Rivermen Unable to Come Back, Fall 3-2 in Reading in Game Three of the Northern Division Finals
April 21, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
Reading, Pa. (April 21, 2004) â Hockey games are 60 minutes in length, but the Peoria Rivermen fell just short a torrid comeback against the Reading Royals over the final 14 minutes and 17 seconds of Game Three of the Northern Division Finals, losing 3-2 in front of 4,739 on Wednesday night at the Sovereign Center.
Peoria, who outshot the Royals 20-6 in the last session, finally got on the board at 5:43 of the third with just their second power play tally of the postseason in 32 opportunities. The goal came one minute and 29 seconds after the Royals had gone up 3-0.
Adam Edinger, working down the left side of the Reading zone, took a pass from Rivermen Captain Trevor Baker and fired on a shot on net that Royals goaltender Cody Rudkowsky kicked out. The rebound came right to the top of the left face-off circle, where Joe Vandermeer rifled in his second tally of the postseason.
The Rivermen got within one with eight seconds remaining in regulation on the power play. Peoria picked up the man advantage after Royals defenseman Doug Nolan was called for using an illegal stick. The Rivermen also pulled goaltender Mike Valley to create a 6-on-4 advantage.
With several players jockeying for position in front of the goal, Edinger was able to redirect in a Tyler Rennette centering pass into the net for his third marker of the postseason and team-leading ninth point.
The Royals made it 3-0 with their second power play tally of the night. David Masse, who returned from just a one-game suspension for an incident with a Peoria fan during Game One of the series, took the puck from the right wing corner and skated as if he was darting behind the goal to the left wing corner. As Masse got behind the net, he pulled up and quickly found Lars Pettersen at the bottom of the right face-off circle for an easy one-time goal inside the near post. It was Pettersen's second goal of the game and the playoffs.
Each team finished the game 2-for-5 on the power play.
Peoria (4-3), despite a 23-7-6 road record during the regular season, dropped to 1-2 away from Carver Arena in the post season. It was the first time this season the Rivermen lost in regulation in three opportunities (1-1-1) at the Sovereign Center. Reading (6-3) picked up its second home win of the playoffs in three chances.
Valley turned away 26 of 29 Reading chances in the loss, his second of the postseason (3-2). Rudkowsky stopped 32 of 34 shots in the victory, his ECHL-leading sixth of the playoffs.
There was no scoring in the first period.
The Royals broke a scoreless tie at 8:19 of the second period. Tough man Dave Stewart took a chip pass in behind the Peoria net. Stewart faked a wraparound to the right post and opted to go to the left post. Valley met Stewart at the post but somehow Stewart was able to hack the puck in off the back off Valley. It was Stewart's first goal and point of the postseason.
Reading gave itself a 2-0 lead on the power play with 3:17 left in the second. Rome sent a shot from the left point that made its way through traffic in front of Valley and into the goal. Valley immediately argued with referee Nygel Pelletier about possible goaltender interference or a high stick but to no avail. The goal was later credited to Pettersen, who was skating through the crease and was able to tip the puck past Valley.
The Rivermen look to fend off elimination as they battle the Royals in Game Four of the Northern Division Finals tomorrow night â Thursday, April 22. Game time is 6:00 p.m. CDT at the Sovereign Center.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from April 21, 2004
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- IceGators Unable to Rally Against Gladiators - Louisiana IceGators
- Royals Sink Rivermen, 3-2, Take 2-1 Series Lead - Reading Royals
- Rivermen Unable to Come Back, Fall 3-2 in Reading in Game Three of the Northern Division Finals - Peoria Rivermen
- Gladiators Take Series Lead, 2 game to 1 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Rivermen Roar Back in Game two to Beat Royals, 4-2 - Peoria Rivermen
- Rivermen Announce Channel Change for One Playoff Game on Insight Communications Broadcast Network - Peoria Rivermen
- Mitchell, Fortunus and Cloutier return to Louisiana - Louisiana IceGators
- Today In The ECHL - ECHL
- Pacific Division Finals gme four tonight - Idaho Steelheads
- Rays Activate Allen - South Carolina Stingrays
- Steelheads lead series with 4-1 win in Alaska - Idaho Steelheads
- Aces lose 4-1, face elimination Wed. night at home - Alaska Aces
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
