PEORIA, ILL – Better, but still not good enough. The Peoria Rivermen looked much improved over their opening night disappointing loss, but still are winless in the 2011-2012 campaign after dropping their second game of the young season to the Rockford Ice Hogs 5-3 in front of 3082 fans at Carver Arena on Sunday afternoon.
A nice bit of teamwork set up Peoria’s first goal. Brett Sterling and TJ Hensick brought the puck into the zone against three defenders. Sterling charged in with the puck, dropping a pass for Hensick at the top of the left circle. Hensick moved laterally to the slot where he dropped the puck for a racing Adam Cracknell, who fired a low shot past Ice Hog goaltender Alec Richards for the score just a minute and fifty-two seconds into the game.
It would be just past the mid-way point of the period before Rockford could draw even. Brian Connelly took a pass from Rob Klinkhammer and fired it in from the point. Brandon Segal tipped it past Peoria goalie Ben Bishop for the goal.
Hensick, Sterling and Cracknell would combine again for the second Rivermen score of the night. This time it was a shot by Sterling that was blocked. The rebound came out to Hensick on the right side of the net where he backhanded it into the net to give the Rivs a 2-1 advantage.
At 5:47 of the second period amid a series of penalties, the Ice Hogs took advantage on the power play. Bishop came out of crease as he stopped a series of shots. Danny Syvret did a great job covering in the crease, but the shots continued and the bodies piled up. The puck popped up and landed behind the pile and rolled into the net to tie the game. Segal was credited with the goal and Brett McLean and Kyle Beach were each given assists for their part in the play.
Rockford took the lead about ten minutes later when they dumped the puck into their attacking zone. Bishop went behind the net to play the puck. He suddenly realized that the skater near him was from the other team. Klinkhammer was skating with Bishop. As Bishop tried to get back, Klinkhammer backhanded the puck, hitting the outside of the net. He was able to grab his own rebound, though, and put it in for the unassisted goal. That was how the second period ended, with Rockford up, 3-2.
The Rivermen moved to tie the game at 9:35 of the third period when Jay Barriball flew down the left side and shoveled a pass to Stefan Della Rovere in the slot. Della Rovere fired a shot over the outstretched glove of Richards to light the lamp. Brett Sonne also received an assist on the play.
Less than two minutes later, Andrew Shaw flew down the right side and passed across the ice to Kyle Beach in the left face-off circle who launched a shot behind Bishop to put the Ice Hogs ahead to stay.
Rockford iced the game with 44 seconds remaining when Jimmy Hayes beat TJ Hensick to a loose puck in the corner and put it in front of the net for Klinkhammer for the game’s final tally.
Rockford won despite being outshot 29-38. The Ice Hogs converted one of their five power play advantages while shutting the Rivermen out on their five attempts.
Contact the author: Shaun.Bill@ProHockeyNews.com
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