A Calder Cup In Peoria?

The Rivermen's last win (vs Chicago, 3-2) was Peoria's 4th straight win. That's their longest win streak all season long. On friday, the Rivermen will trek to Grand Rapids and try to make it a 5-game win streak when they face the Griffins.
The 'Men are within one point of a last-seed playoff spot. If they keep up the good work, they can try to overtake Chicago for a playoff spot. It won't be easy, the AHL's Western Conference, much like the NHL's own, has been quite competitive all season long. At the start of the season, Peoria had been hovering around the middle of the standings, both in the West Division and Western Conference. After the All-Star Classic, they started to lose ground, but they could be well on their way back up.

Let's take a look back, shall we?

3/8/09
PEO 3, CHI 2
- The latest in Peoria's 4-game streak. Chicago had the fans at the Allstate Arena smelling victory after scoring 2 quick, back-to-back goals in the 1st, but it was nothing the 'Men couldn't overcome. Manny Legace made 30 out of 32 saves, including 13 in the 3rd period, one of which was a pont-blank on the powerplay. This was merely minutes before Nicholas Drazenovic scored the game-winning goal. Also worth noting is Ivan "Vish Out Of Water" Vishnevskiy has scored 3 points in the last 4 games, this time tying the game in the 2nd period.

3/7/09
PEO 4, RFD 3
- If you're against the shootout, this wasn't a game I advise you look back on. Even though the Rivermen did win it, scoring on all 3 chances in the SO.
This was a close game from the opening faceoff. Goal after goal after goal after goal up until the end of the 3rd period. A nail-biter of an OT if there ever was one, the shootout-haters were quite unpleased. But even the most die-hard skeptics must have been pleased with peoria's effort, forcing 3 allowed goals out of AHL superstar goalie Corey Crawford. He isn't an easy goalie to beat by any means, but beat him the Rivermen did. More specifically, Nicholas Drazenovic, Carl Corazzini and alternate captain Steve Regier.

3/6/09
PEO 4, CHI 2
- All it took was a little over a minute for Julian Talbot to score to take the lead, which the 'Men never let go of. Chicago's Andrej Pavelec made some quite impressive saves this game, but it wasn't enough, simple as that. Not tonight. Especially that 2nd period one-timer started by Carl Corazzini, which led to a very beautiful goal by Ryan Reaves.
This game evened the series between the two teams at 4-4-0, at least until a few days later.
It's worth noting that during the 1st intermission, the Rivermen Hall Of Fame was introduced to two new inductees, Joe Rybar and Don Granato, the latter of which coached the 'Men to a Kelly Cup in 2000 during their ECHL days.

3/2/09
PEO 5, QC 2
- The game that started the streak. The powerplay was at it's best tonight, with 3 PP goals being scored tonight. The Rivermen's save of the year was tonight, as Manny Legace caught a David Van der Gulik slapshot between his head and shoulder in the 1st period. Unfortunately, he was injured in the 2nd. But thankfully, his backup, Chris Holt, was able to hold down the fort, making 12 out of 13 saves. This game made the R-Men's record against the Flames 7-1-0.

So can the Rivermen keep up the good work and achieve a playoff spot? If so, can they hold onto it until the playoffs begin in April? And if they can, will they be good enough in the battles to possibly come against the best teams in the Western Conference in a bid to bring a Calder Cup to Peoria?

I am not one for optimism, and maybe this is just wishful thinking, but the Rivermen have been playing greatly this month, and they're seemingly showing no signs of stopping. They're scoring, making the most of powerplay time, and Manny Legace is doing everything an AHL goalie should, not to mention having a great backup in Chris Holt. Whether it's good enough to make a post-season run is questionable, but it's not looking as bleak as it was. And it was looking really, really bleak.
It can be done, but the Rivermen will really have to work harder than ever and pull a few rabbits out of their hats, because the division and the rest of the conference is going to be working just as hard.