Americans hand Jackalopes 5-2 loss to take 2-1 series lead
ALLEN, Texas – Fans chanted, “Let’s go, Allen,” as the clock wound down on a 5-2 Allen Americans’ victory over the Odessa Jackalopes tonight at the Allen Event Center. Allen took a 2-1 series lead in the Southern Conference Finals after handing Odessa its first road loss of the 2010 playoffs. The Americans also held the Jackalopes’ power play unit off the board tonight for the first time in the series.
Allen quickly grabbed a two-goal lead in Game Three. Bruce Graham netted a wrist shot from the right circle at 3:39 for Allen’s first goal. Not one minute later, Graham skated into the Jackalopes’ zone with Nino Musitelli on a two-on-one rush. Graham passed to the winger, and Musitelli had no trouble putting the puck in the wide-open net. The Jackalopes came within one at 9:03 of the first when Jeff Pierce beat Chris Whitley with a one timer on an odd-man push for Odessa. The period was fast-paced with few penalties, and Allen headed into the first intermission with a 2-1 lead.
The Americans continued to rack up the goals in the middle frame, grabbing two in the final five minutes of the period. Christian Gaudet scored his first post-season goal at 16:48 when he slapped a rebound past Odessa netminder Joel Martin. Then, Justin Bowers launched a wrist shot past Martin to increase Allen’s lead to 4-1.
Odessa backstop Juha Toivonen replaced Martin in net at the start of the final period. Pierce got his second of the night on a goal at 9:39 of the third. The tally brought Odessa within two, but the Americans struck back to make it 5-2. 37 seconds after Pierce’s goal, defenseman Jordie Benn scored on a slap shot from the blue line. The contest, which already featured three fights, continued to heat up as everyone grabbed a dance partner with 3.1 seconds remaining in the game. Allen’s Liam Huculak and Odessa’s Mike Lesperance were the last to square off. After the final penalties were accessed, Allen’s total was 34 minutes, and Odessa had 28.
The Bowers-Graham-Musitelli line had a combined 11 points this evening. Whitley stopped 35 shots to earn his sixth post-season win. Martin saved 17 for Odessa, while Toivonen stopped 13 of 14 shots.
The series continues this weekend with back-to-back games at the Allen Event Center Friday and Saturday (April 16 and 17) at 7:30 p.m. The first 1,500 fans at each game will receive rally towels courtesy of Allen Eye Associates and The 33TV. Tickets are available by calling 972-912-1000 or visiting www.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 5 vs. Odessa 2 (Allen leads 2-1)
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.
