Checkers crown Rivermen, 6-0

PEORIA, Ill – Like Linus and Charlie Brown looking for the Great Pumpkin,

the Peoria Rivermen came up empty in two tries against the Charlotte Checkers this weekend. After being shut out 4-0 by the Checkers the night before, the Rivermen suffered a 6-0 thrashing Sunday evening at Carver Arena in front of 2591 fans on a Hallowe’en Family Night.
 
The first period, while scoreless, was not without action. Both Charlotte goaltender Justin Peters and Peoria netminder Jake Allen made terrific plays to keep the puck out of the net. In addition. Peoria’s Chris Bruton fought Nicholas Blanchard early in the period, perhaps nursing a grudge. Blanchard pulled the jersey over Bruton’s head. Bruton was only able to swing wildlyand blindly while Blanchard landed several shots.
 
Charlotte finally broke through with a power play goal in the second period. With Ian Cole in the box for cross-checking, Zach Boychuk deked his way past a defender and went top-shelf on Allen. Michael Jordan and Peters were credited with assists.
 
Just two minutes later, Drayson Bowman’s shot hit the right post and riccocheted behind Allen for a 2-0 lead. Jordan and Jeremy Welch were given helpers for their part.
 
Four minutes later, it was Brett Sutter who skated in on Allen. He rattled the water bottle for a 3-0 Checkers lead off a pass from Jerome Samson.
 
In the third period, Brett Sutter lit the lamp against Allen, with assists from Rasmus Rissanen and Justin Krueger.
 
After starting the game with a fight, Blanchard scored the power play goal for the Checkers. Rissanen and Krueger again had the assists.
 
It got worse for the Rivermen, too.
Sutter scored again, this time with assists by Victor Rask and Samson. That would be how the game ended, 6-0 Charlotte.
 
The play for the night went to Jake Allen, though, as Boychuk and Samson broke into the Rivermen defensive zone. Boychuck went to his left andpassed to Samson. Allen made the play, moving to his left with both legs in the air, making a highlight-reel save.
 
Peters stopped all 19 Peoria shots while Allen mustered 29 saves while being peppered with 35 shots and getting very little defensive help. Peoria did not score on their only power play of the evening while Charlotte tallied goals on both of their man-advantage opportunities.
 
Peoria may hope for redemption in an All Saints Day tilt on Thursday, November 1 against the Monsters of Lake Erie.
 
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