PEORIA, ILL – Just two weeks into the season, the Peoria Rivermen sit atop the AHL with ten points. The Rivermen are streaking and haven’t lost a game since dropping the their season opener. One of the big reasons the Rivermen are winning is their prodigious scoring. They have tallied 26 goals in six games. While scoring four-and-a-third goals per game is nice, what is most impressive is this team has spread the love around. Ten different players have scored goals for the Rivermen, already. In fact, five players, Graham Mink, Nick Drazenovic (twice), TJ Hensick, Dave Scatchard and Chris Porter, have two-goal games. The Rivermen have already had 13 players tally assists, including goalie Ben Bishop.
It should come as no surprise that the AHL PLayer of the Week is a Rivermen. Veteran winger Graham Mink has led the way, averaging two points per contest so far. He leads the league with 12 points and eight assists. Teammate Mark Cundari leads all AHL Rookies with six Assists.
In the five games since that opening night defeat, the Rivermen have allowed just two goals per game. Bishop has gotten the majority of the minutes between the pipes and the Rivermen seem content with riding Big Ben until they have a reason not to. While Bishop has started a majority of the games, rookie Jake Allen looked solid in his pro debut. With Bishop the current go-to guy in the crease, Allen may have to pay his dues opening doors until a door opens for him in the way of an injury, trade or cold-streak either in Peoria or St. Louis.
If there is anything to worry about with this early-season juggernaut, it is the penalties. Their 49 minors leads the league. While the team is average when it comes to killing off the man-advantage – an 83.8% penalty kill – that averages out to one per game. Peoria does leads league, however, when opponents are in the box, converting almost one-third (31%) of their Power Play chances.
The Peoria Rivermen are in the middle of a weird criss-cross tour of Texas. They play seven games against three different teams and are never in the same city for two games in a row. They’ve already gathered three wins during a three cities in three nights-weekend in Texas and four games remain.
The Rivermen do not return home until October 30, when they tilt against the Oklahoma City Barons. Conatct Shaun.Bill@ProHockeyNews.com
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