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ECHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen win three in a row to finish four game week

March 1, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


THE RECAP:

Tuesday, February 24, 2004 vs. Wheeling Game #54 ECHL Game #833

Rivermen 2 Wheeling 4

The Peoria Rivermen tied the game in early in the third but let the lead slip midway through session, eventually losing 4-2 to the first place Wheeling Nailers in front of 3,098 on Tuesday night at Carver Arena.

Peoria reached a new season mark for futility, losing four in a row overall. The Rivermen have also dropped three in a row at home for the first time, falling to 13-11-3. They are averaging 1.21 goals per game (17 goals) over 14 Carver Arena defeats, which include three overtime losses.

The Rivermen tied the game 2-2 at 2:19 of the third on the power play. George Halkidis' shot from the right point was stopped by Wheeling goaltender Joe Exter. The rebound was swept at by Randy Rowe but Marty Johnston – with his back to the net – lifted a backhand shot into the open goal with Exter down. It was Johnston's 18th tally of the season.

The Nailers took their second lead of the night at 11:19 of the third on a power play of their own. Mario Larocque hammered a slap shot from the left point just inside of the right goal post. The puck looked to have been tipped by Jason Jaffray, who had the game winner on Sunday but the goal was credited to Larocque, who potted his eighth goal of the season.

Each team finished the night 1-for-4 with the man advantage.

Larocque finished the scoring with an empty-net tally at 19:52 on a slap shot up the middle of the ice from his own zone.

Peoria (30-16-8, 68 points) fell to 3-3-1 against the Nailers this season and 25-14-8 against the Northern Division. Wheeling (39-13-2, 80 points) has won four in a row and improved to 16-9-0 on the road. The Nailers are in the lead for the Brabham Cup Championship (Regular Season Points Champion) with a four-point advantage over the defending Kelly Cup Champion Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies and the San Diego Gulls.

Wednesday, February 25, 2004 @ Toledo Game #55 ECHL Game #841

Rivermen 6 Toledo 1

The Peoria Rivermen scored five unanswered goals over the final two periods and beat the archrival Toledo Storm 6-1 before a Wednesday night crowd of 3,234 at the Toledo Sports Arena.

The victory snapped a season-worst four-game losing streak.

The Rivermen padded their lead at 5:39 of the third period, making it 5-1. Rookie defenseman Craig Olynick took a pass from Trevor Baker at the center point in the Toledo end and rifled a low slap shot that deflected off the skate of a Storm defenseman inside the left goal post. It was Olynick's second professional goal.

Peoria added another at 15:18 of the third with its second power play tally of the game. Marty Johnston picked up his own rebound in the high slot and with the puck bouncing on end, he slapped it low and inside the right post for his 19th goal of the season.

The Rivermen finished the night 2-for-5 with the man advantage; they came into the game 1-for-30 against the Storm through six contests. Toledo was 1-for-2 on the power play.

Peoria (31-16-8, 70 points) improved to 5-0-2 against the Storm this season and 18-5-5 on the road. The Rivermen moved into a tie for third place in the nine-team Northern Division with the Reading Royals (31-15-8, 70 points) with one more game played. Toledo (21-26-6, 48 points) has dropped three of its last five games and fell to 10-13-3 at home.

Friday, February 27, 2004 vs. Reading Game #56 ECHL Game #856

Rivermen 2 Reading 0

Rookie Mike Hoffman scored his first two professional goals and Mike Valley turned away all 29 shots he faced, as the Peoria Rivermen shut out the visiting Reading Royals 2-0 in front of 4,335 on Friday night at Carver Arena.

The Rivermen took a 1-0 lead at 13:17 of the first period. Joe Vandermeer found Hoffman at the right point on a backhand shovel pass. Hoffman pushed the puck to the top of the right face-off circle and fired a low slap shot through a maze of players that made its way just inside the left goal post.

Peoria pushed its lead to 2-0 at 6:05 of the second period on Hoffman's second professional tally. Colin Hemingway chipped the puck to Adam Edinger on left wing, and Edinger brought it into the Reading zone with Hoffman trailing the play. Hoffman then cut to the middle and laid his stick out for an Edinger pass just above the goal crease, chipping the puck into the upper right corner past Reading goaltender and former Rivermen Cody Rudkowsky, who turned away 38 of 40 shots in his 13th loss of the season (18-13-3).

Valley stopped 10 shots in both the first and second periods and nine in the final session for his third shutout of the year and the 10th of his career. He nearly scored his first professional goal at the end of regulation, firing the puck down the ice into the middle net, but it was two seconds too late.

Peoria (32-16-8, 72 points) snapped a season-worst, three-game home losing streak in the win. The Rivermen improved to 14-11-3 on home ice and 2-1-1 on the season against the Royals. It was Peoria's fifth team shutout of the season. Reading (31-16-8, 70 points) had its three-game winning streak snapped and its eight-game, unbeaten-in-regulation streak halted. It was the Royals' first regulation loss since February 7 in Atlantic City. It was just the third time this season Reading was shut out.

