Allen, Texas – The Allen Americans defeated the Utah Grizzlies by a score of 4-3 on Wednesday night at Allen Event Center to take a 1-0 best of seven series lead.
Utah scored three unanswered goals after the Americans cashed in early in the first period to take a 1-0 lead on a goal from former Grizzlies forward Bryan Moore. Erik Higby scored back to back goals in the first period, and then C.J. Eick netted his first of the playoffs on an odd man rush following up a Jon Puscar rebound in front of Jamie Murray to make it 3-1, Utah. Murray replaced Riley Gill with four and a half minutes left in the first period, after Gill took a puck to the throat. He will have an MRI tomorrow.
Tyler Barnes made it 3-2 before the period ended and the Americans were down a goal after two periods of play.
Wade MacLeod tied the game for Allen at the 7:28 mark of the third period, firing home a shot from between the circles for his first goal of the playoffs. The game remained tied until Allen picked up a power play goal with just over four minutes remaining. Chad Costello found Joel Chouinard streaking in on the right side of the net, and Chouinard buried the puck into the open net to give the Americans a 4-3 lead with their first power play goal of the game. Allen would hold on for the win in the final minutes to take Game 1 and grab a 1-0 series lead.
“We never quit,” said Americans Goalie Jamie Murray, who played 44 of the 60 minutes on Wednesday night. “Our guys felt like if we continued to work hard we would eventually be rewarded and sure enough they take a penalty late and we made them pay.”
Allen outshot Utah by one in the contest, 25-24. The Americans went 1 for 5 on the power play, while Utah went 0 for 4. Only 32 total penalty minutes in the game, despite things getting a little rough in the final period. Game two is set for Friday night at Allen Event Center at 7:05 PM.
With Allen Americans release
Contact the photographer: Dianne.Webster@prohockeynews.com
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