AHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen win special teams battle, 4-3

November 20, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


Peoria, IL (November 19, 2005) - This game between the Peoria Rivermen and the San Antonio Rampage may have seemed like just another game to some. Just another win for the Rivermen, or just another loss for the Rampage. Considering how most of the goals in the game were scored, however, this game was, in fact, "special."

Of the seven goals scored in this game, only one was scored at even strength. Five power-play goals, two by Peoria and three from San Antonio, and one shorthanded tally for the Rivermen comprised the six goals that rendered this game "special." Because they came out on top in the game with a 4-3 decision, the Rivermen might consider the contest more special than the Rampage.

The Rivermen win brought to an end the team's three-game winless streak (0-2-0-1) and pushed Peoria's overall record to 10-4-0-1. At home in Carver Arena, the Rivermen are now 6-3-0-1. The Rampage, on the other hand, drop to 5-12-0-1 on the season and 1-5-0-1 on the road.

San Antonio opened the scoring in the game with a power-play goal at the 15:43 mark of the first period. Controlling the puck in the Peoria end, Rampage defenseman Brad Ference worked the puck over to his defense partner Matthew Spiller on the perimeter of the zone. From the left point, Spiller then sent a pass into the left circle to center Layne Ulmer, who wheeled, fired a shot on net, and beat Rivermen goalie Jason Bacashihua to the stick side.

Peoria responded with a power-play tally of its own. From along the right-wing boards, center Trent Whitfield shot the puck into a crowd in front of the goal. Peter Sejna then found it lying near the crease and stuffed it home to even the score for Peoria at 1-1 at 19:50.

At the 13:57 mark of the second period, Rampage right winger Brent Cullaton scored, again on the power play. From the right point, Cullaton partially fanned on a shot and sent the puck bouncing crazily toward the goal. It bounced through the slot past one of Cullaton's teammates and a Peoria defender before finally eluding Bacashihua for a 2-1 San Antonio lead.

Once again, however, the Rivermen responded in kind. Taking a pass from winger Mike Glumac, defenseman Mike Mottau fired a laser shot from the blueline that dented the twine to tie the game at 2-2. The goal came on the power play at 19:39 of the second.

Peoria took its first lead of the game on an even-strength goal in the third frame. After receiving the puck down low on the right side, Rivermen center Ryan Ramsay faked a pass to defenseman Rocky Thompson and instead fired a shot into the upper right corner of the goal for a 3-2 Peoria advantage at 4:15.

Approximately two minutes later, the Rampage evened the score at 3-3 with their third power-play goal of the evening. Working his way through the zone, defenseman David Cornacchia came upon the rebound of a slap shot near the right hash marks and was able to beat Bacashihua low to the stick side at 6:20 of the third.

Speedy right wing Brendan Brooks got the game-winner for the Rivermen while they were trying to kill off a San Antonio power play. After receiving an outlet pass from defenseman Jeff Woywitka, Brooks broke into the San Antonio zone down the right wing and beat Rampage goaltender Karl Goehring to the glove side with a snap shot at 15:43. That goal produced the eventual final score of 4-3 for Peoria.

Just like this weekend, another set of two games on Friday and Saturday awaits the Rivermen immediately following Thanksgiving Day next weekend.

Check out the Peoria Rivermen Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from November 20, 2005


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