Americans fall 3-2 in OT to Odessa, series tied 1-1
ODESSA, Texas – After taking Game One of the Southern Conference Finals, the Americans fell 3-2 in overtime tonight at the Ector County Coliseum. The best-of-seven series is tied 1-1 as the teams head to Allen for the next three games.
The contest started in a similar fashion as Game One did. Allen had one goal in the first period that was sandwiched by Odessa goals. The Jackalopes’ Jean Bourbeau beat Americans’ netminder Chris Whitley glove side to give Odessa a 1-0 advantage at 7:40. Three minutes later, Allen forward Justin Bowers redirected a shot into the net to tie the game on the power play. With 4:02 remaining in the opening period, Kenny Bernard picked up a power play tally for the Jackalopes to give them a 2-1 lead.
The middle frame was scoreless, and Allen outshot Odessa eight-to-six. The period had eight penalties, three less than the first period.
The Americans battled back with persistence to tie the game in the third frame. Liam Huculak, who had the Americans’ first playoff goal in franchise history, scored 2:54 into the final period of regulation. After that, both teams turned up the intensity and physicality in an effort to earn a win. Neither team could light the lamp again, so the teams head into overtime. This marked the first time that the Americans played extra hockey in the playoffs.
Allen started overtime a man short, as the club had to kill off the remaining 1:14 of a late third period penalty. The Americans went on the power play at 11:10 of the extra period but could not find the back of the net. Odessa’s Jeff Pierce ended the game at 16:43, putting the Jackalopes over the top 3-2.
Whitley stopped 42 shots, including 17 in the first period, while Jackalopes’ backstop Joel Martin saved 29 pucks. Each team scored one power play goal.
Allen will host Games Three, Four and Five April 14, 16 and 17, respectively, at the Allen Event Center. Tickets are available by calling 972-912-1000 or visiting gettix.net.
The box score is available on Pointstreak.com.
Southern Conference Finals
Allen Americans (2) vs. Odessa Jackalopes (1)
Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 9 – Allen 4 @ Odessa 3 (Allen leads 1-0)
Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 10 – Allen 2 @ Odessa 3 (Series tied 1-1)
Game 3 – Wed., Apr. 14 – Allen vs. Odessa, 7:30
Game 4 – Fri., Apr. 16 – Allen vs. Odessa, 7:30
Game 5 – Sat., Apr. 17 – Allen vs. Odessa, 7:30
*Game 6 – Mon., Apr. 19 – Allen @ Odessa, 7:05
*Game 7 – Wed., Apr. 21 – Allen @ Odessa, 7:05
*If necessary
Photo by Amy Gutierrez.
