Americans Nip RiverKings 2-1
December 26, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Allen Americans News Release
ALLEN, Texas- The first place Allen Americans returned to the ice this afternoon and delivered a late Christmas present to their fans with a 2-1 victory over the Mississippi RiverKings in front of 3,709 at the Allen Event Center.
Justin DaCosta put the Americans on top 1-0 with a power play goal 8:57 into the first period. The lone assist on the goal was credited to Bruce Graham, who fed the puck to DaCosta directly following the face-off.
The opening period saw no further scoring from either side despite several opportunities. Adrien LeMay stopped all 8 shots he faced in net for Allen while Mississippi netminder Larry Sterling stopped 8 of 9.
The score remained 1-0 after forty minutes of play as both goaltenders continued to deny shot after shot. LeMay finished the middle frame with 10 saves on 10 shots while Sterling turned aside all 11 Allen attempts.
Nino Musitelli extended the Americans lead to 2-0 2:32 into the third period with the Americans second power play goal of the afternoon. Erik Adams found Musitelli alone in the circle on the play who quickly fired the puck past Sterling for his thirteenth goal of the season.
Jeff Christian trimmed the Americans lead to 2-1 and foiled LeMay's bid for a shutout with a 5-on-3 power play goal with 2:00 remaining in regulation. The RiverKings would pull their goalie in favor of the extra-attacker for the final 90 seconds of play but would be unable to even the score.
Adrien LeMay was named the first star of the game with 26 saves while Bruce Graham, the game's second star, led all skaters with 2 assists.
Allen improves to 20-5-1 on the season with the win, and remain atop the Berry Conference and the Central Hockey League with 41 points.
The Americans will hit the road for a tilt with the Texas Brahmas on Tuesday night at Nytex Sports Centre in the second and final game of the 2010 North Texas Vintage Series. Allen will then return home to the Allen Event Center for a pair of games next weekend, beginning on New Year's Eve against the Tulsa Oilers at 7:30 PM. The Americans will then take on the Colorado Eagles on New Year's Day at 7:00 PM. Tickets are available for both games by calling 972-912-1000, and online at www.allenamericans.com.
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