Rivermen Weekly
Published on November 22, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
WEEK 7 IN REVIEW (3-1-0-0)
vs. San Antonio (11/17): The San Antonio Rampage made their first appearance of the season at Carver Arena on Wednesday morning and came away with a 3-1 win over the Peoria Rivermen in the inaugural Faceoff Field Trip game. Over 2,600 school kids were part of the 5,117 fans in attendance for the 10:05 a.m. start time. READ MORE
vs. Abbotsford (11/19) It only took Jake Allen six starts to put his name next to Manny Legace in the Peoria Rivermen record book as he posted his third shutout of the season in a 2-0 win over the Abbotsford Heat on Friday night at Carver Arena.
vs. Abbotsford (11/20) The Peoria Rivermen scored twice in a 22-second stretch of the first period and took down the Abbotsford Heat at Carver Arena for the second consecutive game by a score of 3-1. Graham Mink scored the game-winner and added an empty-netter while Brett Sonne notched his first of the season in front of a crowd of 7,045 - the largest since opening night.
vs. Rockford (11/21) The Peoria Rivermen edged the Rockford IceHogs 3-2 in a shootout at Carver Arena on Sunday to finish off a 3-0-0 weekend. Nathan Oystrick's goal in regulation and game-winning shootout goal, along with stellar goaltending from rookie Jake Allen aided in the win that pushed Peoria's record to 4-2-0 on their current homestand.
NEWS AND NOTES
Overall.The Rivermen strung together three consecutive wins over the weekend to improve to 12-7-0-1 on the season. They sit just four points behind the division leading San Antonio Rampage (who have won six in a row). Their 12 wins are the most of any team not in first place in their division.
Back on Track.Peoria's three straight wins marks the first time since the end of their seven-game winning streak (Oct. 10-23) that they have won even back-to-back games.
Allen's Antics.Rookie goaltender Jake Allen is off to a remarkable 6-1-0 record with three shutouts to start his pro career. He is the only goalie in the league with three shutouts while his 1.35 goals-against average and his .959 save percentage are both the best in the American Hockey League. He is the only true rookie in the top eight among GAA (both Jussi Rynnas - TOR and Richard Bachman - TEX played professionally last season but are considered rookies by AHL standards). Last season in the QMJHL, Allen posted four shutouts in 51 games between Montreal and Drummondvillle and was named the QMJHL and CHL Goalie of the Year. He had nine shutouts in his three seasons of junior hockey.
Good Company. Allen's three shutouts have also tied Manny Legace for the most shutouts by a Rivermen goaltender in a single season. Legace posted three in just 23 games during the 2008-09 season.
Not bad either.Not to be outdone Ben Bishop is off to a good start as well in his third pro season in goal. His GAA is 10th in the AHL at 2.24 and his 385 saves are fourth most in the entire league. He has already earned a shutout this year (Oct. 16 @ HOU) after failing to record one in the 2009-10 campaign.
Opposites Attract.As the Rivermen offensive output has been shrinking so has the goals-against average. Peoria has the best team GAA in the league at 2.15 while their goal production has fallen to 2.65 goals per game (19th). The Rivermen started the year by averaging 4.33 goals for the first six games but since then have only scored more than three goals once (5-1 W vs. Rockford on Nov. 7). They are averaging 2.00 goals per game over their past seven contests (4-3-0).
Breaking it Down.The Rivermen are 11-1-0-1 when scoring the first goal of the game and just 1-6-0-0 when falling behind first. They are 9-1-0-1 when holding a lead at the start of the third and 0-4-0-0 when trailing to begin the final period. Peoria is a perfect 11-0-0 when holding opponents to two goals or less and 0-7-0-1 when allowing three or more.
Penalty Purgatory.After tallying 55 penalty minutes over the weekend's three games, the Rivermen have notched 455 penalty minutes this season, the most in the AHL. They have taken 135 minors - also most in the league - and average 22.8 minutes per game (3rd). Without Peoria, West Division teams currently average just 308.42 minutes on the season and 16.5 minutes per game. Although Peoria has spent the most time in the box, there isn't a single Rivermen that ranks in the top 20 in the league in PIM. Graham Mink has the most on the team, 44, which ranks him 34th among skaters in the AHL.
