AHL Peoria Rivermen

Slow Start, Strong Finish in 4-3 Win Over Aeros

March 12, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


HOUSTON - The Peoria Rivermen trailed the Houston Aeros 2-0 in the opening 10 minutes but rallied to win 4-3 at the Toyota Center on Friday night. Chris Porter's goal with only 3:13 remaining in regulation broke a 2-2 tie while Nicholas Drazenovic added his second of the night minutes later on an empty net.

The Rivermen moved back to within seven points of the idle fourth-place Milwaukee Admirals who host Toronto on Saturday. Peoria will continue their road trip with a 3 p.m. game on Sunday in San Antonio. In the first four games of their seven-game swing, the Rivermen are 2-1-1-0.

Joe Fallon earned the win in his second straight start and fourth straight appearance by stopping 28 of 31 Aeros shots. Anton Khudobin suffered the loss, his 16th in his last 18 games, with 17 saves.

Jean-Michel Daoust scored the first two goals of the game at 4:19 and 9:10 of the first period. Jamie Fraser and Ryan Gunderson assisted on both as well as Daoust registered his 18th and 19th of the season.

Down two early, Mitch Love squared off with J.P. Testwuide at 10:18. It was his one of three first period fights between the two clubs and the 100th AHL fight in Love's career.

Lars Eller and Pascal Pelletier both extended their point-streak to six games as Peoria broke through at 16:22. Barry Tallackson's shot was partially blocked and was picked up in the slot by Eller, who deked Khudobin and scored his 14th of the season. Eller now has 10 points (five goals, five assists) and Pelletier has nine points (three goals, six assists) in the last six games.

The Rivermen scored their only power-play goal of the game at 6:11 of the second to tie it 2-2. Drazenovic wristed a shot through traffic from near the blueline and it found its way into the back of the net. Adam Cracknell and TJ Fast earned assists on the play. It was the first point of the season for Fast in his 10th game.

The 2-2 score held until Porter's slapshot snuck between the pad and glove of Khudobin at 16:47 of the third. As it rolled past the goaltender, the loose puck slowly hit the post and crossed the line. The goal came during four-on-four play with Eller and Almond serving coincidental roughing minors.

Julian Talbot's cross-checking minor setup a six-on-four advantage with 2:16 remaining and an empty net for the Aeros. Drazenovic was able to race out of the Rivermen zone and sail one in from the red line to put the Rivermen up 4-2. It was his team-leading 18th of the year and second two-goal effort his past eight games.

With the remaining six-on-for, Nathan Smith poked in a rebound with just 33 seconds left to draw the Aeros back within one. The power-play goal was Houston's only one in five chances while the Rivermen were 1-for-4.

Derek Armstrong and Jonas Junland both missed the game due to injury.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 12, 2010


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