For the first time since April, the Peoria Rivermen took the ice at Carver Arena in an exhibition matchup with the Rockford IceHogs. After a strong start, their 2-0 lead diminished into a 4-2 loss in front of 1,807 anxious fans.
The Rivermen opened up scoring just 42 seconds into the first period. Adam Cracknell lifted a rebound off the left pad of Alec Richards to put the Rivermen ahead 1-0. Chris Morehouse got the first assist after drilling a slap shot off Richards, leaving an open door for Cracknell.
Jason Ryznar continued the early onslaught when he ripped a shot through the five-hole of Richards 5:25 into the first frame and gave the Rivermen a 2-0 lead. Adam Richmond and Jack Combs were both credited with assists.
The comfortable lead lasted just over a minute and a half when Bracken Kearns squeezed the puck by Hannu Toivonen with a pass from Derek Nesbitt. The goal came 7:01 into the first period and helped the IceHogs steal back some of the early momentum from the Rivermen.
The second period brought the physicality to the game. With a little over 12 minutes remaining in the period Akim Aliu collided with Rivermen goalie Toivonen and sent him to the ice. Toivonen remained down on the ice for several minutes before getting to his feet and staying in the game.
However, with only 28.2 seconds left in the period the IceHogs evened the score with a goal from Justin Hodgman. Hodgman beat his defender to the goal and shoveled back the rebound that came off of teammate Simon Danis-Pepin’s stick. Bryan Ewing received the second assist from the game-tying goal.
As soon as the puck dropped in the third, the IceHogs were on the offensive. Rockford doubled Peoria’s shots on goal in the first 10 minutes of the period, but the Rivermen withstood the Icehog’s assault. The Rivermen got a moral boost 13:25 into the third when Morehouse dropped the gloves with Rockford defenseman Mike Brennan and brought him to the ground. Both players received a five minute major for fighting.
That boost was short-lived for the Rivermen though. With less than five minutes to go in the game the IceHogs jumped in front 3-2 with a goal from Aliu. Aliu wristed the puck past the glove side of Toivonen after a quick pass from teammate Nathan Davis. Rockford added to their lead with an empty net goal by Nesbitt with under a minute to play.
The series will shift to Rockford for Peoria’s final game of the preseason on Saturday night at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on Hippie 101.1 FM and available online through www.rivermen.net. Peoria will open the regular season on Saturday, Oct. 3 against the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Tickets are available at the Peoria Civic Center Box Office, by calling (309) 676-1040 or online at www.rivermen.net/tickets.
