AHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen victorious over Knights

Published on January 13, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


Omaha, NE - On Friday evening in Omaha, the Peoria Rivermen tasted victory in a road game for the first time in quite a while. The Rivermen defeated the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights 4-1 at the Omaha Civic Auditorium to end a stretch of nine consecutive road games without a win. Right wing Jon DiSalvatore led the way on offense for Peoria, registering one goal and two assists, while Patrick Lalime allowed only one goal to Omaha on 21 shots.

Entering Friday evening's game at Omaha, the Rivermen had not won on the road since they beat the Iowa Stars 4-3 in a shootout at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines back on Saturday, December 3. After that tilt, the Rivermen went on to lose their next five road games outright before losing in overtime at Milwaukee on Tuesday, December 27. Another outright Peoria loss then came in Chicago prior to a shootout loss last Friday at Hamilton. Peoria's 5-2 loss last Saturday at Cleveland extended the Rivermen road winless streak to nine games (0-7-1-1).

The Rivermen improve with the triumph to an overall record of 18-15-1-2 and to a road record of 7-9-1-1. The Ak-Sar-Ben Knights drop with the loss to an overall mark of 16-17-1-7 and to a home record of 8-8-0-6.

Neither team scored in this contest until 6:08 into the second period, when Omaha took a 1-0 lead. On a shot by Ak-Sar-Ben Knights left wing David Moss from the far edge of the left circle, Rivermen goaltender Patrick Lalime made the initial save but left a rebound above the crease. Although Lalime then blocked at least two quick shots from in close while he was down, Omaha winger Carsen Germyn eventually swiped the puck into the Peoria goal.

The Rivermen drew even with the Ak-Sar-Ben Knights approximately five minutes later on a power play. Holding the puck near the left boards just inside the blueline, Peoria defenseman Jeff Woywitka walked it down the wall a little ways and then sent a pass over to right wing Lee Stempniak. Taking the pass in the right circle, Stempniak fired a quick snap shot that might have surprised Ak-Sar-Ben Knights goalie Brent Krahn but definitely tied the score at 1-1 at the 12:11 mark of the second period.

Shortly thereafter, the Rivermen took a 2-1 lead. Stationed at the right point in the Omaha zone, just inside the blueline, Peoria defenseman Mike Stuart sent a shot in on net that changed direction before denting the twine behind Krahn. Right wing Jon DiSalvatore received credit for the goal that came at 13:39 of the middle frame.

The Peoria lead grew to 3-1 on another power-play marker. Accepting a nice, controllable pass from DiSalvatore at the bottom of the right circle, an unattended Rivermen right wing Mike Glumac sent the puck into the Omaha goal just inside the right post. Glumac's 20th goal of the season came at the 16:08 mark of the second.

In the third period, the Rivermen tacked on an insurance goal. After getting the puck from Glumac in the high slot area of the Ak-Sar-Ben Knights zone, DiSalvatore threw it in on net. Skating in towards the goal from the left side, center Trent Whitfield tipped the puck past Krahn at 16:58 of the third before being slammed into the end boards. The tally gave Peoria a 4-1 lead that the squad would hold to the final buzzer.

The Rivermen and the Ak-Sar-Ben Knights will reprise Friday evening's contest at 8:00 p.m. (CST) on Saturday at Carver Arena in Peoria.

Check out the Peoria Rivermen Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from January 13, 2006


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