 percent point-making percentage.

Betting On Beckford-Tseu Of Late

Heading into play two weekends ago, Rivermen rookie goaltender Chris Beckford-Tseu had a six-game losing streak in tow with a 1-6-1 record, but the 20-year-old native of Toronto, Ontario, turned things around and has a four-game winning streak under his belt with a 2.50 goals against average (GAA) and a .917 save percentage for the span. This past weekend, he stopped 32 of 35 in Friday's 4-3 road win in Dayton, and then he turned away 21 of 24 Bombers chances in another 4-3 Peoria decision. On the season, Beckford-Tseu owns 5-6-1 record with a 2.75 GAA and a .906 save percentage.

Injury, Call-up & Transaction Report

· Left wing Igor Valeev has been reassigned to the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 12/11/04.

· Assistant Coach Luke Gruden has been added as emergency back-up goaltender, 12/10/04.

· Right wing Joe Pereira has been released, 12/10/04.

· Rivermen defenseman Trevor Johnson has returned from the Hershey Bears (AHL), 12/09/04.

· Rivermen defenseman Chris Bogas remains on the 7-day injured reserve, 12/08/04.

· Rivermen goaltender Alfie Michaud remains on the 7-day injured reserve, 12/07/04.

· Center Rejean Stringer has been acquired from the Las Vegas Wranglers in exchange for financial considerations, 12/07/04.

· Rivermen left wing Scott Turner remains on the 30-day injured reserve, 12/03/04.

· Rivermen rookie center Troy Riddle remains on reassignment to the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 12/01/04.

· Rivermen forward Colin Hemingway remains on the 30-day injured reserve, 11/25/04.

· Left wing/defenseman Mark Jerant remains on reassignment from the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 11/04/04.

· Rivermen left wing David Kaczowka remains on reassignment to the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 11/04/04.

· Forward Colin Hemingway remains on reassignment from the Worcester IceCats (AHL) by the St. Louis Blues (NHL), 11/03/04.

Steering Our Way Through The Schedule

PRACTICE:

· The team will practice Tuesday, December 14 through Friday, December 17 at Carver Arena at 10:00 a.m. Practice times are subject to change.

GAMES:

· On Friday, December 17, the Rivermen host the Toledo Storm for the second time this season. The teams are battling for the fifth time in a season-high 11 opportunities. In the most recent matchup, on the road in Toledo, the Rivermen were victorious with a 4-3 result. Rookie Chris Beckford-Tseu stopped 22 of 25 shots in relief of injured netminder Alfie Michaud, snapping a personal six-game losing streak. Peoria owns a 56-23-6 lifetime ECHL regular season record against the Storm. Toledo (9-8-3, 21 points) has lost three in row and ranks sixth in the eight-team North Division. The Storm are led by left wing Sam Paolini, who has 19 points (7g, 12a) in 19 games. It is a Sprite/Barq's Root Beer/Pibb Xtra Finally Friday, presented by 99X and Insight Media. Fans are encouraged to bring a Sprite/Barq's Root Beer/Pibb Xtra can to the Carver Arena Box Office to receive a "Buy One, Get One Upper Bowl Ticket Free" offer. WWE "RAW" Superstar and St. Louis native Randy Orton will appear from 6:30-8:30 p.m., signing autographs for $5 each (includes an 8x10). The U.S. Marines will also host their annual "Toys for Tots" Holiday Drive. Fans are encouraged to bring a new toy for charity. The team will wear special Christmas-themed jerseys to be auctioned off after the game. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 1290 AM and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 7:15 p.m. from Carver Arena. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

· On Saturday, December 18, Peoria travels to Wheeling, W.Va. to face off against the Nailers in the first of two in a row between the clubs. The Rivermen own a 1-1-1 season mark against Wheeling after falling in overtime 3-2 at home on December 3 and then shutting the Nailers out 1-0 on December 5. Peoria owns a 31-23-9 lifetime ECHL regular season record against Wheeling. The Nailers (14-9-0, 28 points) are tied for second in the eight-team North Division with the Trenton Titans (12-3-4), having played four more games. Wheeling is led by center Mark Kosick, who has 17 points (7g, 10a) in 23 games. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 1290 AM and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 6:15 p.m. from WesBanco Arena. Game time is 6:30 p.m.

· On Sunday, December 19, the Rivermen and the Nailers do battle again in the fifth of nine meetings on the year and the third of five at WesBanco Arena. The game broadcast can be heard TAPE DELAY on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 1290 AM due to University of Illinois Athletics and LIVE online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 3:45 p.m. from WesBanco Arena. Game time is 4:00 p.m. CT.

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