Allen uses physical a game to win first ever Playoff Game & Tie Series

From the Allen Americans Website: www.allenamericans.com

The Allen Americans played a physical game to beat Laredo 3-2 and earn their first franchise playoff win. The Conference Semifinals series of the 2010 Ray Miron President's Cup Playoffs is tied at 1-1.

Laredo jumped out to an early lead after Todd Griffith backhanded a shot into the cage less then three minutes into the game. The Americans had the score tied up at 10:10, but the referee waived off the goal due to an interference penalty by Allen's Captain, Jerry Lukin. The Americans fought off 4 Laredo Power Plays in the 1st period and Allen had the extra-man advantage twice. There were 16 combined penalty minutes in the opening frame, which is the same amount that was called in last night's contest. Allen went into the first intermission 1-0.

The Americans came out strong in the 2nd period, scoring three straight goals to take a 3-1 lead. Just 1:16 into the frame, Colton Yellow Horn made the Bucks pay after they could not clear the traffic in front of the net. Yellow Horn's tally was the first career playoff goal. Then, forward Nino Musitelli skated into the Bucks zone and went top shelf to give Allen's its first lead of the night four minutes later. The goal was Musitelli's first career playoff goal as well. With 7:38 remaining in the middle frame, Musiteelli's first career playoff goal as well. With 7:38 remaining in the middle frame, Musitelli's poked a rebound around Buck Pier-Olivier's pad on the power play to gave Allen a two goal cushion.

Laredo staged a comeback in the third but could not find the firepower to get past Chris Whitley more then once. Ryan Lehr brought Laredo within one at 5:48. The Bucks put on the extra attacker with 1:12 remaining in the game as the crowd rose to their feet cheering them on its home team. The final score was 3-2.

Whitley recorded his first career playoff win, stopping 30 shots this evening. Pelletier made 21 shots. The teams combined for 64 career penalty minutes in the game, and Allen stopped all nine Laredo Power Plays.

Allen Continues its best-of-7 series in Laredo on March 30, April 1 and April 3. If the series is forced to six games, Allen will host Laredo April 6 at 7:30 PM.

Series Tied at 1-1


Game Boxscore

Laredo Bucks 2 Allen Americans 3 (1-0, 0-3, 1-0)

1-0 LAR: Todd Griffith (Looby, Agarunov) 2:36 1st

1-1 ALN: Colton Yellow Horn (Graham, Musiteli) 1:16 2nd

1-2 ALN: Nino Musiteli (Graham, Bowers) 5:13 2nd

1-3 ALN: Nino Musiteli (PP) (Fairbarn, Bowers) 12:22 2nd

2-3 LAR: Neil Trimm (Lehr, Griffith) 5:48 3rd


Game Stats

SOG: LAR 32 ALN 24

PP: LAR 0/9 ALN 1/5

PIM: LAR 32 Minutes on 12 Penalties ALN 32 Minutes on 16 Penalties

Goalies: LAR Pier-Olivier Pelletier 21 SVS on 24 Shots ALN Chris Whitley 30 SVS on 32 Shots

ATT: 3377

3rd Star: Chris Whitley (ALN)

2nd Star: Todd Griffith (LAR)

1st Star: Nino Musitelli (ALN)