PEORIA, ILL – Patrick Rissmiller scored a power play goal late in the third period to complete a two-goal comeback as the Lake Erie Monsters defeated the Peoria Rivermen 3-2 on Friday night. Braving the cold and snow, 5565 fans saw the Rivermen stake out a 2-0 lead only to have it all slip away at the end of the game.
It all started with Jonathan Cheechoo. He broke in and drove the puck into the right circle before dropping a pass to the trailing Anthony Nigro in the slot. Nigro buried the puck at 4:36 of the first period to give the Rivermen an early lead.
Lake Erie was unable to tie, although they twice struck iron in the opening frame. Brett Ponich and Patrick Bordeleau did fight at about the five-minute mark, with Ponich getting the best of Bordeleau.
Peoria extended that lead in the second period on a power play. Cheechoo and Derek Nesbitt each took whacks at the puck before the second rebound popped out to TJ Hensick along the goal line. Hensick lofted a little shot into the net to make it a 2-0 game just 1:44 into the second period.
At 8:29 of the second, the Monsters began chipping away at Peoria’s lead. Ben Bishop made a great save with the leg on Joel Chouinard’s shot, but it left him out of position and Dean Strong finished the rebound for the 2-1 lead. Bordeleau also was credited with an assist.
Near the end of the period, with play getting chippy, Adam Cracknell was boxed for interference. The Rivermen had almost killed off the ensuing power play when, with the penalty about to expire, Luke Walker raced the puck behind the net, drawing the defense. His pass was perfect and found Danny Richmond in the slot all alone. Richmond buried it at 19:12 of the second period and Mark Oliver got the helper.
Rissmiller completed the comeback with the help of Richmond and Greg Maudlin.
Gerald Coleman got the win between the pipes for the Monsters as he stopped 32 of 34 shots. Ben Bishop stopped 20 of 23 shots in the loss.
The Monsters capitalized on two of their five power play opportunities. The Rivermen went one for three.
Peoria next hosts Charlotte on tonight at 7pm.
Contact the author: Shaun.Bill@ProHockeyNews.com
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