Rivermen Weekly
December 19, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL) - Peoria Rivermen News Release
RIVERMEN ACTION LAST WEEK
Friday, December 16, Houston 5 vs. RIVERMEN 3: The Rivermen began a two-game weekend set versus the Houston Aeros with a 5-3 loss. In the first period of this game, these two West Division rivals traded goals, as center Trent Whitfield scored for the Rivermen, and winger Kirby Law tallied for the Aeros. Houston built a two-goal lead in the middle frame on markers by forwards Rem Murray and Roman Voloshenko. Down 3-1 at the second intermission, the Rivermen got the first goal of the third period from right wing Mike Glumac at the 8:17 mark. Center Patrick O'Sullivan, however, negated that goal with one for Houston at 11:02. Peoria center Blake Evans then struck at 17:31 to pull the Rivermen to within one goal of Houston at 4-3, but Aeros center Bryan Lundbohm notched an empty-net goal with just 15 seconds remaining in regulation to ice a 5-3 triumph for Houston. Goaltender Reinhard Divis absorbed the loss for Peoria, making 29 saves on 33 shots. The Rivermen narrowly out-shot the Aeros 35-34. Although each team received seven power-play opportunities in this contest, Peoria converted two of its chances, while Houston scored three power-play goals.
Saturday, December 17, Houston 7 vs. RIVERMEN 2: In the second game of Peoria's weekend set in Houston, the Rivermen collapsed in the third period and fell to the Aeros by a count of 7-2. Aeros center Patrick O'Sullivan opened the scoring in this game with a goal about five minutes into the first period of play. The Rivermen then got on the scoreboard just 37 seconds into the second period on a power-play goal by defenseman Mike Mottau. After winger Roman Voloshenko scored for Houston at 2:52 of the second, Rivermen left wing D. J. King tied the tilt at 2-2 at 15:02. The Aeros took a 3-2 lead into the third frame thanks to a late second-period tally by left wing Josh Olson. Everything then came crashing down for the Rivermen in the third period, as the Aeros struck for four goals. Center Erik Westrum, at 8:53, and O'Sullivan, at 11:17, each scored once in the final frame, while center Rem Murray scored both the first and last goal of the third period to propel Houston to the 7-2 win. Goaltender Patrick Lalime made 32 saves and suffered the loss in goal for the Rivermen in his first career AHL start. As it had the previous night, Peoria again out-shot Houston on this Saturday evening, 42-39. The Rivermen went one for six on the power play in this contest, while the Aeros ended up at two for seven with the man-advantage.
Sunday, December 18, RIVERMEN 5 vs. Chicago 4 (SO): The Rivermen snapped a season-long six-game losing streak by beating their regional rival Chicago Wolves 5-4 in a shootout last Sunday. The Wolves jumped out to an early lead in this match on a goal by left winger Karl Stewart just 35 seconds after the opening face-off. Defenseman Jeff Woywitka, however, responded for the Rivermen with a tally at 1:01 of the first. Centers Jared Ross and Kevin Doell then staked Chicago to a 3-1 lead at the end of one period by scoring at 11:02 and 17:32, respectively. In the middle frame, right wing Mike Glumac notched two consecutive goals for Peoria at 4:30 and 16:22 to tie the game at 3-3. Although Chicago went up 4-3 on a Billy Tibbetts goal at 12:43 of the third period, Peoria center Blake Evans knotted the match at 4-4 shortly thereafter at the 13:13 mark. The game moved to a five-minute four-on-four overtime period when neither team scored again in regulation. While both teams generated scoring opportunities in the overtime session, neither squad dented the twine, and the game moved to a shootout to decide a winner. In the shootout derby, each team's first and fourth shooters tallied a goal, as Doell and Kip Miller scored for Chicago, and Peter Sejna and Andy Roach scored for Peoria. After Chicago's Stephen Baby missed to open the fifth shootout round, right winger Jon DiSalvatore stepped up and buried his shootout attempt to give the Rivermen a hard-fought 5-4 shootout win. Patrick Lalime kept Peoria in this game all night and earned his first career AHL victory by making 44 saves on 48 shots. The Rivermen were out-shot by a wide margin in this game, 48-29. Peoria went one for four on the power play and stymied all four power-play chances that the Wolves had in the match.
WHEW! IT'S OVER!
By defeating the Chicago Wolves on Sunday at Carver Arena, the Rivermen halted a losing streak of six games. This skid easily ranks as the squad's longest losing streak thus far in 2005-06. Prior to the string of futility that they just ended, the Rivermen had not lost more than two consecutive games this season, and that occurred only twice. Back in early November, the Rivermen lost consecutive home games to Omaha and Toronto. Peoria then dropped its final two contests of November at home to Iowa and at Milwaukee.
RAGING RIVERMEN
LW Peter Sejna has scored 9 points (1 goal, 8 assists) in the last eight games...C Trent Whitfield is riding a 10-game point-scoring streak during which he has put up 14 points (6 goals, 8 assists)...RW Jon DiSalvatore has collected 10 points (3 goals, 7 assists) over the previous eight games...RW Mike Glumac has notched 16 points (6 goals, 10 assists) in the last 10 tilts...C Troy Riddle has produced 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists) in his previous five contests...D Mike Mottau has dished out at least one assist in six of his last eight outings (1 goal, 7 assists).
RECENT RIVERMEN TRANSACTIONS
December 19, 2005 G Reinhard Divis recalled by the St. Louis Blues (NHL).
December 18, 2005 G Chris Beckford-Tseu reassigned to AHL Peoria by NHL St. Louis.
December 17, 2005 G Bill Conger released.
December 17, 2005 G Bill Conger signed to an amateur try-out (ATO) contract.
December 14, 2005 C Blake Evans assigned to the Peoria Rivermen (AHL) by the Edmonton Oilers (NHL).
December 13, 2005 C Blake Evans recalled by NHL St. Louis and traded to NHL Edmonton.
December 13, 2005 G Patrick Lalime assigned to the Peoria Rivermen (AHL) by the St. Louis Blues (NHL).
December 12, 2005 G Jason Bacashihua recalled by the St. Louis Blues (NHL).
December 5, 2005 C Jay McClement recalled by the St. Louis Blues (NHL).
December 2, 2005 RW Mike Stuart reassigned from ECHL Alaska to AHL Peoria by NHL St. Louis.
December 2, 2005 LW Charles Linglet signed to an AHL contract and loaned to the ECHL Las Vegas Wranglers.
FAMILY AFFAIR
Hockey is a family affair for Rivermen forward/defenseman Mike Stuart. Stuart and his two younger brothers and his younger sister are all involved in the game. Stuart's brother Colin, in fact, plays left wing for the Chicago Wolves. His other brother Mark is a defenseman for the Providence Bruins, and his sister Cristin is now a member of the women's ice hockey team at Boston College.
NEXT RIVERMEN GAMES
MONDAY, DECEMBER 26
PEORIA RIVERMEN @ Iowa Stars
7:00 p.m., Wells Fargo Arena
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27
PEORIA RIVERMEN @ Milwaukee Admirals
7:00 p.m., Bradley Center
Radio: All Rivermen games are broadcast LIVE on HOPE 98.5 (WPIA-FM), the flagship radio station of the Peoria Rivermen.
Internet Audio: LIVE streaming audio of all Rivermen games is available for no charge at www.rivermen.net.
Internet Video: LIVE streaming video with the accompanying audio feed is available at www.rivermen.net through the facilities of the b2 networks. The video Webcast of each game is available for a pay-per-view fee of $6.
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