PEORIA, ILL -A tumultuous weekend for the Peoria Rivermen ended on a high note when the Rivermen prevailed in a shoot-out tie-breaker with the Abbotsford Heat, 4-3, in front of 4902 fans on Sunday evening at Carver Arena.
Hours after seeing their best goaltender traded away and having just lost two close games on Friday and Saturday, falling behind in the playoff race, the Rivermen took to the ice to try and gain a little lost ground back. Fighting fatigue and probably not a little uncertainty as to the direction of the team with the loss of Ben Bishop to the Ottawa Senators, the Rivermen battled. In fact, all three of their goals in regulation would be hard fought.
Chris Bruton battled and hustled behind the net late in the third period, and it paid off. He was able to bring the puck out and make a pass to teammate Adam Cracknell. Cracknell skated in on Abbotsford goaltender Leland Irving and laid a heavy shot into Irving’s pads. The shot had enough momentum though that it kept sliding right into the goal for a 1-0 Rivermen lead at 14:52 of the first period.
The second period was a busy one as the Heat scored a power play goal at 2:14 of the period. Adam Estoclet’s one-timer off from Carter Bancks got past Rivermen goaltender Jake Allen’s stick to even the score at 1-1.
Jonathan Cheechoo but the Rivermen ahead with a hard fought goal at 6:17 of the second period when he ranged with the puck from the boards to the opposite side of the goal, backing through traffic and then spinning for a quick shot.. Derek Nesbitt and Anthony Nigro were credited with assists, but the goal was all Cheechoo and the Rivermen led 2-1.
At 16:38 of the second period, Ben Walter put a hard shot into the pillows. The puck popped out to Greg Nemisz, who filled the empty net on the rebound to re-tie the game at two goals apiece.
Less than a minute later is was Estoclet and Bancks combining again.Estoclet’s one-timer off a nifty pass at the top of the circle from Bancks put the Heat up 3-2, and that is how the period ended.
It was Phil McRae who tied it early in the third period. He battled along the boards for possession of the puck and he skated to the top of the slot and fired a snapshot over the glove of Irving for the unassisted goal at 2:18 of the final frame.
After an uneventful overtime period, the game moved into the shootout tie-breaker. Derek Nesbitt beat Irving through the five-hole and Anthony Nigro shot over Irving’s stick while Estoclet lifted the puck to beat Allan through the first three rounds. It was Phil McRae that cinched the win for the Rivermen with a backhanded shot past the glove of Irving.
Taking the shootout loss was Irving, having stopped 36 of 39 shots through the 65 minute contest, but allowing three of four shooters to score in the shoot-out. Allen pockets the win, stopping25 of 28 shots and three of four in the skills tie-breaker.
Peoria was held scoreless on six power play opportunities, including twice with a two-man advantage. Abbotsford tallied one goal in three penalty opportunities.
Contact the author: Shaun.Bill@ProHockeyNews.com
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