The Peoria Rivermen continued their seesaw start to the regular season, falling just short of stringing two wins together for the second time this year in a 3-1 home loss to the Albany River Rats in front of 5,079 on Friday night at Carver Arena.
The Rivermen (6-6-0-1, 13 pts) tallied the game’s first goal at 11:46 of the opening period on left wing Magnus Kahnberg’s second goal of the season. Kahnberg took the puck from his own zone and skated down the right wing boards and once at the top of the right face-off circle, side-stepped an Albany defenseman to the high slot and snapped a shot over the right shoulder of River Rats goaltender Tyler Weiman.
Kahnberg’s goal gave him his third point in three straight games and fifth in the last six. During the stretch of six games, Kahnberg has registered five points (1g, 4a).
Albany (6-6-1-0, 13 pts) responded just 32 seconds later at 12:18 of the first frame. Center Peter Tsimikalis centered the puck from behind the net to left wing Matt Murley, who was parked at the left side of the slot, where he flicked a shot past the right arm of a scrambling Rivermen netminder Jason Bacashihua. It was Murley’s third marker of the year.
The River Rats broke the tie at 6:48 of the second stanza. Left wing Cody McLeod stole the puck in the neutral zone to begin a two-on-one breakaway opportunity. McLeod skated down the left wing boards and when he reached the bottom of the left face-off circle, dished the puck cross-ice to center Ben Guite in the slot, who chipped it over the outstretched glove of Bacashihua while lying face down on the ice. The goal was Guite’s third tally of the season.
Albany increased its lead to 3-1 at 10:12 of the third period on right wing Pat Dwyer’s third goal of the season. On a two-on-two opportunity, center Keith Aucoin, skated up to the blue line and fired a perfect pass that split the two Peoria defenders, right to Dwyer in the slot, who deked to the right, sending Bacashihua to his knees, then sent the puck to his backhand, where he easily slid it into the empty net.
The Rivermen, who fell to 4-3-0-0, will travel to Milwaukee for a matinee game on Saturday November, 11. Game time is 1:30 p.m.
Albany River Rats 3 @ RIVERMEN 1SCORING SUMMARY
First Period:
1. PEO – Magnus Kahnberg (2) (UNA) 11:46
2. ALB – Matt Murley (3) (Peter Tsimikalis, Scott Kelman) 12:18
Second Period:
3. ALB – Ben Guite (3) (Cody McLeod) 6:48
Third Period:4. ALB – Pat Dwyer (3) (Keith Aucoin, Ryan Bayda) 10:12
SHOTS ON GOAL
ALB: 11+14+3=28
PEO: 9+12+7=28
POWER PLAYSALB: - 0/3
PEO: - 0/3
PENALTIESALB: 7/17:00
PEO: 7/17:00
GOALTENDERS
ALB: Tyler Weiman – 28 shots faced, 27 saves
PEO: Jason Bacashihua – 28 shots faced, 25 saves
ATTENDANCE
5,079
