Jason Ryznar’s goal with 10:29 remaining in regulation broke a 1-1 tie and stood as the game winner in the Houston Aeros 2-1 victory over the Peoria Rivermen, Saturday night at the Toyota Center. Manny Legace turned in a 28-save performance but Nolan Schaefer’s 19 stops were enough for the victory.
Peoria’s loss separated the two teams in the standings that began the night tied for second place in the West Division. The Aeros (34-25-9, 77 pts) are now alone in second with the Rivermen (36-31-3, 75 pts) in third, one point better than both the Chicago Wolves (35-32-3, 74 pts) and the Rockford IceHogs (34-29-6, 74 pts).
Each of the three periods featured a single goal as Peoria had a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes thanks to Cam Paddock’s goal just 3:55 into the opening frame. Steve Regier stole the puck away along the boards and sent a pass into the slot, which Paddock walked into with a slapshot. It squeaked between the legs of Schaefer for Paddock’s seventh of the season and second in the last three games. It was just the second shot on-goal for the Rivermen.
The second-period goal belonged to Matt Beaudoin of the Aeros. With Corey Locke left alone at the side of the net, he found Beaudoin in the left circle for a quick one-timer past Legace to tie the game at 4:17. It was the 10th goal of the year for Beaudoin and the assist for Locke was his 68th point of the season, moving him into the top 10 in the league.
The game featured nine minor penalties (six for hooking) but no power-play goals for either club. Houston failed to capitalize on a 45-second five-on-three advantage in the opening minutes of the third period to leave the game tied at 1-1.
Ryznar’s goal came at 9:31 and followed a missed clearing opportunity by the Rivermen. Matt Kassian’s pass was intercepted by Nicholas Drazenovic but as he tried to clear the zone the puck hit a body and bounced back into the slot. John Lammers forced it free from in between the legs of Ivan Vishnevskiy and just outside the crease for Ryznar. It was just his third of the year as be pushed it past a sprawled-out Legace.
The Rivermen had their chance with time winding down. John Lammers was called for unsportsmanlike conduct at 18:53, and after pulling Legace, the Rivermen had a six-on-four but were unable to score.
Peoria is now 2-2-1 against the Aeros this season with a rematch scheduled for Sunday at 4:05 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on Hippie 101.1FM as well as online
www.rivermen.net.
The Rivermen return home to take on the Milwaukee Admirals on Friday, March 27 at 7 p.m. Country music star Jimmy Wayne will be performing following the game. Tickets are available at the Peoria Civic Center box office, by calling (309) 673-3200 or online at www.rivermen.net/tickets. 
