Allen Americans Weekly Notes
Published on March 29, 2010 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Allen Americans News Release
Allen is tied 1-1 with Laredo in the Conference Semifinals best-of-seven series.
CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS GAME RECAPS
GAME 1 - FRIDAY, MAR. 26 vs. LAR (L 4-3): The Americans lost their first playoff game in franchise history after two late goals from Laredo. Forward Liam Huculak netted the club's first goal and lead of the 2010 post-season at 4:34 of the opening frame before Mike Looby knotted the game at 9:32. With 42.5 seconds before the first intermission, an open Darryl Smith flipped the puck top shelf to give Laredo a 2-1 advantage. Rookie Tobias Whelan scored his first career playoff goal at 5:31 of the second when he beat Laredo netminder Pier-Olivier Pelletier to a puck in between the circles. Exactly one minute later, defenseman Erik Adams shot Bruce Graham's rebound into the cage to give Allen a 3-2 advantage heading into the third. Laredo had two straight goals from Looby and Neil Trimm to overcome the Americans. Chris Whitley made 28 saves.
GAME 2 - SATURDAY, MAR. 27 vs. LAR (W 3-2): Allen won their first playoff game in franchise history after a three-goal second period. Laredo jumped out to an early lead after Todd Griffith backhanded a shot into the cage less than three minutes into the game. The Americans had the score tied up at 10:10, but the referee waived off the goal due to an interference penalty by Allen's captain, Jarret Lukin. Just 1:16 into the second, Colton Yellow Horn made the Bucks pay after they could not clear the traffic in front of the net. Then, forward Nino Musitelli skated into the Bucks' zone and went top shelf to give Allen its first lead of the night four minutes later. With 7:38 remaining in the middle frame, Musitelli poked a rebound around Buck Pier-Olivier Pelletier's pad on the power play to give Allen a two-goal cushion. Ryan Lehr brought Laredo within one at 5:48 of the third. Chris Whitley made 30 saves.
CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS UPCOMING GAMES
GAME 3 - TUESDAY, MAR. 30 - Allen @ Laredo at 7:00 p.m.
GAME 4 - THURSDAY, APR. 1 - Allen @ Laredo at 7:00 p.m.
GAME 5 - SATURDAY, APR. 3 - Allen @ Laredo at 7:30 p.m.
*GAME 6 - TUESDAY, APR. 6 - Allen vs. Laredo at 7:30 p.m.
*GAME 7 - WEDNESDAY, APR. 7 - Allen vs. Laredo at 7:30 p.m.
*If necessary
Huculak Nets First Playoff Goal for Allen: Forward Liam Huculak scored Allen's first playoff goal in franchise history when he scored at the 4:34 mark of the first period March 26. Although the first for the Americans, the goal was not Huculak's first. Huculak scored two in the 2008 playoffs with the ECHL's Columbia Inferno in 13 games.
Fast Learners: Going into Game 1 last Friday, only six Americans had no professional post-season experience: Tobias Whelan, Nino Musitelli, Justin Bowers, Chris Whitley, George Bradley and Dustin Donaghy. Whelan grabbed his first two playoff points in Friday's 4-3 loss, netting a goal and an assist. Musitelli had a three-point night Saturday in Game 2, scoring the last two goals to propel the Americans to a 3-2 win. Bowers assisted on two goals Saturday night to earn his first post-season points, while Whitley earned his first career playoff win March 27 in a 3-2 victory. Donaghy debuted Saturday night in his first professional hockey game.
First Milestone: Forward Christian Gaudet earned his first career post-season point on an assist in Game 1, and Colton Yellow Horn scored his first career post-season goal Saturday night.
Post-season Point Streaks: Defenseman Ryan Fairbarn had a helper in Games 1 and 2 last weekend. The blueliner finished the regular season with 40 points, which ranked fourth on the team in scoring and tenth in the league among defenseman. Forward Bruce Graham, who led the Americans in scoring this season with 79 points, had two assists March 26 and one assist March 27.
Rare Third Period Comeback for Opponent: After going 28-1-0 when leading after two periods in the regular season, the Americans uncharacteristically gave up a 3-2 lead in the third period in Game 1. Laredo won the game 4-3.
Penalty Killing Unit 100%: The Americans stopped the Bucks on all five of Laredo's power plays in Game 1 and then killed off all nine Bucks' power plays in Game 2. There were no special teams goals in Friday night for either team, but the Americans scored their first post-season special teams goal Saturday night. Nino Musitelli gets credit for the first Allen power play goal in the playoffs.
Musitelli Oakley CHL Player of the Week: Forward Nino Musitelli was named Oakley CHL Player of the Week for the period ending March 20, 2010. He finished with nine points (5-4=9) and a +2 plus/minus rating in his team's 2-1-0 week. The Macomb, Michigan, native finished the regular season with 23 goals and 40 assists for Allen, which was third highest in scoring for the Americans. Musitelli joins teammates Justin Bowers and Chris Whitley as Americans that have won the weekly awards. Bowers received the honor Nov. 20, 2009, and Whitley was named Oakley CHL Goaltender of the Week on three occasions: Nov. 23, Jan. 4 and Jan. 25.
Central Hockey League Stories from March 29, 2010
- Shots from the Point - CHL
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- Mudbugs Weekly - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Bucks, Laredo Energy and Border Lease To Donate $10,000 Tuesday - Laredo Bucks
- Allen Americans Weekly Notes - Allen Americans
- Held Wins CHL Monthly Three Stars Award - Mississippi RiverKings
- Oilers Tie To Frozen Four - Tulsa Oilers
- Missouri's Jeff Christian Wins Oakley Three Star Player of the Year Award - CHL
- Colorado Eagles Week In Review - Colorado Eagles
- Bucks Host Allen In Pivotal Game Three Tuesday - Laredo Bucks
- Jackalopes Weekly Update - Odessa Jackalopes
- Rush Win Defensive Battle 2-1; Take 2-0 Series Lead - Rapid City Rush
- Mavericks Lose Tight One In Game 2, 2-1 To Rush - Kansas City Mavericks
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