By Brian Weidler, "Game Time" Prospect Department
WEEK IN REVIEW:
RIVERMEN GO TO EXTRA INNINGS IN THREE GAMES, BAT .833 FOR WEEK:
The Peoria Rivermen played three games in the last seven days, and needed extra time in all three.
The Rivermen sandwiched 6-5 wins over their arch-rival Chicago around a 4-3 shootout loss to the Manitoba Moose, all on home ice at Carver Arena, to rack up a 2-0-0-1 record for the week ending Mar. 5, 2011..
Veteran scorers T.J. Hensick and Graham Mink (shown at left) led the way for the Rivermen this week. Hensick led all Peoria scorers with five points (1 G, 4 A) during the week, while Mink celebrated his AHL Player Of The Month award for February with a goal and an assist in three games.
During the month of February, the veteran Mink from Stowe, Vermont scored six points (5 G, 1 A) in nine games, including a four-goal performance in a 6-3 win at Rockford on Feb. 21.
Despite a five-point week, however, the Rivermen have been unable to gain any ground in the tough AHL West Division and Western Conference race. Peoria is 12 games over .500 with a 35-23-2-4, good for 76 points and fourth place in the West. The West Division standings have not changed from last week, with Milwaukee (81 points)still leading the way and Houston (79), Texas (77) and Peoria (76) hot on the heels of the Admirals.
All-Star rookie goaltender Jake "The Snake" Allen continues to carry the load for the Rivermen, and while his goals-against average (2.50) is up and his save percentage (92.0%) is down, both figures are still in the top 20 of the league. His 20 wins are tied for tenth in the AHL with veterans Martin Gerber (Binghamton), Jhonas Enroth (Portland) and Anton Khudobin (Providence).
Following a one-month stretch between Jan. 19 and Feb. 20 in which Allen lost eight consecutive games (0-6-0-2), he has since gone 4-2-0-1 in his last seven games.
Peoria 6 vs Chicago 5, Tue, Mar 1, 2011.
Peoria 3 vs Manitoba 4, Fri, Mar 4, 2011.
Peoria 6 vs Chicago 5, Sat, Mar 5, 2011.
THE WEEK AHEAD:
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Tuesday, March 11, 2011 ... Game Time 7:05 PM at Carver Arena, Peoria, Illinois. NHL Affiliate: Detroit Red Wings.
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Wednesday, March 9, 2011 ... Game Time 7:00 PM at Allstate Arena, Rosemont, Illinois. NHL Affiliate: Atlanta Thrashers.
Friday, March 11, 2011 ... Game Time 7:30 PM at Allstate Arena, Rosemont, Illinois. NHL Affiliate: Atlanta Thrashers.
RIVERMEN NEWS LINKS:
02/27/11 -- Rivermen planning to raise prices again (Peoria Journal-Star).
02/28/11 -- Eminian: Blue Monday for Rivermen (Peoria Journal-Star).
03-01-11 -- Blues take Rivermen winger Cracknell on Tuesday (Peoria Journal-Star).
03-01-11 -- Rivermen escape Wolves in OT, 6-5 (Peoria Journal-Star).
03-04-11 -- Not so fast: Rivermen lose Cole, don't get Strachan (Peoria Journal-Star).
03-04-11 -- Rivermen rally for point, fall 4-3 in sudden-death SO to Moose (Peoria Journal-Star).
03-05-11 -- Rivermen last man standing over Wolves in 6-5 shootout (Peoria Journal-Star).