Report for the Week Ending April 8
Tuesday, 04.10.2012 / 9:03 AM
By Kevin Orris - Peoria Rivermen / The Rivermen Report
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The Rivermen took two out of three in their final and 13th three-games-in-three-days series this weekend. Peoria is 39-31-2-2 and is currently tied with Milwaukee for second place in the Midwest Divison and sits in a four-way tie for fifth place in the Western Conference. The Rivermen will play their final home game of the season on Friday against Charlotte before traveling to Chicago on Sunday for their final game of the regular season.
April 5 – W 3-2 vs. Texas | HIGHLIGHTS
The Rivermen topped the Texas Stars 3-2 at Carver Arena on Friday night. Derek Nesbitt scored the game’s first goal at 6:53 in the second period before former Rivermen Matt Fraser countered just seven minutes later to tie the game at 1-1. Patrick O’Sullivan scored following a takeaway in the right circle to give Peoria its second lead of the game 7:32 into the third period. Just 2:22 later, Adam Cracknell deflected a Shaun Heshka shot on goal, which proved to be the game winner. Fraser struck again with a goal at 19:21, but Jake Allen stopped any further last-minute Stars attempts. Allen finished the game with 32 saves while Jack Campbell stopped 35 of 38 shots on goal. Peoria went 0-for-4 on the power play and held Texas scoreless on two chances.
April 6 – W 3-1 @ Oklahoma City
The Rivermen topped the Oklahoma City Barons 3-1 with third period goals from Phil McRae and Jonathan Cheechoo at Cox Convention Center on Friday night. Mark Cundari gave Peoria a 1-0 lead at 14:11 in the first period, which stood until Ryan Keller’s goal at 10:17 in the third period. McRae scored 1:03 later and Cheechoo tallied an empty net goal with just four seconds left in regulation. Jake Allen stopped 31 of 32 shots on goal and held Oklahoma City 0-for-2 on the power play. The Rivermen finished with 27 shots on goal and went scoreless on three man advantages.
April 7 – L 4-2 @ Houston
Peoria mounted two comeback attempts, but fell short in a 4-2 loss to the Houston Aeros at Toyota Center on Saturday night. Chad Rau put Houston up 1-0 just 28 seconds into regulation, but Phil McRae tied the game within the first two minutes of the second frame. Former Rivermen Jon DiSalvatore restored the Aeros lead once again, but Anthony Nigro came through with a marker at 12:58 in the second period to tie the game 2-2. Houston received two more goals to cap off the scoring. Jake Allen stopped 42 of 46 shots on goal while Matt Hackett faced just 25 Rivermen shots.
Rivermen Report
April 5 – W 3-2 vs. Texas | HIGHLIGHTS
The Rivermen topped the Texas Stars 3-2 at Carver Arena on Friday night. Derek Nesbitt scored the game’s first goal at 6:53 in the second period before former Rivermen Matt Fraser countered just seven minutes later to tie the game at 1-1. Patrick O’Sullivan scored following a takeaway in the right circle to give Peoria its second lead of the game 7:32 into the third period. Just 2:22 later, Adam Cracknell deflected a Shaun Heshka shot on goal, which proved to be the game winner. Fraser struck again with a goal at 19:21, but Jake Allen stopped any further last-minute Stars attempts. Allen finished the game with 32 saves while Jack Campbell stopped 35 of 38 shots on goal. Peoria went 0-for-4 on the power play and held Texas scoreless on two chances.
April 6 – W 3-1 @ Oklahoma City
The Rivermen topped the Oklahoma City Barons 3-1 with third period goals from Phil McRae and Jonathan Cheechoo at Cox Convention Center on Friday night. Mark Cundari gave Peoria a 1-0 lead at 14:11 in the first period, which stood until Ryan Keller’s goal at 10:17 in the third period. McRae scored 1:03 later and Cheechoo tallied an empty net goal with just four seconds left in regulation. Jake Allen stopped 31 of 32 shots on goal and held Oklahoma City 0-for-2 on the power play. The Rivermen finished with 27 shots on goal and went scoreless on three man advantages.
April 7 – L 4-2 @ Houston
Peoria mounted two comeback attempts, but fell short in a 4-2 loss to the Houston Aeros at Toyota Center on Saturday night. Chad Rau put Houston up 1-0 just 28 seconds into regulation, but Phil McRae tied the game within the first two minutes of the second frame. Former Rivermen Jon DiSalvatore restored the Aeros lead once again, but Anthony Nigro came through with a marker at 12:58 in the second period to tie the game 2-2. Houston received two more goals to cap off the scoring. Jake Allen stopped 42 of 46 shots on goal while Matt Hackett faced just 25 Rivermen shots.
Rivermen Report
- Peoria is the only team in the league with six 20-goal scorers this season.
- T.J. Hensick leads the Western Conference with 70 points (21G, 49A) in just 64 games this season.
- Defenseman Cade Fairchild’s plus-29 rating is still the best in the Western Conference.
- April 6 – Jordan Binnington (G) signed to ATO
- April 5 – Steve Somerfield (G) released from ATO
- April 5 – Steve Somerfield (G) signed to ATO
