Mike Zigomanis scored three goals and assisted on two others as Peoria rolled to a 5-1 victory over Omaha at the Civic Auditorium on Saturday night.
Zigomanis scored three of the Rivermen’s four power-play goals on the evening, as Peoria moved to within three points of idle Houston for second place in the West Division.
Now with 24 points in 25 games with the Rivermen, Zigomanis also recorded 12 shots on goal, tying an AHL season high.
Jon DiSalvatore had a goal and an assist and Mike Mottau added two assists for Peoria, while Chris Beckford-Tseu made 24 saves for the win.
The loss dropped the Ak-Sar-Ben Knights three points back of Iowa in the race for fourth place in the West.
The Stars got a goal and two assists from Toby Petersen and 35 saves from Mike Smith in a 4-1 victory at Chicago.
That win was Iowa’s eighth in a row, and brought an end to the Wolves’ own nine-game winning streak.
Chicago dropped five points behind the Stars. The teams play again on Sunday afternoon.
Elsewhere on Saturday:
Former Syracuse forward Donald MacLean raised his season total to 56 goals with his fifth hat trick of the season — and added two assists for a five-point night — and Syracuse native Jimmy Howard made 31 saves as Grand Rapids blanked the Crunch, 6-0Wade Dubielewicz stopped 30 shots as Bridgeport pulled to within one win of clinching a berth with a 2-1 victory over HartfordJeff Heerema recorded two goals and two assists as Binghamton used six power-play goals to defeat Rochester, 6-5Kurtis McLean broke a tie 5:28 into the third period to lead Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to a 4-2 win over PhiladelphiaSpringfield was outshot by a 50-17 margin, but Jonathan Boutin made 49 saves and the Falcons defeated Providence, 3-1Darren Haydar scored twice as Milwaukee opened up a six-point lead atop the West Division with a 4-3 win in San AntonioTyler Weiman stopped 37 shots as Lowell held on for a 2-1 win in PortlandIn front of 7,961 fans at the Barons’ home finale, Maxim Lapierre had two goals and an assist as Hamilton beat Cleveland, 4-3Wade Flaherty made 38 saves for Manitoba in a 3-2 shootout win at TorontoMatt Keith scored with 1:47 left to give Norfolk a 2-1 victory over HersheyAdam Hauser made 35 saves in Manchester’s 2-0 win over visiting Albany
