PEORIA, ILL – It just wasn’t to be for the Peoria Rivermen on Saturday night in Peoria, as the Milwaukee Admirals and their goaltender, Jeremy Smith, edged the home team 2-1 in front of an enthusiastic, if disappointed, crowd of 6413 fans.
Smith allowed few rebounds while facing 32 Peoria shots, half of which came during a furious third period flurry. In fact, Smith never allowed a single Rivermen goal during the entire game.
The lone Rivermen tally actually came on an “own goal” in the second period. With the Rivermen on the power play, Smith stopped a shot by Rivermen Right Wing Jonothan Cheechoo. Milwaukee’s Jani Lajunen gathered the puck and turned in toward the crease to skate it behind the net when Cheechoo rached in and hacked at it, bumping Lajunens stick, sending the puck behind Smith and into the net, tying the game.
Milwaukee scored first when a slapshot by Ryan Ellis from the point went untouched into the net at 14:09 of the first period. Michael Latta and Ben Ryan were credited with the assists.
The score remained tied until the Admirals got a power play of their own in the third period. They took the lead on their first shot of the man-advantage when some nifty passing by Ryan Ellis and Juuso Puustinen led to Kyle Wilson sending the puck over a sprawled out Jake Gannon and Ben Bishop for the winner.
The Rivermen pressed hard at the end of the third period, including a 43 second power play t the end of the game with Bishop pulled for an extra attacker, but to no avail.
Smith officially stopped 31 of 32 for shots Milwaukee while Ben Bishop stopped 29 of 31 for Peoria. Both teams scored once on the power play, The Admirals on three chances and the Rivermen on five.
Notes – The Rivermen play again at home on Veterans Day, November 11 when they host the Rockford Ice Hogs. They will wear special camouflage jerseys, which will be auctioned after the game for charity. Contact the author: Shaun.Bill@ProHockeyNews.com
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