LAREDO, Texas – After a contentious finish Saturday night where an additional seven penalties were handed out after the buzzer, the Laredo Bucks played host to the Allen Americans in Game Three of their Southern Conference semi-final series.
The start of the game was slightly tepid as both teams refrained from big physical play in the opening minutes, but that would eventually change. Laredo out shot the Americans 5-2 in the first three minutes of the game when Allen found a chance to create some offense of their own.
A Hooking call on Paul Elliot at the 3:20 mark gave the American’s’ special teams their first power play. They managed to get a pair of shots on net, but both were turned away by goaltender Pier-Olivier Pelletier.
Ryan Fairbarn
Laredo had their best offensive opportunity of the period with only 49 seconds remaining when Darryl Smith sped past the Americans defense to recover a dump-in and go in alone on Whitley. Whitley stood his ground though and turned the shot away into the corner with the blocker and the Americans took the 2-0 lead into the first intermission.
The physical play picked up considerably in the middle frame as both teams started to throw their weight around and sling pucks at the net in earnest early on. The Bucks set up shop in front of the Americans net at one point and fired off three consecutive shots uncontested at Chris Whitley. The last one proved to be too much. A nice backhander by Todd Griffith found the back of the Americans net, cutting the Allen lead to one at the 6:53 mark.
The second of three red light mishaps took place a couple of minutes later (an errant red light went off on an Americans shot earlier in the first period that was also washed out and again in the third for the Bucks with the same washout result) as the puck ended up on the outside of the net but the goal judge somehow misread it and lit the lamp, sending a roar of joy through the crowd. The referee dampened the mood when he immediately waved off the goal and the ice became littered with debris in response. The game was paused for a few minutes as the ice was cleared.
The Bucks, feeling a resurgence of energy from Griffith’s goal and backed by the boisterous crowd, continued to pick up the physical play. The Americans answered with equal fervor and tempers began to flare. The amount of post-whistle shoving and jawing continued to increase until Mike Salekin and Todd Griffith decided to trade blows, earning both a five-minute mini-vacation in the sin bin.
The fight seemed to cool tempers on both sides as the intensity level dropped but the offensive chances continued. Pelletier and Whitley were kept busy but both stood their ground, allowing no rubber to get past them.
In the final minute of play of the period, Americans Captain Jarret Lukin came down the left wing side and slid a perfect pass across the slot to a flying Eric Adams who sent the puck past Pelletier to give the Americans the two-goal lead again with just 36 seconds left.
Nino Musitelli
With only 42 seconds remaining, the Bucks were able to sidestep the persistent pressure of the Americans and pull Pelletier for the extra attacker but it would be for naught. Ten seconds later, Nino Musitelli picked up the puck at center and fed Justin Bowers inside the zone who flipped an easy backhand into the net to cement the Americans victory at 4-1.
The Americans looked much improved from Friday night, continually smothering the Laredo offense and forcing them to take low percentage shots. Chris Whitley stood tall in net after a shaky start in Game One and Allen’s penalty kill continued to be perfect, stopping another four Laredo power plays tonight.
The two teams meet again in Game Four, Thursday night in Laredo. Contact the author at maurice.fitzgerald@prohockeynews.com
Contact the photographer at chip.crail@prohockeynews.com
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