QUEBEC CITY. P.Q. -The Peoria Rivermen tried to make good on their vow to make the playoffs for the first time in three years, cobbling together four victories and pulling within one point of the fourth-place Chicago Wolves in the AHL Western Division.
“With just under 20 games to go, we know how important that weekend was because it was all head to head against teams that we are trying to catch,” said Peoria head coach Davis Payne. “You can’t win one lose one and expect to stay ahead of them.”
Payne was particularly pleased that the Rivermen got production from all four lines.
“All four lines have the ability to score and have the ability to defend against any other team’s top lines,” Payne said. “The matchups start to be less and less crucial when you have that kind of depth. Winning goals coming from guys playing on our third and fourth lines. So that provides real good flexibility for us.” The Rivermen benefited from a trade at the NHL deadline in which the parent St. Louis Blues sent defenseman Andy Wozniewski to the Pittsburgh Penguins for blueliner Danny Richmond, who was immediately assigned to the Rivermen. Goaltending also was strong. In Manny Lagace and Chris Holt, the Rivermen have the experience of veteran NHL netminders. Another big plus is veteran center and undisputed team leader Trent Whitfield. “Obviously Trent Whitfield is a guy who played over 800 games, he works as hard as he can every single day practice or games,” Payne said. “He plays through injuries ands sometime doesn’t even lead on if something bothers him. He is the guy who is willing to play for as hard as he can play through anything and at this time of the year he is playing very determined hockey.”
It will be interesting to see if Whitfield’s deterination continues to rub off on the the team.
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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