Americans advance to Finals with 4-2 win over Odessa
ODESSA, Texas – The Allen Americans were all business Wednesday night, as they beat the Odessa Jackalopes 4-2 to earn the crown of Southern Conference Champions. The victory advances the expansion club to the Ray Miron Presidents’ Cup Finals.
The Americans outplayed the Jackalopes in the first period, taking everything to the net. Even though the expansion club only outshot Odessa 13-12, Allen killed off two penalties and continuously threw pucks at the net. Their hard work came to fruition when rookie Tobias Whelan buried a pass from Captain Jarret Lukin with 2:58 remaining in the opening frame to give Allen a 1-0 lead.
Allen’s good play persisted in the second period. Forward Colton Yellow Horn’s shot trickled through Odessa backstop Joel Martin’s pads at 5:04 to increase Allen’s lead to two. The Jackalopes and their fans did their best to take the Americans off their game, but the expansion team refused to buckle. Odessa did get a power play goal from Collin Circelli at 15:22, but Nino Musitelli lit the lamp with 44 seconds left in the second period. Musitelli’s nineteenth postseason point regained the Americans’ two-goal lead, making the score 3-1.
Yellow Horn scored his second of the night on the power play at 6:35 of the third to give Allen its biggest lead of the night, 4-1. The Jacks were able to get a tally from Jeff Pierce after pulling Martin and putting the extra attacker on in the last minute of the game. The goal made the score 4-2 but was not enough to force overtime.
Netminder Chris Whitley made 26 saves, and Martin stopped 34 shots. Both teams were 1-4 on the power play.
The Americans beat the Laredo Bucks in seven games before defeating the Jackalopes. The 4-2 win over Odessa makes the Americans 3-0 in games where they face elimination.
The Americans will play the Northern Conference Champions, which are the Rapid City Rush. The Rush beat the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs 7-3 tonight in Game Seven.
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 OT (Series tied 1-1)
Game 3 – Wed., Apr. 14 – Allen 5 vs. Odessa 2 (Allen leads 2-1)
Game 4 – Fri., Apr. 16 – Allen 6 vs. Odessa 4 (Allen leads 3-1)
Game 5 – Sat., Apr. 17 – Allen 3 vs. Odessa 6 (Allen leads 3-2)
Game 6 – Mon., Apr. 19 – Allen 3 @ Odessa 4 OT (Series tied 3-3)
Game 7 – Wed., Apr. 21 – Allen 4 @ Odessa 2 (Allen wins 4-3)
Photo by Amy Gutierrez.