Saturday, February 28, 2004 vs. Reading Game #57 ECHL Game #870

Rivermen 5 Reading 3

Four is the magic number for the Peoria Rivermen on home ice. When the Rivermen score four or more goals at home, they are a perfect 10-0-0. They scored four in the opening period on Saturday night and went to beat the visiting Reading Royals 5-3 before a Saturday night crowd of 5,929 at Carver Arena.

The Rivermen sealed the win with an empty-net goal at 19:39, as Randy Rowe broke in alone for his second tally of the night and team-leading 28th marker of the season.

Peoria pest Kenny Goetz fought Reading's Scooter Smith with just 11 seconds remaining in regulation. Smith opened the fight connecting with four right hands, bloodying Goetz's lip. Goetz then came back with a flurry of seven solid rights to Smith's jaw to finish the bout.

Peoria (33-16-8, 74 points) has won three in a row after losing four straight and improved to 15-11-3 at home. The Rivermen have given themselves a four-point advantage over Reading for third place in the nine-team Northern Division. Peoria is 3-1-1 against the Royals this season and finished 2-1-1 at Carver Arena against them; the teams will meet in Reading, Pa. on March 16 to finish out the season series. Reading (31-17-8, 70 points) has lost two in a row after winning three straight and going unbeaten in regulation in eight contests in a row (7-0-1). The Royals fell to 10-16-5 on the road this season.

The Captain's Log

Still Fighting With 15 Left

With 15 games left in the regular season, the Rivermen are alone in third place by two points in the Northern Division after 20 weeks of the 2003-2004 ECHL campaign. After opening last week with its season-worst fourth consecutive loss, Peoria proceeded to win three in a row. On Tuesday, the Rivermen were doubled up 4-2 at home in the second of two in a row with the Wheeling Nailers. On Wednesday in Toledo, Peoria rebounded with a commanding 6-1 win over the archrival Toledo Storm. On Friday and Saturday, in a battle for third place with the Reading Royals, the Rivermen posted a 2-0 shutout win and then held on for a 5-3 win the following night. Peoria is two points in front of the rival Johnstown Chiefs (33-17-6, 72 points) with one more game played. The Rivermen are four points in front of the Royals (31-17-8, 70 points). Peoria is seven points behind the second place and defending Kelly Cup Champion Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies (38-13-5, 81 points). Six of Peoria's 15 remaining games are against teams with a winning record, while nine are against teams with a losing record. In its schedule against winning teams, Peoria takes on the Trenton Titans (28-21-6, 62 points) three times, and the Wheeling Nailers (42-13-2, 86 points), Atlantic City and Reading once each. Against those with a losing record, the Rivermen battle the archrival Toledo Storm five times, the archrival Dayton Bombers three times and the Cincinnati Cyclones once.

Keeping It Together At Carver And Away

The Rivermen snapped a season-worst, three-game home losing streak last Friday night in a 2-0 shutout over the Reading Royals and then proceeded to hold on to beat them 5-3 the following night. With their second straight home victory, the Rivermen improved to 15-11-3 at Carver Arena, averaging 4.00 goals per game (60 goals) over each of their wins. Peoria is averaging 1.21 goals per game (17 goals) over 14 home defeats, which include three overtime losses. For the first time in their eight-year ECHL tenure, the Rivermen have lost more than nine games at Carver Arena during one season. Peoria owns a 190-57-30 lifetime ECHL record (74 percent point percentage) 29 games into its eighth ECHL season. Last season, the Rivermen posted a 26-5-5 home mark with the second fewest home losses in one season in ECHL franchise history. Peoria notched a 27-4-4 record at home in its first ECHL season (1996-1997). Conversely, Peoria owns the best road record in the ECHL at 18-5-5 (73 percent point percentage). The Rivermen used a 6-1 road victory last Wednesday in Toledo to snap a season-worst, four-game losing streak. Peoria's road success this season includes a six-game winning streak and an 11-game, unbeaten-in-regulation streak (7-0-4).

Protecting Our Pipes

The Rivermen rank fourth in the ECHL in goals against average, surrendering just 2.47 goals per game. Over the last 15 games, Peoria has surrendered two goals or less in nine of those contests, including three one-goal games and one shutout. Reading is just ahead of Peoria, allowing 2.46 goals per game. Last season, Peoria ranked first in the League, allowing 2.51 goals per game. Defending Kelly Cup Champion Atlantic City currently leads the League with a 2.23 goals against average (GAA). Peoria goaltenders Mike Valley and Levente Szuper have posted 2.21 and 2.52 GAAs, respectively. Valley ranks third in the ECHL in GAA.

