Allen advances to Conference Finals with 4-1 victory over Laredo
ALLEN, Texas – The Allen Americans won their first playoff series in franchise history with a 4-1 win over the Laredo Bucks tonight at the Allen Event Center. With the Game Seven victory, the Americans advance to the Conference Finals to play the Odessa Jackalopes.
The Americans came out strong in the first period, buzzing around the Laredo net. The first Allen goal was waived off with 8:13 left in the first because the referee ruled that Nino Musitelli pushed the puck into the net with his hand. The Americans stepped up their game even more and went up 1-0 when Musitelli backhanded a shot past netminder Pier-Olivier Pelletier two minutes later. The Americans headed to the locker room after 20 minutes with a 1-0 lead.
Allen continued to put pressure on the Bucks in the middle frame, firing 15 shots and netting a power play goal. Musitelli and rookie Tobias Whelan raced toward the net on a two-on-zero rush that resulted in Whelan’s second career playoff goal midway through the period. The tally put Allen up 2-0 in the Central Hockey League’s only Game Seven of the 2010 Ray Miron Presidents’ Cup Playoffs thus far.
Allen held on to their lead in the third period, but Laredo’s Todd Griffith went top shelf to cut Allen’s advantage in half at 4:30. Nearly seven minutes later, Jordie Benn regained the Americans’ two-goal lead off of a wrist shot from the top of the right circle. 2010 CHL All-Star Bruce Graham increased Allen’s lead to three when he scored at 15:58 on the power play. The goal sealed the game’s fate. The final score was 4-1.
Americans’ goalie Chris Whitley made 21 saves, while Pelletier stopped 30 pucks.
The Americans begin the Conference Finals on the road Friday in Odessa. Allen will host Games Three, Four and Five April 14, 16 and 17, respectively. Tickets are available by calling 972-912-1000 or visiting gettix.net.
The box score is available on Pointstreak.com.
Allen Americans vs. Laredo Bucks (Best-of-Seven Series)
Game 1: Friday, Mar. 26 – Allen 3 vs. Laredo 4 (Laredo leads 1-0)
Game 2: Saturday, Mar. 27 – Allen 3 vs. Laredo 2 (Series tied 1-1)
Game 3: Tuesday, Mar. 30 – Allen 4 @ Laredo 1 (Allen leads 2-1)
Game 4: Thursday, Apr. 1 – Allen 3 @ Laredo 4 (Series tied 2-2)
Game 5: Saturday, Apr. 3 – Allen 1 @ Laredo 5 (Laredo leads 3-2)
Game 6: Tuesday, Apr. 6 – Allen 3 vs. Laredo 2 (Series tied 3-3)
Game 7: Wednesday, Apr. 7 – Allen 4 vs. Laredo 1 (Allen wins series 4-3)
Photo by Amy Gutierrez.
