Peoria tops Texas

PEORIA, ILL – It may be cliché but it is true that Thursday’s penultimate

regular season home game against the Texas Stars was a ‘must win’ for the Peoria Rivermen. With six teams still in the hunt for the final three playoff spots, every point is important. In front of 5235 fans, Peoria scored twice in the third period and held on for a 3-2 victory, keeping their playoff hopes alive.
 
The Stars were all over the Rivermen with a great fore-check early in the second period. T.J. Hensick took the puck along the far boards and shot a cross-ice pass to Phil McRae above the near face-off dot. McRae then passed back tot eh far side of the crease, where Derek Nesbitt was camped out. Nesbitt re-directed the pass in behind Texas goaltender Jack Campbell at 6:53 of the period to open the scoring and stake Peoria to a 1-0 lead.
 
At 13:39 of the second period, Matt Fraser scored his 35^th goal of the year on a one-timer from Colton Sceviour from behind the net to tie the game. The period ended with that 1-1 tie.
 
In the third period, Patrick O’Sullivan battled to keep the puck in the attacking zone. He stick-handled through traffic and beat Campbell with a shot at 7:32 of the third to break the tie and give the Rivermen a 2-1 lead.
 
With Jonathan Cheechoo and O’Sullivan’s efforts to keep the puck in theattacking zone looked futile a couple of minutes later when defenseman Shaun Heshka moved in from the neutral zone to keep the play alive. He skated to the far circle and unleashed a slap shot on Campbell at 9:54. Replays showed Adam Cracknell, in front of the net, surprise Campbell by not tipping the puck and Heska’s shot slipped under his pads. The official scoring was later changed to credit Cracknell with the goal and Heshka with the assist. Whatever the case, it gave the Rivermen insurance and a 3-1 lead.
 
With Campbell pulled for an extra attacker, Fraser would add a goal at 19:21 of the third period to draw the Stars within striking distance, but Texas would not score again.
 
Campbell stopped 35 of 38 shots on the night. Jake Allen allowed two goals in 34 attempts. Neither team capitalized on the power play; Texas with two opportunities while Peoria had four.
 
Contact the author: Shaun.Bill@ProHockeyNews.com