AHL Peoria Rivermen

Special Teams Shine in 3-1 Rivermen Win

Published on November 5, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


Peoria, Ill. (November 5, 2008) - The Peoria Rivermen held the most potent power-play unit in the league off the board and scored two power-play goals of their own to beat the Rockford IceHogs 3-1 at Carver Arena on Wednesday night. Marek Schwarz made 34 saves, including all 16 shots he faced in the third period, to earn the win.

Rockford's power play entered the game working at a 24.6 percent success rate but went 0-for-7 against the Rivermen on Wednesday. Peoria's penalty-killers were able to work around 1:33 of five-on-three in the opening minutes of the third to preserve a 1-1 tie and then a six-on-four, with the net empty, with only 2:35 left in regulation to maintain their 2-1 advantage. Steve Regier added an empty netter with 14 seconds to play to add some separation.

Trent Whitfield's power-play goal with 8:56 remaining in the third period broke a 1-1 tie and proved to be the game winner. Nicholas Drazenovic handled the puck in the corner before throwing it on net as Whitfield and Regier crashed towards the goal. The rebound was redirected by Whitfield past Corey Crawford to give the Rivermen a 2-1 lead. It was the third goal of the season for the Rivermen captain and his first game-winner.

The game's first goal wasn't scored until the 8:49 mark of the second period when Jonas Junland notched his first of the year. With his team on the man-advantage, his slap shot from the point deflected off the stick of an IceHog defender and over the shoulder of Crawford. It was the first professional goal in the North American career of Junland who has spent the last two seasons in the Swedish Elite League. Jeff Woywitka and Whitfield earned assists on the play.

Peoria's lead was short-lived as the IceHogs scored their only goal of the contest 3:40 later. Bryan Bickell walked out of the corner and wristed a shot just above the glove of Schwarz for his second of the season.

It was the only time Schwarz was beaten as he made numerous clutch saves throughout the contest. He stoned IceHog leading scorer Petri Kontiola on a breakaway moments after Whitfield's goal.

With the win, the Rivermen (6-4-1) jumped both Iowa and Houston in the standings and find themselves in third place in the West Division. They trail the Chicago Wolves (16) by three points and the IceHogs (14) by just one.

Check out the Peoria Rivermen Statistics

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