Early Overtime Goal Sends Americans Home with 2-0 Series Lead
May 16, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Allen Americans News Release
Gary Steffes of the Allen Americans Scores the Game-Winning Goal in Overtime vs. the Fort Wayne Komets
(Allen Americans, Credit: Jake Murphy)
Fort Wayne, Indiana - The Allen Americans worked quickly in overtime on Sunday night, as Allen defeated Fort Wayne by a score of 3-2, to take a 2-0 series lead.
The Allen Americans and the Fort Wayne Comets did not play each other in the regular season. In fact, the last meeting dates back about five years ago in the days of the Central Hockey League. However, the two teams played each other as if they had been fierce rivals, that of the Yankees-Red Sox proportion. Those hard feelings carried over, unsurprisingly in game two on Sunday evening in Fort Wayne.
Amassing 64 penalties minutes in the game, including three separate fights, the Americans and Komets continued what has promised to be a hard fought series.
While not lighting the lamp with nearly as much continuity, the Americans were able to once again obtain a first period lead off the stick of Chad Costello. The 4th of the postseason for the League MVP came on the Power Play almost halfway through the first period.
Riley Gill started in net once again for Allen, however, he would not last long before being forced to leave the ice after succumbing to an apparent injury following a Fort Wayne shot. Joel Rumpel would replace Gill, but not before the Komets were able to beat Gill and tie the game at 1-1. Garrett Meurs knotted the game only 22 seconds into the second period.
A fresh Rumpel was bested soon after on a Komets Power Play goal from Troy Bourke, his 7th of the postseason.
Vincent Arseneau would later score his 5th of the playoffs on a rebound goal, once again knotting the score, this time at 2-2. The game tying tally would come late in the second period.
Despite a goal-infested game one, and a back and forth first two periods of game two, neither horse could separate from the pack in the third period, sending the Americans and Komets to the first overtime session of the Western Conference Finals.
Scoring early and late in periods would prove to be a bit of a trend in game two, as Gary Steffes was goal scorer in overtime only 56 seconds into the overtime period, his fifth of the postseason. That tally gave the Americans the 3-2 overtime win in game two.
Allen will come home for games three, four, and five, (if necessary). They will look to build off their strong start in the Western Conference Finals on Thursday night at 7:05 pm against the Fort Wayne Komets.
Allen leads the ECHL Kelly Cup Western Conference Finals 2-0
Allen Americans vs. Fort Wayne Komets
Game 1- Friday, May 13, Allen 5 at Fort Wayne, 3 Final
Game 2- Sunday, May 15, Allen 3 at Fort Wayne 2, Final OT
Game 3- Thursday, May 19, Fort Wayne at Allen, 7:05pm CST
Game 4- Saturday, May 21, Fort Wayne at Allen, 7:05pm CST
Game 5- Sunday, May 22, Fort Wayne at Allen, 4:05pm CST*
Game 6- Tuesday, May 24,.Allen at Fort Wayne, 6:30pm CST *
Game 7- Thursday, May 26,.Allen at Fort Wayne, 6:30pm CST*
*If necessary.
Images from this story
 Gary Steffes of the Allen Americans Scores the Game-Winning Goal in Overtime vs. the Fort Wayne Komets (Jake Murphy) |
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