First Place Peoria Rivermen

[Monmouth_Bradley_Fan]

Just in case anyone was curious, the Rivermen are currently in first place in their division, and are in first place in the entire western conference. You can read more about it here..

http://www.pjstar.com/sports/rivermen/x1049173629/EMINIAN-Rivermen-hold-high-ground-in-AHL

Anyways, they play against the team which is currently tied with them, the San Antonio Rampage, tomorrow night (Wednesday the 5th) at 7:05, should be an exciting matchup! (Rivermen currently have the highest rated goalie in the entire AHL in Rookie Jake Allen).

They have a 16 dollar promotion, where it gets you a ticket, and all you can eat and drink soda, hotdogs, and pop corn (would LOVE to see Bradley do something like this)!

I think this might be a GREAT event for any Peoria sports fan to check out, or bring the family to support what we have here, the Rivermen really do seem to be something to get excited about this year!

[DeltaBrave03]

With TJ Oshie coming back to the Blues in about 2 weeks and hopefully AMac and DP57 soon after Peoria will be getting Cracknell and Porter back as well with some more NHL experience under their belts. Now let's just hope the Blues can stay somewhat healthy for awhile.

[jrish12]

AGREED on the health part!!! I saw a video on FSMW website that Oshie started skating a couple weeks ago.

I just wish Bednar would play Allen as his #1 and not keep platooning him and Bishop. Allen is head and shoulders above Bishop. I believe Allen is an NHL ready goaltender now. Bishop is lazy and has no hockey sense IMO, he comes out of the net to play pucks he shouldnt play, and he can never track the puck. At the game I was at while at home over break, there were numerous times that had the other team been 2-3 inches closer to the goal they would have been easy goals because Bishop had no idea where the puck was.

I would LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!! to see Bradley do a free food promotion. It would sell the place out in a heartbeat, especially if it was a somewhat worthwhile opponent, like a middle of the road MVC team. Im not saying do it for ISU or Creighton or Wichita, but like an Evansville or MO State... I believe when the Rivermen did this last year they sold out a week before the game? That is unheard of for a Rivermen game. Heck, getting more than 4,000 people at their games is almost unheard of.

[DeltaBrave03]

I don't know how much communication there is between Peoria and STL, but I have to imagine this year the Blues didn't want JA overwhelmed which he obviously doesn't appear to be, and also get Bishop ready to back up Halak next year. After this year JA will be the #1 in Peoria for at least one year probably 2 before heading up/down to STL. I love having the minor league hockey team here be a Blues affiliate, it's so much better than having to go watch cubs prospects at O'Brien.

[jrish12]

I still think its amazing that the Blues are still in 2nd place in the Central division without arguably their 3 best players for significant amounts of time.

Delta, do you think the Blues will send any of them down for rehab assignments? I would believe Oshie would be a strong candidate for a rehab assignment because that injury is not easy to come back from. Perron and McDonald with concussions is a touchy subject.

I also really like how the AHL is doing playoffs this year. If the 4th and 5th place teams in the west division have better point totals than the 3rd and 4th palce teams in the north division they bump those teams out of the playoffs. The rivermen kinda got the short end of the stick a couple years ago because they didnt use this format if I remember correctly.

[DeltaBrave03]

Doubtful Peoria sees Oshie. With hockey since teams don't play everyday like baseball there is time for them to work out with their teammates and get back into game shape that way rather than with minor league players. Also Oshie traveled with the team today to Toronto. No guarantees he plays, but I don't see the reasoning in bringing him on a one day trip if he's not going to play. Either way I think he has to be days rather than weeks away.

[Future Walk-On]

More importantly. I go to Riverman games to hang with the Riverman girls.

[Big Mike]

For sure the Rivermen are on a roll....alone in 1st place now!

http://www.pjstar.com/sports/x1049179096/Rivermen-alone-at-the-top-after-ripping-Rampage-7-4

[Monmouth_Bradley_Fan]

More importantly. I go to Riverman games to hang with the Riverman girls.

High five!

Ironically enough I had to miss the game but it seems as if it was fantastic, as I checked the score, and it was 4-2 in the 2nd, then Peoria won 7-4!

[Big Mike]

Rookie Jake Allen is working on a "Big-Payday " if he keeps playing like he is!

[jrish12]

So uh, I think signing Nesbitt to a full AHL contract was a good idea!

Jake Allen is the future between the pipes for the 'note. I would love to see them trade Bishop, he is going to be nothing more than a mediocre back up in the NHL/ an ok starter in the AHL. Allen is NHL ready right now, IMO. Now, with Halak being in net right now, I dont know what the future holds for Allen, but I would absolutely love to see him between the pipes in St. Louis in the near future.

[jrish12]

The Rivermen extend their winning streak to 5 after a 5-4 OT win over Oklahoma City tonight. This team is the best team to come through Peoria since the Turner Cup team that won 18 in a row. They are continuing to win while alot of their players are still up on call up with the Blues.

[Monmouth_Bradley_Fan]

The Rivermen extend their winning streak to 5 after a 5-4 OT win over Oklahoma City tonight. This team is the best team to come through Peoria since the Turner Cup team that won 18 in a row. They are continuing to win while alot of their players are still up on call up with the Blues.

I dont think we will see 18 in a row any time soon... thats like winning 30 straight in basketball! As long as we dont drop an egg when the Barons come to peoria, we can get this 4 game sweep of them, and hopefully get some breathing room in the points column...!

[jrish12]

I dont think we will see 18 in a row any time soon... thats like winning 30 straight in basketball! As long as we dont drop an egg when the Barons come to peoria, we can get this 4 game sweep of them, and hopefully get some breathing room in the points column...!

lol, i agree we wont see 18 in a row any time soon, I was just saying since that team this is probably the best. Im not really worried about OKC; San Antonio, Chicago, Texas, and Milwaukee are all the teams that would pose the most realistic threat to Peoria down the stretch. Also, with the AHL playoff format, if the 4th and 5th place teams in the West division have more points than the 3rd and 4th place teams in the north division of the Western Conference, they bump those teams out. So all conference games are going to be important down the stretch, especially divisional games.

Divisional games left:

6 left with Milwaukee (2 home, 4 away)
7 with Chicago (3 home, 4 away)
3 with Texas (all home)
4 with San Antonio (2 home, 2 away)
2 with Houston (1 home, 1 away)
5 with Oklahoma City (3 home, 2 away)
4 with Rockford (all on road) - yes they are in last in the division, but all divisional games are important, especially on the road.

So thats 14 home divisional games remaining on the schedule, and 17 away. Down the stretch it will be tough, but if they can stay at around .500 on the road and keep winning at home, then the Rivs could be looking at a #1 seed in the western conference playoffs.

[Monmouth_Bradley_Fan]

lol, i agree we wont see 18 in a row any time soon, I was just saying since that team this is probably the best. Im not really worried about OKC; San Antonio, Chicago, Texas, and Milwaukee are all the teams that would pose the most realistic threat to Peoria down the stretch. Also, with the AHL playoff format, if the 4th and 5th place teams in the West division have more points than the 3rd and 4th place teams in the north division of the Western Conference, they bump those teams out. So all conference games are going to be important down the stretch, especially divisional games.
.

That is weird... that playoff system kind of defeats the purpose of having divisions doesn't it? Or am I just massively confused??