ALLEN, Texas – After a soft opening game, the Allen Americans came back with a strong performance to even their series with Laredo at one game apiece.
Allen dished out three big hits in the first 15 seconds of the opening period and set the tone immediately, this was going to be a physical match.
The Bucks weren’t going to stand frozen in the headlights like their namesakes however and took the lead less than three minutes into the game on a nice backhander by Todd Griffith.
An American goal was waived off at 10:10 in the first due to an interference call on team captain Jarret Lukin. It was the fourth of five penalties assessed to the Americans in what would be a stoppage-filled contest. At the end of one, the Bucks had held off the Americans to keep the 1-0 lead.
The Americans didn’t take long to even the score in the second period. Brandon Straub jammed in a loose puck at the 1:16 mark which would be the first of three consecutive goals for the home team.
Nino Musitelli, last weeks CHL Player of the Week continued to shine for Allen, notching two goals and assist. Four minutes after assisting on Straub’s goal, Musitelli rang a great shot off the right post past Bucks goaltender Pier-Olivier Pelletier. Still hungry for more, Musitelli picked up his second goal of the night off a rebound at the 12:22 mark to give Allen a two-goal lead.
The game suffered through fits and starts as every couple of minutes a penalty was being assessed and the crowd heartily voiced their displeasure to the on-ice officials. Even with all the stoppages, Allen was able to keep their heads and stay with their game plan of playing up tempo, physical hockey. The Americans penalty kill has been perfect thus far in the series, killing off a combined 11
Laredo’s Ryan Lehr found the back of the net at the 5:48 mark of the third period to bring Laredo within one and they threatened to even the score throughout the period. Repeatedly crashing the net and placing their biggest forwards right in Chris Whitley’s crease, Laredo found the Allen net minder equal to the task. Whitley finished the contest with 30 saves on the night and Pelletier had 21 for the Bucks.
Tempers brewed throughout the hard fought game and came to a head at the final buzzer where seven more penalties were assessed to players from both sides.
The teams will now head south to Laredo with the series even at one.
The next three games of the series will be played in Laredo before heading back to Allen, for games six and seven (if necessary).
Contact the author at maurice.fitzgerald@prohoackeynews.com
Contact the photographer at chip.crail@prohockeynews.com
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