Four-goal second period pushes Allen past Tulsa, 6-2

ALLEN, Texas – The Allen Americans and Tulsa Oilers kicked off the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs Tuesday night at the Allen Event Center with the first game of their best-of-seven Central Division Semi-Finals series in front of 4,012 fans eager for some playoff hockey.

The Americans opened the scoring at 6:11 of the first period when Vincent Arseneau scored his first goal of the playoffs, assisted by Spencer Asuchak and Kevin Young. The Oilers battled back, converting on a turnover when T.J. Caig lit the lamp for his first playoff goal seven minutes later off a pass from Stephen Perfetto at the 13:12 mark. Allen doubled the Oilers 14-7 in shots, keeping Tulsa netminder Kevin Carr busy in his crease.

Near the five minute mark of the middle frame, Perfetto and Caig’s combined passing led to the first Oilers lead of the series when Jon Booras knocked in a rebound past Riley Gill in the Americans net to go up 2-1.

Allen answered back immediately and repeatedly through the balance of the period, scoring four unanswered goals to take a commanding 5-1 lead into the second intermission. Chris Crane knocked in the evener at 5:53, assisted by Konrad Abeltshauser and Gary Steffes. Less than four minutes later, the Americans re-took the lead on their first power play goal of the post-season when Asuchak hit the back of the net, assisted by Chad Costello and Abeltshauser at 9:23.

The momentum clearly swung Allen’s way as they continued to extend their lead when Costello ripped one in from the right circle at 14:25 with Patrik Valcak and Trevor Ludwig earning the assists. Then it was Asuchak with his second tally of the night at 15:41 with Arseneau earning the lone assist on the goal. The Americans continued to outshoot the Oilers by a count of 16-9 through the frame, with a two period total of 30-16.

A very late penalty cost the Oilers again as Allen capitalized for the second time with the man advantage, this time Steffes slid one past Carr, assisted by Justin Baker and Asuchak at 19:27. The Americans again held the edge in shots at 11-5 for a three-period total of 41-21.

The Americans should be pleased to see their scoring spread around through four different players and multiple-point nights from Asuchak, Steffes, Costello, Arseneau and Abeltshauser. After a slow start to the game, Allen finally found their rhythm in the second period and let their high-scoring offense unleash a flurry of shots on the Tulsa net.