ALLEN, Texas – Having come so close in their inaugural season last year with a tenacious run to the Central Hockey League finals, only to lose in a double overtime in game six, the Allen Americans feel they have some unfinished business to attend to this year. 
The mood in the locker room is one of solid confidence, excitement and a burning desire to get another race for the championship started.
Their wait is almost over. The regular season schedule is complete, the opening matches are set and the 2011 Ray Miron President’s Cup playoffs begin tonight.
The Americans will face off against the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees at the Allen Event Center this evening. Home ice will be to Allen’s advantage throughout their entire playoff run after capturing the Governor’s Cup with an impressive 47-16-3 record, garnering 97 points.
Allen faced the Bees six times during the regular season, winning four times. Surprisingly, the Bees out shot the Americans in every game except the last one. The final shot total in the regular season series was 184-165 in Rio Grande Valley’s favor but the Americans managed to outscore them 19-17.
The key for Rio Grande Valley in this series be to continue to out shoot Allen, but more importantly, convert those shots into goals if they hope to beat an explosive Allen offense.
Offensively, the Americans are the much stronger team by far, amassing 271 goals throughout the regular season in comparison to the Bees’ 194. Three players are 30-plus goal scorers, Bruce Graham (34), Nino Musitelli (34) and Colton Yellow Horn (33). Jarret Lukin, Dave Bonk and Judd Blackwater all turned in 20 goal seasons with Tobias Whelan and David Nimmo closing on that mark as the season concluded.
The Americans had suffered some key injuries and American Hockey League call-ups in the waning stages of the season but are back to a full roster with the recent return of Justin DaCosta who has been playing exceptionally well despite his long injury layoff. Bruce Graham and Kip Brennan made their way back to the club from the AHL this past week. A healthy Scott Campbell is looking sharp as well, having also recently returned from injury, backing up Chris Whitley in goal.
If there is one area of concern for the Americans, it would be special teams. While Allen’s power play was 1st overall at 23.85%, scoring 78 times during 327 chances with the man advantage, their penalty kill was middle-ranked, ninth in the league at 82.8%, giving up 54 goals on 314 times short-handed.
The Americans power play also had the distinction of being number one in short-handed goals against with 17; in the post-season this can really be a game changer. Allen will have to balance their aggressive power play with tighter play on the point, not allowing the Bees a chance to easily breakout past a deeply pinched defenseman, allowing an odd man rush.
Rio Grande has been more consistent in special teams with a power play ranked third in the league at 18.91%, netting 59 power play goals on 312 chances with the extra attacker and a strong penalty kill, ranked fourth at 84.1%, allowing 55 goals on 346 times shorthanded. A battle of the special teams between these two clubs should be an interesting one to watch.
The best-of-five series kicks off this evening at the Allen Event Center with the opening puck drop at 7:30 pm CST.
Contact the writer at maurice.fitzgerald@prohockeynews.com
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