Rivermen shutout Rampage

PEORIA, Ill – Goodbye March! The Peoria Rivermen shed the month of March

and a slump all in one day, beating the San Antonio Rampage 1-0 on (no fooling) April 1 in front of 3848 fans at Peoria’s Carver Arena. T.J. Hensick scored the game’s only goal in the waning second of the second period and Alex Stalock made his first start for the Rivermen a memorable one, with a 31 save shutout.
 
March ended on a sour note for the Rivermen, as they carried a 5 game slump into April.
 
Their fortunes changed with the new month. Jake Allen had started every game since the late February trade of Ben Bishop. Stalock, coming off injuryand on loan from the San Jose Sharks, stepped into the crease and gave the Rivermen a much needed boost as they battle for a spot in the Calder Cup playoffs with just five games remaining on their schedule.
 
It looked like the second period would end like the first – scoreless. With less than six seconds remaining, the teams lined up for a face off in the Rivermen offensive zone. Derek Nesbitt win the drop and passed out to defenseman Cade Fairchild. Fairchild’s big slap shot went wide left, bounced out to the right point where Hensick was waiting.
 
Hensick buried it with less than one second left on the clock and the Rivermen went to the locker room with a 1-0 lead.
 
Jacob Markstrom was no slouch in goal for the visiting Rampage, stopping 36 of 37 shots. Neither team scored on the power play, each being given three chances.
 
Contact the author: Shaun.Bill@ProHockeyNews.com