By Brian Weidler, "Game Time" Prospect Department
RIVERMEN STILL IN SEARCH OF FIRST WIN
Get first point of 2011-12 in 4-3 SOL at Charlotte on Saturday
Three games into the 2011-12 AHL season, the Peoria Rivermen are still looking for their first win of the year.
Last Sunday, the Rivermen got on the board less than two minutes into the game vs. Rockford, and took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission. The IceHogs answered with two goals in the second period to take the lead, and after Stefan Della Rovere's first goal of the year halfway through the third period to tie the score, Rockford scored a pair of unanswered goals to take a 5-3 win.
After a roster trim on Monday sent rookie defenseman David Shields to Alaska, the Rivermen went on the road for their first-ever AHL visit to Charlotte, NC and a matchup with the Checkers on Saturday night.
The game didn't start well for Peoria, with the Checkers piling up a three-goal lead and seeming in complete control of the game until the third period. After Jake Allen made a big save without his stick early in the period, the Peoria offense came to life.
Philip McRae got the Rivermen on the scoreboard with a goal at 3:39, Della Rovere made it a one-goal game 1:38 later, and rugged winger Anthony Peluso (pictured) completed the comeback with a tap-in goal at 6:47 of the third period.
The teams went to a shootout after a scoreless OT period, and veteran winger Derek Nesbitt scored on Peoria's first shot. That would be the only shot that eluded Charlotte netminder Justin Peters in the shootout, however, and Checker wingers Chris Terry and Matthew Pistilli were able to solve Allen with shootout goals to ice the win for Charlotte.
THE WEEK IN REVIEW:
Peoria 3 vs. Rockford 5, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011.
Peoria 3 at Charlotte 4 (SO), Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011.
THE WEEK AHEAD:
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Sunday, October 16, 2011 ... Game Time 2:00 PM CDT at Time-Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte, NC. NHL Affiliate: Carolina Hurricanes.
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Friday, October 21, 2011 ... Game Time 7:00 PM CDT at AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX. NHL Affiliate: Phoenix Coyotes.
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Saturday, October 22, 2011 ... Game Time 7:00 PM CDT at Cedar Park Center, Cedar Park, TX. NHL Affiliate: Dallas Stars.
RIVERMEN NEWS LINKS:
10/09/11 -- Richards Makes 35 Saves in IceHogs 5-3 Win Over Rivermen (Rivermen.net).
10/14/11 -- Rivermen Off To Charlotte (Peoria Journal Star).
10/15/11 -- Three-Goal Comeback Ends in Shootout Loss (Rivermen.net).