Rivermen Fall Short in Milwaukee
Opponent: @Milwaukee Admirals
Date: February 29, 2012 7:00 p.m.
Score(Home/Away): 3-2 L
Kyle Wilson scored twice in the third period to break a 1-1 tie and propel the Milwaukee Admirals past the Peoria Rivermen, 3-2, at the Bradley Center on Wednesday night. Brett Sterling’s late goal put the Rivermen within one in the final minutes but Atte Engren held on for the win.
Peoria’s five-game winning streak against Milwaukee ended as the Rivermen now sit with a 5-6-0 record against the Admirals this year. Their final meeting of the season will be played on March 24 at Carver Arena.
With the loss, the Rivermen drop to 30-25-2-1 for 63 points and eighth place in the Western Conference, just one point ahead of the Admirals.
Taylor Beck tallied the game’s first goal at 15:14 of the second period. Beck blocked a Brennan Evans shot in the Admirals defensive zone before taking off on a 2-on-1 breakaway and firing a wrist shot past Jake Allen.
Nesbitt evened the score with just 56 seconds remaining in the second period on a blast from the blueline through a screen set by Jonathan Cheechoo.
Wilson potted his 16th goal of the season on the first Admirals power play of the contest early in the third period. Wilson sent a shot from the right circle past Allen’s glove to give the Admirals a 2-1 lead.
Wilson added to the lead on his second goal of the game at 15:19 in the third period by lifting a backhand shot into the top corner of the net.
Sterling scored his team-leading 22nd goal of the season with just 1:02 remaining in regulation to push Peoria within one. With Allen on the bench for the extra attacker, and a penalty upcoming against Milwaukee, Nesbitt threw a puck to the crease and Sterling jammed in the rebound.
Allen finished the game with 31 saves in his third straight start. Peoria was held to an 0-for-2 effort on the power play while the Admirals scored once on three chances.
The Rivermen return home on Friday to battle the Oklahoma City Barons at 7 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 309-676-1040 or by visiting www.rivermen.net.
Follow Us