Allen loses to Laredo, 4-3

ALLEN, Texas – The Allen Americans fell to the Laredo Bucks in Game Four of their best-of-seven Southern Conference semifinals series Thursday night in Laredo, 4-3. Fresh off their solid win Tuesday night, the Americans looked to take a commanding lead in the series but found Laredo a stubborn opponent, unwilling to comply.

From the drop of the puck Laredo played as if their playoff lives depended on it and immediately went on the attack, drawing a hooking minor against Americans defenseman Erik Adams just 36 seconds into the game. Their plans at jumping to an early lead were dashed however at the 1:05 mark, when Jarret Lukin screamed in from the left side and snapped a loose puck past Bucks goaltender Pier-Olivier Pelletier for a short-handed goal.  
The Bucks shrugged the misstep off and came back to bring the score level at the 3:19 mark when Brent Cullaton skated down into the left circle and fired a wrister that beat Allen’s Chris Whitley.
With good fore-check pressure in the Americans zone, the Bucks were able to create some opportunities and just three minutes later went ahead 2-1. Whitley was caught down on the ice after making a save when the rebound skittered to the left side of the low slot onto Todd Griffith’s stick who wasted no time roofing the shot over the prone Whitley.
Near the end of the first period, Americans forward Matt Radoslovich was sent off on a 5-minute major for boarding. Chasing the puck into the corner of Laredo’s zone, Radoslovich shoved Bucks defenseman Paul Elliot who went hard into the boards and down to the ice where he stayed for a few minutes before skating back to the bench. Laredo was unable to take advantage of the power play for the remainder of the period, but would start the second period with over three minutes remaining in the man advantage.
The Bucks wasted no time in pressing the advantage, scoring 1:20 into the middle frame. Evan Schwabe blasted a shot from the left wing boards which would have been just wide of the far post if not for the sudden appearance of Neil Trimm, who redirected the puck into the net. Laredo had a two goal cushion with two minutes yet to go in the major, but were unable to add another tally.
Feeling the game slipping away from them, the Americans brought the score to within one when Erik Adams rifled a shot past Pelletier less than four minutes later at the 4:57 mark.
Play continued back and forth through the period as both teams traded shots and a pair of penalties each when the Bucks were again able to capitalize on the power play. Todd Griffith picked up his second goal of the night at 16:21 to regain the Bucks two goal cushion on their second power play goal of the game and series.
Confident in their lead, the Bucks picked up the physical play in the final period while the Americans ignored taking the body in favor of putting shots on the net. The Americans pressed throughout the period, outshooting Laredo 14-6 but were held at bay by the strong goaltending of Pelletier. With 6:02 remaining in the game, Lukin sent a nifty feed through the slot to Colton Yellow Horn who buried a shot over the glove side of Pelletier.
Chris Whitley was pulled for the extra attacker with 1:39 remaining in the game but Allen was unable to find the equalizer. Pelletier came up with some key saves and the Bucks played disciplined defense, forcing the majority of the play along the sideboards in the closing seconds.
With the series now tied 2-2, Game Five is set for Saturday night in Laredo at 7:30pm. 
Contact the author at maurice.fitzgerald@prohockeynews.com
Contact the photographers at chip.crail@prohockeynews.com


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