AJ Gale Scores 4 Times as Denver Takes Game 1 of the Finals
Published on May 3, 2014 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Allen Americans News Release
Denver, CO - Friday night kicked off the 2014 Ray Miron President's Cup Finals for the Allen Americans as they prepared to defend their 2013 championship against the Denver Cutthroats. Denver takes Game 1 by a score of 5-4 despite a great comeback by Allen.
Denver opened the scoring when Cam Reid lit the lamp on the power play at 9:55 with Lee Moffie and Kent Patterson earning the assists. Denver extended their lead to 2-0 on a goal by AJ Gale with assists from Lee Moffie and Robin Soudek at 12:17 of the first period. At the first intermission, Allen held the shot lead 14-11 but trailed Denver on the scoreboard 2-0.
Just 33 seconds into the middle frame, AJ Gale netted his second goal of the night to stretch the Denver lead to 3-0, assisted by Garett Bembridge and Aaron MacKenzie. Allen then cut into the Denver lead when Jonathan Lessard found the back of the net for the 5th time this post season at 7:58, assisted by Anthony Maiani and Alex Lavoie. Less than three minutes later, Anthony Maiani fired a shot past Kent Patterson, for his 4th goal of the playoffs, to bring the Americans to within one at 10:27, assisted by Jonathan Lessard and Jamie Schaafsma. Allen kept working hard and brought the game level in the final seconds of the second period with their third unanswered goal, this time Jamie Schaafsma notched his 5th goal of the playoffs, assisted by Daniel Tetrault and Brian McMillin at 19:26. Denver held the slight edge in shots in the middle frame 14-13 and trailed Allen after two periods 27-25 with the score tied 3-3.
Denver got back on top at the 5:46 mark of the third period when AJ Gale completed the hat trick; Troy Schwab and Garett Bembridge were credited with the assists. AJ Gale then netted his 4th goal of the game at 10:27, assisted by Troy Schwab and Steve Kaunisto to give Denver the 5-3 lead, on the power play.
Allen brought the game to within one on a goal by Jamie Schaafsma, assisted by Bruce Graham at 13:56. The goal was Schaafsma's second of the game.
The Cutthroats were able to hold off the Americans in the final minutes of the game when they pulled Bryan Pitton in favor of the extra attacker, to defeat Allen 5-4 and take the 1-0 series lead. The Americans outshot Denver in the third period 12-8 for a three period total of 39-33.
The Allen Americans and Denver Cutthroats continue their best-of-seven President's Cup Finals series Saturday night at the Denver Coliseum with the puck drop scheduled for 6PM MST.
Central Hockey League Stories from May 3, 2014
- Mallards' Nagy Recalled by AHL's Chicago Wolves - Quad City Mallards
- Denver Cutthroats Win Game One of Finals - Denver Cutthroats
- AJ Gale Scores 4 Times as Denver Takes Game 1 of the Finals - Allen Americans
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