1. Sluggish Start: Though the first two shifts were great, a slow first period of play from the Abbotsford Heat cost the club on Friday night. The Rivermen scored at 5:01 of the first, then struck on their first power play of the game at 16:44 enroute to a strong opening frame that they led 2-0 on the scoreboard and 12-6 on the shot-clock. While the Heat would more than double the Rivermen in shots and chances in the final 40 minutes, they couldn’t overcome the first period deficit.
2. O’Sullivan Oh-my: Make it seven point in the first three games since being acquired by the Peoria Rivermen for Patrick O’Sullivan. The veteran of 300+ NHL games looked great in the Peoria win setting up chances and burying his 12th of the season. O’Sullivan opened the scoring which made it six consecutive goals since his arrival that he had either scored or set-up. Impressive. He’d finish the night with two points and the second star of the game.
3. Ben Who?: Jake Allen has played admirably since the trade of Ben Bishop from the Blue organization to the Ottawa Senators. Now the new ‘number-one’ goalie, Allen stopped 39 of 40 in the loss and made a huge glove save on Akim Aliu in the third period to keep the Rivermen lead at two on a short-handed chance. Allen has a 2.25 GAA and a .937 S% in the month of March with the Rivermen. The sophomore slump appears to be dissipating after a tough first half of the season for the former Canadian World Junior star.
