The Allen Americans are fighting to stay alive in the CHL Southern Conference semi-finals. Last night they lost 4-3 to the Odessa Jackalopes in overtime. The best-of-seven series is tied 3-3 with the deciding game Wednesday in Odessa. In case you didn’t know, the Americans are the Dallas Stars’ CHL affiliate and they play in the new Allen Event Center. If the Americans pull through tomorrow, they’ll face the Northern Conference Champions, which will be either the Rapid City Rush or the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs. Go, Americans. (Dumb name. Wish we had Mudbugs. Or Gamecocks. Or Something Clever.) Recap of last night’s game below.
The opening frame was relatively quiet with no goals and one penalty at 18:45 against the Americans. Chris Whitley started in net for Allen, while Joel Martin stood in between the pipes for the Jackalopes. Odessa’s captain Kory Karlander was out of the lineup serving a one-game suspension for his hit to Justin Bowers Saturday night.
After the Americans killed off the remaining 45 seconds on the first-period penalty in the second, Allen was called for another penalty. The Jackalopes took advantage of the power play, and Dominic Leveille scored the game’s first goal at 3:41. The Americans responded with two tallies from forwards Matt Radoslovich and Bruce Graham before the 10-minute mark to take a 2-1 lead. Odessa’s Sebastien Thinel knotted the game 2-2 on a breakaway with 4:40 remaining in the middle frame.
The top two teams in the Southern Conference played end-to-end hockey in the third period. Nino Musitelli lit the lamp with 4:58 remaining in the frame to give Allen the go-ahead goal, making the score 3-2. Odessa was not ready for its postseason to end, and Philippe Plante scored two minutes later to force the game into overtime.
Garrett Gruenke gave Odessa a 4-3 win on a one-timer at 6:53 of the first overtime period. Game Six marked the second time that a game was decided in extra periods in the Southern Conference Finals.
Whitley made 29 saves, while Martin stopped 31 shots. The Americans were zero-for-two on the power play, while the Jackalopes were one-for-four with the one-man advantage.
Game Seven will be Wednesday in Odessa at 7:05 p.m. The winner will play the Northern Conference Champions, which will be either the Rapid City Rush or the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs. Rapid City has a 3-2 lead.
The box score is available on Pointstreak.com: http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/boxscore.html?gameid=1254924
Southern Conference Finals
Allen Americans (2) vs. Odessa Jackalopes (1)
Game 1 — Fri., Apr. 9 — Allen 4 @ Odessa 3 (Allen leads 1-0)
Game 2 — Sat., Apr. 10 Â — Allen 2 @ Odessa 3 OT (Series tied 1-1)
Game 3 — Wed., Apr. 14 — Allen 5 vs. Odessa 2 (Allen leads 2-1)
Game 4 — Fri., Apr. 16 — Allen 6 vs. Odessa 4 (Allen leads 3-1)
Game 5 — Sat., Apr. 17 — Allen 3 vs. Odessa 6 (Allen leads 3-2)
Game 6 — Mon., Apr. 19 — Allen 3 @ Odessa 4 OT (Series tied 3-3)
Game 7 — Wed., Apr. 21 — Allen @ Odessa, 7:05
Playoff Tickets On Sale Now
Fans can purchase playoffs tickets now that start as low as $7. To order, call 972-912-1000 or 1-866-4-GET-TIX (1-866-443-8849), go to gettix.net or stop by the Allen Event Center Box Office. The Box Office is open from 10 a.m. — 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Fans interested in 10 tickets or more to any one game or tickets to multiple games are encouraged to speak with an Allen Americans representative regarding group discounts and savings off walk-up prices at 972.912.1000.
