WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah – Riley Gill was perfect, and Joel Chouinard netted two goals as the Allen Americans claimed a 4-0 series-clinching win over the host Utah Grizzlies in front of 4,070 fans at Maverik Center on Saturday night.
Gill stopped all 30 Utah shots he faced, improving his playoff record to 3-1. Gill posted 116 saves on 125 shots faced in five games in the series.
It was all Americans in the first period, as Allen out-shot Utah 15-9 while taking a 2-0 lead after the first 20-minutes. Travis Brown put Allen on top early, netting his first playoff goal at 3:39 from Chad Costello and Spencer Asuchak. Chouinard then doubled the lead, scoring with just four seconds remaining with assists going to David Makowski and Greger Hanson.
Allen out-shot Utah 13-8 in a scoreless second period. The Americans would go on to add two more goals in the third period as they cruised to the win.
Wade MacLeod scored his third post-season goal at 6:42, on an assist from Tyler Barnes to make it 3-0. Six minutes later, Chouinard scored his second of the night, this one on the power play from Costello and Hanson to make it 4-0.
From there, Gill and crew would buckle down to secure the victory.
Allen was one-for-three on the man advantage, finishing the series at six-for-20. The only game in which Allen did not score a power play goal was the one loss they suffered in the series.
Allen’s quest for a third-straight Kelly Cup will continue, as they prepare to take on the Colorado Eagles in the Western Conference semi-finals. Colorado defeated Idaho 6-3 on Saturday night in Boise to clinch their date with Allen.
Dates for the best-of-seven series have not yet been announced.
Contact the writer: John.Hall@prohockeynews.com
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