Rivermen master Admirals, 3-1

PEORIA, Ill – Happy New Year from Carver Arena in Peoria, Illinois. 7,096 fans decided to send 2010 out with a bang, watching the Peoria Rivermen host the Milwaukee Admirals on Friday night, New Years Eve. After allowing 15 goals in their last three games, the Rivermen were able to limit Milwaukee to a single tally as they skated into the new year with a 3-1 win over their division rival.
They started celebrating early in Peoria. Just 5:13 into the first period, Nathan Oystrick drilled one past screened Milwaukee goaltender Mark Dekanich. Oystrick’s lefthanded slapshot from just inside the blueline broke like a curveball from lefthanded pitcher, curving around Dekanich’s outstretched glove. Nikita Nikitin got the assist as the Rivermen jumped to an early 1-0 lead.
The Rivermen stayed alive through an amazing series of Milwaukee opportunities late in the first period when the puck was stopped by the width of the skateblade of goaltender Jake Allen. As Milwaukee pressured, Allen stopped a shot that seemed destined to slip between his skate and the post. The puck caught his blade but Allen was unable to cover. Milwaukee couldn’t to lift the rebound over Allen’s pad and a third try bounced off the post. Seconds later, with the Admirals on a shorthanded breakaway, Gabriel Bourque took a shot from along the goal line. Allen appeared to make the stop but the puck trickled between his pads and into the empty crease. No other Admirals made the trip down the ice with Borque and Nikitin was able to sweep the puck out of the crease and the Rivermen went into the locker room with the 1-0 lead.
The first period ended with Milwaukee holding an 11-2 shots on goal advantage. The Rivermen were held to no shots on goal for the period after their goal. Peoria did have to kill three penalties in the first period, including a 40 second five on three.
Less than four minutes into the second period, the Rivermen found themselves with another man advantage. TJ Hensick came in close for a shot, which was blocked, stick-side. The forwards crashed the net, withGraham Mink gathered the rebound and shot, which was also stopped. The crowd around the crease grew, waiting for the puck to drop. When it fell to the glove side, uncovered, Nicholas Drazenovic reached out across the front of the crease with his stick and poked it in, backhanded, for a 2-0 Rivermen lead. Hensick and Mink garnered assists on the play.
It looked like Rivermen had found the seams in the Milwaukee defense. Just 79 seconds after Drazenovic scored, Anthony Peluso beautifully worked the puck through traffic and made it a 3-0 Rivermen lead. Tyler Shattock and Andrew Carroll were credited with assists.
The second period would end with Peoria leading 3-0. Each team was listed as taking ten shots on goal for the period, but it was obvious the Rivermen had solved the Milwaukee defense, pressuring hard and scoring twice.
As the game moved deep into the third period, Allen was almost perfect, but Ryan Thang broke the spell with a little less than five minutes to play when Mark Santorelli passed the puck out from along the boards and Thang skated in alone. Thang snaped the puck past Allen for the only Milwaukee score of the game with Santorelli and Grant Lewis gaining assists on the play.
Milwaukee pulled Dekanich with 2:21 left in the game for an extra attacker. Things got real chippy after that and Brennan Evans was boxed for roughing with 1:22 left, giving Admiral skaters a two-man advantage. Despite massive amounts of pressure, the Rivermen did not yield, bringing the large crowd to its’ feet.
Milwaukee enjoyed a 31-22 shots on goal advantage, Friday night. Each team scored an even strength goal but the Rivermen also had two power play goals and that was the difference. Both teams had six chances with the man-advantage.
The Rivermen won’t have much time to celebrate tonight, however, as they board their sleeper-bus and head to Michigan, where they play in Grand Rapids to start the New Year.
Contact the author: Shaun.Bill@ProHockeyNews.com
Photographer at Chris.Loudermilk@prohockeynews.com