It took six tries but the Peoria Rivermen beat the Chicago Wolves 5-4 on Saturday night at Carver Arena. The Rivermen notched five goals against Atlanta Thrasher’s netminder Kari Lehtonen, who has missed the entire season following back surgery.
Peoria were 0-4-1 against the Wolves when they entered play on Saturday and snapped the Wolves’ season-long seven-game winning streak. The Rivermen peppered Lehtonen with 37 shots on goal and never trailed. They collected four different two-goal leads in the game.
The Rivermen jumped out to a 2-0 lead with goals from Bryce Lampman (15:52-1st) and Yan Stastny (8:35-2nd) before the Wolves started to cut into the lead. Jason Krog converted his seventh of the season and picked up the first of three points on the night at 14:38 of the second period.
Both teams turned it up a notch in the third period as they combined for six goals and 28 shots. Adam Cracknell gave the Rivermen the 3-1 lead at 6:33 by deflecting a Chris Porter shot through Lehtonen.
The two teams exchanged power-play goals within a minute of each other to keep the Rivermen ahead by two. Brett Sterling scored his 23rd of the season at 8:20 before Nicholas Drazenovic answered at 9:08 with a quick shot off the crossbar and down into the net.
Tim Stapleton put the Wolves back within one at 13:53. It was his 21st goal of the season. This time Julian Talbot responded at 15:26 after a nice setup from Derek Armstrong and Pascal Pelletier. The point for Pelletier extended his point-streak to six games (2g, 6a). Chicago wasn’t done and scored at 17:32 with the net empty for the extra attacker. Paul Postma fired a one-timer off the faceoff for his fourth of the season.
Ben Bishop, who registered his fourth assist of the season on Stastny’s goal, finished with 28 saves and his 14th win of the season. Lehtonen made 32 saves in his first start since April 11, 2009 with Atlanta.
Peoria will be on the road in Rockford on Friday before they return home on Saturday and Sunday. They welcome the Houston Aeros for the first time this season on Saturday at 7 p.m. and the Texas Stars at 6 p.m. on Sunday. All games can be heard on Hippie 101.1FM or online through www.rivermen.net. For tickets or more information visit the Rivermen office, call 309-676-1040 or visit www.rivermen.net.
