Allen Americans Weekly Notes
Published on April 19, 2010 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Allen Americans News Release
SOUTHERN CONFERENCE FINALS GAME RECAPS
GAME 3 - WEDNESDAY, APR. 14 vs. ODE (W 5-2): Allen quickly grabbed a two-goal lead in Game Three. Bruce Graham netted a wrist shot from the right circle at 3:39 for Allen's first goal. Not one minute later, Nino Musitelli scored on a two-on-one rush. The Jackalopes came within one at 9:03 of the first when Jeff Pierce lit the lamp with a one timer on an odd-man push for Odessa. The Americans continued to rack up the goals in the middle frame, grabbing two in the final five minutes of the period. Christian Gaudet scored his first post-season goal at 16:48 when he slapped a rebound past Odessa netminder Joel Martin. Then, Justin Bowers launched a wrist shot past Martin to increase Allen's lead to 4-1. Odessa backstop Juha Toivonen replaced Martin in net at the start of the final period. Pierce got his second of the night on a goal at 9:39 of the third. 37 seconds after Pierce's goal, defenseman Jordie Benn scored on a slap shot from the blue line to make it 5-2. The heated game featured four fights with a combined 62 penalty minutes. Whitley made 35 saves.
GAME 4 - FRIDAY, APR. 16 vs. ODE (W 6-4): Allen scored a commanding three straight goals in the opening period of Game Four before Odessa struck back. Nino Musitelli, Jarret Lukin and Colton Yellow Horn tallied goals for the Americans before Jeff Pierce grabbed his first of the night on the power play. Leading 3-1 after one period, the Americans scored two more goals before Odessa could close the gap. Justin Bowers scored 2:24 into the middle frame, and Lukin got his second of the night to give Allen a 5-1 lead. Pierce scored two straight to round out his hat trick, and Kory Karlander converted a penalty shot to bring the Jackalopes within one. Ryan Fairbarn scored on the power play before the second period ended to give Allen its two-goal cushion back. Neither team scored in the third period. Chris Whitley made 39 saves on the night.
GAME 5 - SATURDAY, APR. 17 vs. ODE (L 6-3): Defenseman Dave Van Drunen gave Odessa a 1-0 lead 3:23 into the game, but Americans' forward Bruce Graham tied it nearly eight minutes later. Then, 2010 CHL All-Star Justin Bowers snuck a wrister past Joel Martin before being crosschecked in the face by Odessa's captain, Kory Karlander. No call was made, and Karlander went on to knot the game at two with 5:06 remaining in the period before Mike Ramsay scored on the power play to put the Jackalopes on top again, 3-2. Ramsay netted another power play goal at 9:45 of the middle frame to give Odessa a 4-2 cushion. With 35 seconds left in the period, Bowers redirected Jordie Benn's shot from the blue line with 35 seconds on the clock in the second period to bring the Americans within one. Jackalopes' forward Mike Lesperance gave Odessa a 5-3 advantage with 6:18 remaining in the third period. Allen called a timeout with 2:09 left. When they returned with an empty net, Sebastien Thinel popped one in to bring the final score to 6-3.
UPCOMING GAMES - SOUTHERN CONFERENCE FINALS
GAME 6 - MONDAY, APR. 19 @ ODE at 7:05 PM
*GAME 7 - WEDNESDAY, APR. 21@ ODE at 7:05 PM
*If necessary
The Allen Americans went 1-2-1 against Odessa in the regular season. Odessa finished first place in the Southern Conference, as well as first place overall to snag the Governors' Cup. The Jackalopes' record was 48-11-5 (101 points). Allen ended the regular season with a 42-17-5 record, good for 89 points. The Americans hosted the Jackalopes once at the Allen Event Center, and the game ended in a 3-2 overtime loss for the Americans.
On Fire: The line of Justin Bowers, Bruce Graham and Nino Musitelli combined for 11 points in April 14's 5-2 win. Bowers and Musitelli each had one goal and three assists, while Graham had one goal and two assists. The line combined for five points in April 16's 6-4 win.
On a Roll: Justin Bowers has registered 11 points in the last four games, making a grand total of 20 for the playoffs. He is tied with Odessa's Sebastien Thinel for the most points this postseason.
Mr. Assist: Defenseman Tyler Wooddisse had three assists in April 16's 6-4 victory. The blueliner had 11 goals and 24 assists for 34 points in 62 games during the regular season. He has four points in the 2010 postseason.
Musitelli a Must: The final Oakley CHL Player of the Week, Nino Musitelli, is second on the Americans in points during the club's first postseason. He has 17 points during the playoffs in 12 games, including four points in Game Three's 5-2 victory. The Americans have won seven out of eight games in which he has registered a point.
Central Hockey League Stories from April 19, 2010
- Americans Fall 4-3 in Overtime to Odessa, Series Tied 3-3 - Allen Americans
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- Jackalopes Weekly Update - Odessa Jackalopes
- Allen Americans Weekly Notes - Allen Americans
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