PEORIA, Ill – It took a shootout to resolve a hard fought game in front of 3317 at Peoria’s Carver Arena on Sunday afternoon. The game had raged up and down the ice for 65 minutes with each team scoring twice. With no scoring in the overtime period, each team tallied one goal (and one post) through the first five rounds of the shootout. Advancing to the sudden death portion of the shoot out, only Nathan Oystrick was able to score and get the extra point for the home town Peoria Rivermen.
Photo by Chris Loudermilk
Scoring started mid-way through the first period when Derek Nesbitt and Dave Spina broke into the Rockford defensive zone. Oystrick trailed and picked up a long rebound off of Nesbitt’s shot and buried it past Ice Hog goaltender Alec Richards. That would be the only scoring of the period.
The Ice Hogs tied it early in the second period. The Rivermen had just killed a penalty and were back to even strength but were caught on their heels when Jeremy Morin blew a shot from the top of the left circle past rookie Peoria goalie Jake Allen. Nick Leddy got the assist as the Ice Hogs drew even.
Just over three minutes later, with Morin in the box for interference, Ian Cole tipped the puck to Spina in the neutral zone. Spine charged in down the left side, finally cutting across the front of the crease before burying a shot under Richards’ glove to put the Rivermen back on top, 2-1. Allen, in addition to Cole, got an assist on the play.
Although these two teams have become known for having bad blood between tem, there were no fights until there was 11:37 left in the second period when Ryan Reaves and Kyle Hagel decided to duke it out. Both players rapped their knuckles on each others’ helmets for a while before Hagle lost his. Reaves got in a few shots to Hagles chin before wrestling him into a headlock, ending the fight.
Photo by Chris Loudermilk
It was a lead that wouldn’t last. Near the half-way point of the period, Brian Connelly tied the game up, again. Rob Klinkhammer and Leddy got the assists. The Ice Hogs went on to dominate the period, mounting 20 shots of Jake Allen in the middle frame alone.
With both teams showing the wear and tear of a long weekend of hockey, the third period could belong to anyone. Instead it belonged to no one.
The game ended with Rockford having a 1-25 shots on goal advantage. While the Rivermen gave up six power plays, they did not allow Rockford to score during the man advantage. Peoria was able to capitalize on one of their five power play opportunities.
The Peoria Rivermen closed their weekend with six points and three goals allowed throughout 185 minutes of action. Jake Allen allowed two goals this weekend in 125 minutes of action. He will definitely be a candidate for AHL Goaltender of the Week.
The Rivermen close out their longest homestand of the season on Friday, November 26, against the Chicago Wolves. It’s the annual Black Friday Special, and tickets for the game are deeply discounted. Lower bowl seats are just $10 and upper bowl seats are only $5 if they are purchased between 10 am and 2 pm at the Civic Center Box Office. Contact the author: Shaun.Bill@ProHockeyNews.com Photographer Chris.Loudermilk@prohockeynews.com
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