Back and forth game ends in 5-4 loss to Rapid City
March 13, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Allen Americans News Release
RAPID CITY, South Dakota - The playoff-bound Allen Americans lost to the Northern Conference leading Rush 5-4 tonight on the road. After defeating the club 5-4 in overtime last night, Allen could not hold to a late 4-3 lead. The Americans are 40-16-5 (85 points).
The Americans started scoring in the game, just as they did last night. Rookie Tobias Whelan lit the lamp at 9:13 of the opening period to give Allen their first lead of the game. The lead lasted only 1:45 until Rapid City's Brendon Hodge put one by netminder David McKee. McKee made 16 saves in the first period.
Similar to last night, the teams began the second period deadlocked. While the middle frame was scoreless, fans were entertained with two fights. In his first game back, forward Liam Huculak faced off with Luke Fritshaw. Then, defenseman Brandon Straub dropped the gloves with Colt King. McKee stopped 14 pucks in the second, while Rush backstop Miguel Beaudry saved 11 shots.
Still tied 1-1 at the start of the third, Allen's Nathan O'Nabigon began the third period with his sixteenth goal this year to give the club a 2-1 lead. The tally turned out to be the first of seven goals in the third period. Rapid City responded with back-to-back goals from Derek LeBlanc and Brendan Cook. With 9:46 remaining in the game, the Rush were up 3-2. Then, Rapid City's Blaine Jarvis was awarded a penalty shot that McKee deflected to keep Allen in the game.
The Americans responded with two straight goals to regain a one-goal advantage, 4-3, with 3:50 left in the game. Tyler Shelast, recently assigned to Allen from the American Hockey League's Texas Stars, scored his second goal with Allen on the power play at 13:57. Forward Nino Musitelli followed that with his nineteenth goal of the season.
Rapid City tallied back-to-back goals after Musitelli's lamp lighter to give the club a 5-4 lead with 1:14 remaining in the game. Colt King tied the game before Scott Ray grabbed the game-winning goal at 18:46. The Americans pulled McKee to put on the extra attacker but could not find the back of the net.
McKee made 42 saves tonight, while Beaudry stopped 27 shots. The Americans were one for five on the power play and kept the Rush power play off the board again tonight.
The Americans close out the regular season with three straight home games March 17, 19 and 20. Allen has clinched home ice for the Conference Semi-Finals of the 2010 Ray Miron's President's Cup. Their first home playoff games will be the weekend of March 26.
• Discuss this story on the Central Hockey League message board...
Central Hockey League Stories from March 13, 2010
- Back and forth game ends in 5-4 loss to Rapid City - Allen Americans
- Rush Win Wild One over Americans 5-4 - Rapid City Rush
- Mavs Edge Jackalopes, 4-3, In Home Finale - Kansas City Mavericks
- Eagles Win, 5-1, in Final Home Game of Regular Season - Colorado Eagles
- Jacks Clinch Top Seed in Southern Conference - Odessa Jackalopes
- IceRays hold on for win over Killer Bees - Corpus Christi IceRays
- RiverKings Outgun Mudbugs For Fourth Straight Win - Mississippi RiverKings
- Bucks Win To Move Ahead of Texas For Third - Laredo Bucks
- Arizona Closes Out 2009-10 Road Schedule with 5-3 Loss to Laredo - Arizona Sundogs
- Powerplay Carries 'Kings Past Mudbugs - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Brown shuts out Wichita - Amarillo Gorillas
- Thunder Blanked by Gorillas - Wichita Thunder
- RiverKings Battle Mudbugs Tonight - Mississippi RiverKings
- Deleurme Joins 'Bugs For Stretch Run - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Brahmas Clinch Playoff Spot; Look Ahead To Big Game Sunday Afternoon - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Bucks Can Move Ahead Of Texas Tonight - Laredo Bucks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
