RIVERMEN SAIL THROUGH GRIFFINS
PEORIA, Ill. – Despite netting their fifth shorthanded goal in three nights, the Griffins’ six-game win streak was snapped Sunday evening as the Peoria Rivermen delivered a 7-3 loss to Grand Rapids at Carver Arena.
Grand Rapids will return home to host the Syracuse Crunch on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
The Rivermen scored just 1:14 into the contest when Aaron MacKenzie slapped a one-timer past Jimmy Howard from the high-slot off a feed from the left corner by Kevin Croxton.
The Griffins found themselves trailing by two at intermission as Trent Whitfield found Jamie Rivers sneaking up behind the Griffins’ defense, and sent a pass through the goal mouth for Rivers to tap in from the doorstep at 13:49 on the power play.
Shortly into the middle frame the Griffins added yet another shorthanded tally to the weekend, notching their fifth in three games. Darryl Bootland slid the puck to Jeff Campbell during on odd-man break, who blasted a 25-footer that hit the left goal post but bounced off Chris Beckford-Tseu’s back and into the goal at 2:56. Derek Meech also assisted on the play to extend his career-high point streak to five games.
The Rivermen power play took over midway through the period and converted twice during a four minute penalty assessed to Bootland. Mike Glumac launched a rocket from the top of the right circle that flew over Howard’s shoulder at the 13:45 mark, before Charles Linglet backhanded a rebound off Michal Birner’s shot over the goal line at 15:11.
The Griffins scored at 17:22 to narrow the gap when Matt Hussey skated into the zone and dropped a pass to a trailing Kip Miller who scored from the right circle. With the assist Hussey stretched his career-high point streak to 10 games.
Grand Rapids came out strong during the early minutes of the final period as Brendan Brooks pulled the Griffins within one at 3:11 right off a face-off win by Matt Ellis.
But Peoria quickly spoiled the Griffins’ hope of a comeback and tallied two quick goals. Cam Keith pounded in a rebound at 8:42, quickly followed by Tomas Mojzis scoring at 9:21 as his shot deflected of the skate of the Griffins defenseman and into the goal.
Shortly after Howard denied Whitfield on a penalty shot attempt, Jon DiSalvatore added insult to injury and gave the Rivermen a 7-3 edge on a shorthanded tally at 12:40 during a two-on-one break. Both Howard and Beckford-Tseu finished the night with 24 saves.
