Brahmas four goal surge pushes them past Americans

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas – The Allen Americans traveled across town to the NYTEX Sports Centre on Wednesday evening to take on the Texas Brahmas in Game Three of their best-of-seven Berry Conference first round playoff series. The Brahmas earned a 4-3 victory over the Americans Sunday afternoon to tie the series 1-1.
 
The Americans got on the board first, capitalizing on a five minute major power play when a boarding was assessed to Erik Spady for a hit from behind on Nick Layton. Colton Yellow Horn fed Jason Deitsch heading down the right wing boards who then fed it to Jarret Lukin streaking into the slot. Lukin one-timed it past Mark Guggenberger at 4:53 of the first period. It was the only shot of the lackluster power play for the Americans who never seemed to get any rhythm going with the man advantage.
 
Less then five minutes later, the Americans extended their lead to 2-0 when Bruce Graham slipped the puck past Guggenberger for his 4th goal of the playoffs, assisted by Jim McKenzie and Jake Newton at 9:23. Immediately following the goal, Guggenberger was pulled from the Texas net in favor of newcomer Brad Fogal.
 
The Brahmas cut into the Americans’ lead just 40 seconds later when Adam Hogg with a great forechecking job, stole the puck from one of the Americans defenseman and fed Brendon Hodge all alone in the slot, scoring on the first Texas shot of the game.
 
Texas had their best chance of the period to knot the score on a pair of back-to-back minor penalties assessed to the Americans, but were unable to capitalize. The score remained unchanged at period’s end, with the Americans going 1-1 on the power play and Texas 0-2 while shots on goals were even at eight apiece.
 
In the second period, it was all Brahmas as they kept the Americans at bay for the entire 20 minutes, only allowing 4 shots on goal by Allen while getting 13 shots on net themselves, potting two of them to come from behind and take the 3-2 lead by periods end.
 
The Brahmas scored their second unanswered goal to tie the game at 2-2 when Ross Rouleau lit the lamp at 8:23 off assists from Sy Nutkevitch and Andrew Lackner. Then, the Brahmas took the lead for the first time on a short-handed goal by T.J. Fox at 10:19, assisted by Gregg Eskedjian. At the end of the second period, the Brahmas held the 21-12 shots on goal lead.
 
Early in the third period, the Americans once again found themselves on the penalty kill and Texas didn’t waste this chance. Jim Burichin netted the first shot on goal for the Brahmas in the period at 2:01 to extend the Brahmas lead by two goals at 4-2, unassisted. With that goal it was Allen’s turn to replace their starting netminder as Marco Cousineau replaced Rejean Beauchemin in net for the Americans.
 
The Americans mounted a comeback of their own nearly seven minutes later, scoring two back to back goals 21 seconds apart. First it was Jason Deitsch, firing a shot top shelf past Fogal, assisted by Jake Newton and Jarret Lukin at 8:55. Then it was Brett Clouthier netting the tying goal at 9:16 off assists from Mark Nebus and Brian McMillin.
 
Texas answered right back at 12:43 when T.J. Fox scored his second goal of the game, assisted by Sy Nutkevitch and Chad Woollard. Several penalties were called and the Americans found themselves having to make a big penalty kill late in the game in yet another five-on-three situation in the series. The Americans penalty kill was up to the task and kept the Brahmas to only one shot on goal with the two man advantage.
 
Marco Cousineau was pulled for the extra attacker with over a minute to play but the Americans were unable to net the tying goal, giving the Brahmas the 2-1 series lead with the 5-4 victory. Allen outshot the Brahmas 13-11 in the period for a three period total of 32-26 in favor of Texas.
 
Game Four of the best-of-seven series is set for Friday night at the NYTEX Sports Centre with the opening puck drop scheduled for 7:30 pm CST.
 
Contact the writer at maurice.fitzgerald@prohockeynews.com