AHL Peoria Rivermen

Talbot's Early Goal Paces Rivermen to 4-2 Win

Published on March 6, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


PEORIA, Ill. (March 6, 2009) - It only took 76 seconds for Julian Talbot and the Peoria Rivermen to take a lead they would never relinquish in a 4-2 win against the Chicago Wolves at Carver Arena on Friday night. Combined with an Iowa loss, the Rivermen jumped into fifth place in the West Division, just five points back of a playoff spot.

Despite being outshot 12-6 in the first period, Peoria was the only team to dent the net. It was Talbot's persistence that gave Peoria its 1-0 lead less than two minutes into the game. The Rivermen center's initial shot was blocked by Wolves' goalie Ondrej Pavelec, but Talbot honed in on the rebound and wristed the puck from the low slot over Pavelec's outstretched right leg. It was Talbot's 16th goal of the year, and Yan Stastny picked up his second helper of the season on the play.

With just under nine minutes remaining in the opening frame, Peoria slipped out to an odd-man rush against Pavelec, but the Wolves' goalie kept Chicago within one goal after a spectacular kick save on a Nicholas Drazenovic backhander.

Peoria eventually doubled its lead 6:34 into the second period on a Ryan Reaves one-timer from a Curtis Fraser dish through the slot. Reaves immediately tapped the pass over Pavelec's raised glove for his sixth goal of the year.

Chicago right winger Joey Crabb had an answer only three minutes and ten seconds later though. Clay Wilson split the Peoria defense and slipped a drop-pass into the low slot to Crabb who flicked the puck past Legace's glove to cut the Rivermen's lead in half.

It was Carl Corazzini who gave Peoria some insurance at the 14:37 mark. Pavelec made an initial save on Stastny with his right pad, but Corazzini was ready to clean up the trash on the other side of the net, and he banged home the rebound to restore Peoria's two-goal lead. Corazzini's goal was his eighth on the season, and his first as a Rivermen.

The final period saw stellar saves by both goaltenders, including a Manny Legace backwards dive onto a loose puck. Legace finished the game with 29 saves.

Both teams exchanged goals in the final 20 minutes. Rivermen captain Trent Whitfield netted his team-leading 18th goal of the season and Spencer Machacek grabbed a late goal for the Wolves.

With tonight's win, Peoria evened the season series with Chicago as both teams are 4-4-0 against each other. There were only two penalties in tonight's game, both of which were on the Rivermen: Cam Paddock for hooking and Alexander Hellstrom for interference.

Between the first and second periods, the Rivermen inducted Dr. Joe Rybar and current Wolves' head coach Don Granato into the Peoria Rivermen Hall of Fame. Granato was head coach of the 1999-2000 Rivermen squad that won the ECHL's Kelly Cup over the Louisiana IceGators.

The Rivermen will go for their third consecutive win tomorrow at 7 p.m. when they host the Rockford IceHogs. The game will have a live radio broadcast available on Hippie 101.1FM, as well as www.rivermen.net.

It is Peoria Air National Guard Team Poster Night with the first 5,000 fans in attendance receiving a poster. The Rivermen will wear camouflage jerseys to be auctioned off after the game. Tickets are available at the Peoria Civic Center Box Office, by calling (309) 676-1040 or online at www.rivermen.net/tickets.

Check out the Peoria Rivermen Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from March 6, 2009


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