Rowe-ing Along Again

After being held scoreless in his first game back from a seven call-up with the American Hockey League's (AHL) St. John's Maple Leafs, third-year left wing Randy Rowe has tallied at least a point in each of his last five games with seven points (3g, 4a), a +1 plus/minus and 20 shots. The 2004 ECHL All-Star leads the team in goals (28), game-winning goals (8), power play goals (8) and points (52). The 6-foot, 198-pound native of Burford, Ontario earned 2004 Par-A-Dice ECHL All-Star MVP honors with three points (2g, 1a), including the game winner, in a 7-6 Eastern Conference win on January 21. He finished tied for second in the Hardest Shot Contest in the Skills Competition with a 94.1 mph slap shot and was also named Captain of the Eastern Conference.

Injury, Call-up & Transaction Report

· Rivermen defenseman Malcolm Hutt has been placed on the 7-day injured reserve, 02/27/04.

· Rivermen right wing Kenny Goetz has been activated from ECHL suspension (nine games), 02/27/04.

· Defenseman/Forward Mike Hoffman has been reassigned from the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 02/25/04.

· Center Greg Black has been reassigned to the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 02/25/04.

· Rookie center Malcolm MacMillan has been traded to the Cincinnati Cyclones for future considerations, 02/24/04.

· Rivermen defenseman Doug MacIver has been placed on the 7-day injured reserve, 02/24/04.

· Rivermen defenseman Craig Olynick has been activated from the 7-day injured reserve, 02/24/04.

· Rivermen goaltender Mike Valley has been returned from the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 02/24/04.

· Goaltender Brian Hamilton has been released as an emergency back-up, 02/24/04.

· Rivermen center Brendan Brooks remains on reassignment to the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 01/14/04.

Steering Our Way Through The Schedule

PRACTICE:

· The Rivermen will practice on Tuesday, March 2, Wednesday, March 3 and Thursday, March 4 at Carver Arena at 10:00 a.m. CT. Practice times and location are subject to change.

GAMES:

· On Friday, March 5, the Rivermen host the archrival Toledo Storm in the first of two in a row between the clubs and the eighth of 12 season matchups. Peoria remained unbeaten in regulation in seven meetings (5-0-2) against the Storm this season with a commanding 6-1 win in Toledo last Wednesday. The Rivermen, who are 3-0-1 in Toledo and 2-0-1 at home against the Storm this season, own a 49-22-5 lifetime ECHL record against them. Toledo (21-27-8, 50 points) is in seventh place in the nine-team Northern Division. The Storm are led by right wing Alexander Jacques, who has 47 points (24g, 23a) in 41 games with a +10 plus/minus. It is another Coca-Cola Finally Friday. Fans receive a 2-for-1 Upper Bowl admission when they present a Cherry Coke or Vanilla Coke can at the Carver Arena Box Office. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 1290 AM, Insight Communications (Peoria-44; Bloomington-Normal-22; Pekin, Morton & Galesburg-70) and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 6:50 p.m. from Carver Arena. Game time is 7:00 p.m. CT.

· On Saturday, March 6, Peoria takes on the Storm for the second straight game and ninth of 12 meetings this season. "Jars of Clay" will perform in a post-game Christian concert, and the first 5,000 fans receive a Rivermen Team Photo, courtesy of Mac's & Big Foot Convenience Stores. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 1290 AM, Insight Communications (Peoria-44; Bloomington-Normal-22; Pekin, Morton & Galesburg-70) and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 6:50 p.m. from Carver Arena. Game time is 7:00 p.m. CT.

· On Sunday, March 7, the Rivermen take on the Trenton Titans for the first time in the 2003-2004 season. It is the first of two in a row between the clubs, who will meet on Tuesday, March 9 as well. The teams will complete the three-game season series in Trenton, NJ on Wednesday, March 17. Peoria owns a 6-3-1 lifetime ECHL record against the Titans and a 7-6 playoff mark. Trenton (28-21-6, 62 points) is eight points out of the fifth and final playoff spot in the nine-team Northern Division. The Titans are led by left wing Matt Zultek, who has 46 points (26g, 20a) in 48 games with a +7 plus/minus and 177 penalty minutes. It is another Journal Star Insight Media Family Day. Kids 12 and Under receive a $2 Upper Bowl admission. Kids Meals are available for $2.50 (the first 1,000 contain a Randy Rowe player card). Scooby Doo and Shaggy appear courtesy of the Cartoon Network. The PYHA House League Tournament Championship will be played. It is also National Safe Kids Campaign Night. The game broadcast can be heard TAPE DELAY on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 1290 AM, and LIVE Insight Communications (Peoria-44; Bloomington-Normal-22; Pekin, Morton & Galesburg-70) and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 2:50 p.m. from Carver Arena. Game time is 3:00 p.m. CT.

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