Americans rebound with 5-2 win over Rapid City
ALLEN, Texas – Colton Yellow Horn scored his first professional hat trick tonight en route to an Allen Americans 5-2 win at the Allen Event Center. The win gives Allen a 2-1 series lead over Rapid City in the Ray Miron Presidents’ Cup Finals.
The Americans started off their first home game of the finals by bringing in North Texas hockey icon Norman Green to do the ceremonial puck drop. The former Dallas Stars’ owner arrived ready for playoff hockey, wearing his tie that he dons for postseason action.
After Green’s puck drop, the Americans went on to open the game with a power play goal at 2:10. Justin Bowers shoved the puck past Rush netminder Danny Battochio from the top of the crease for his ninth playoff goal. With 6:22 remaining in the first period, Allen increased its lead to two. Bowers scored his second of the night off of a pass from veteran Erik Adams. After 20 minutes, Allen led 2-0.
Allen’s offense continued to score in the middle frame, even when the club was shorthanded. Colton Yellow Horn deked around the Rapid City defender with an incredible move and lit the lamp 1:25 into the frame on the penalty kill. Yellow Horn grabbed another goal on a three-on-two rush later in the second. Nino Musitelli left a drop pass for Captain Jarret Lukin, who passed the puck past a fallen defender to an open Yellow Horn. The forward poked the puck in for his eighth goal of the postseason at 10:10.
The Rush replaced Battochio in net with Miguel Beaudry after the fourth Allen goal—similar to Game One. Rapid City got on the scoreboard at 12:11 when Brendan Cook’s shot from high slot hit the back of the net. The goal brought the score to 4-1.
The next goal of the game came at 12:12 of the final period, when Scott Wray grabbed a tally on a slap shot to bring the Rush within two. Rapid City put the extra attacker on the ice with minutes to go, but Yellow Horn ruined any hopes the visitors had of a comeback when he scored an empty-net goal to earn a hat trick. The final score was 5-2.
Allen’s record is now 3-0 in game threes.
Whitley had 35 saves tonight. Battochio saved eight of 12, while Beaudry stopped all 12 he faced.
The championship series continues in Allen for Games Four and Five on April 30 and May 1, respectively. To show the club’s appreciation to all its fans, the Americans and Allen Event Center are offering $2 beers and $2 hot dogs at the last home games of their inaugural season. Additionally, the first 2,000 fans at each game will receive free thunder sticks, and there will be “Fan Fest” before every game beginning at 5:30 p.m. Festivities include bounce houses, interactive gaming areas, balloon artists, a rock climbing wall and more. Both games start at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are available by calling 972-912-1000, going to gettix.net or stopping by the Allen Event Center Box Office. The Box Office is open from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Fans interested in tickets to multiple playoff games are encouraged to speak with an Allen Americans representative regarding savings off walk-up prices at 972-912-1000.
The box score is available on Pointstreak.com.
Ray Miron Presidents’ Cup Finals
Allen Americans vs. Rapid City Rush
Game 1 – Friday, Apr. 23 – Allen 4 @ Rapid City 1 (Allen leads 1-0)
Game 2 – Saturday, Apr. 24 – Allen 4 @ Rapid City 5 OT (Series tied 1-1)
Game 3 – Wednesday Apr. 28 – Allen 5 vs. Rapid City 2 (Allen leads 2-1)
Game 4 – Friday, Apr. 30 – Allen vs. Rapid City, 7:30
Game 5 – Saturday, May 1 – Allen vs. Rapid City, 7:30
*Game 6 – Tuesday, May 4 – Allen @ Rapid City, 7:35
*Game 7 – Friday, May 7 – Allen @ Rapid City, 8:05
*If necessary
Photo by Amy Gutierrez.