Killing the Competition.In the six games of their current homestand, the Rivermen have killed off 29 of the 31 times they have been shorthanded. Included in that stretch is an active streak of 20 consecutive successful penalty kills. They are sixth in the league at 87.6 percent overall and their 90.5 percent success rate at home is third best.
Power Play.The Rivermen power play sits at 19.8 percent which is tied for the eighth best mark in the AHL. At home they are fourth, converting 12 times in 49 chances (24.5 percent).
Hockey and Coffee.. Wednesday's 10:05 a.m. start time is the earliest game the Rivermen have ever played, home or away, since joining the American Hockey League prior to the 2005-06 season. Their earliest start had been a handful of 1 p.m. games. The 10:05 a.m. start is the earliest of 18 morning games played in the AHL this season. A total of 14 different teams will play morning games this season, including the Toronto Marlies who will play four.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
11/19/2010 Nathan Oystrick (D) Peoria ADD Returned on loan from St. Louis (NHL)
11/16/2010 Nicholas Drazenovic (C) Peoria ADD Returned on loan from St. Louis (NHL)
11/16/2010 T.J. Hensick (C) Peoria DEL Recalled from loan by St. Louis (NHL)
American Hockey League Stories from November 22, 2010
- Admirals Blast Checkers 7-3, Win Third Straight Game - Norfolk Admirals
- Checkers Dropped, 7-3, by Admirals - Charlotte Checkers
- Sabres Recall Adam and Stuart from Portland - Portland Pirates
- Wolf Pack/Whale Weekly - Connecticut Whale
- Anaheim Ducks Assign Nick Bonino, Brandon McMilland and Dan Sexton to Crunch - Syracuse Crunch
- Rivermen Weekly - Peoria Rivermen
- Tale of the Tape - Abbotsford Heat
- Sound Tigers Weekly Report - Bridgeport Islanders
- Amerks and Knighthawks Kick off Holiday Packs - Rochester Americans
- Ten Bears Games to Air in Washington, D.C. - Hershey Bears
- Rivermen to Hold Black Friday Blowout Sale - Peoria Rivermen
- Phantoms Return Home for Two Games - Adirondack Phantoms
- North Division Leading Bulldogs Continue Road Trip With Three Games Away From Copps Coliseum This We - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Barons Weekly Report - Oklahoma City Barons
- Pens and Sens Team Up - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Sharks Grab 3 Points in 3 Games - Worcester Sharks
- Big Win And Bigger Crowd - Manitoba Moose
- Rampage Assign Ross to Las Vegas - San Antonio Rampage
- Admirals Re-Open Home Season December 1 - Milwaukee Admirals
- Rampage Weekly Update - San Antonio Rampage
- Week Seven: Paetsch Producing - Syracuse Crunch
- Stars Goalie Bachman Named AHL Player of the Week - Texas Stars
- Falcons Set For Four Games In Five Days Starting Wednesday - Springfield Falcons
- Texas Goaltender Richard Bachman Named Reebok/AHL Player of the Week - AHL
- Wolves Weekly Notes - Chicago Wolves
- Admirals Weekday Value Nights Return Wednesday - Norfolk Admirals
- Admirals Set Sail on Busy Week - Norfolk Admirals
- Hogs Goaltending Leads Them to 1-1-0-1 Week 7 - Rockford IceHogs
- Devils Weekly - Albany Devils
- Flyers Recall Wellwood - Adirondack Phantoms
- Admirals Stumble Down South - Milwaukee Admirals
- Monarchs Weekly Report - Manchester Monarchs
- Busy Bears Play Four Games In Five Nights Starting Wednesday - Hershey Bears
- Heat Hot Sheet - Moose Vs Heat this Week - Abbotsford Heat
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