Laredo D-Men spark 3rd period comeback against the Americans

From the Central Hockey League Website: www.centralhockeyleague.com

The Laredo Bucks beat the Allen Americans 4-3 Friday night in one of the Central Hockey League's Southern Conference Semifinals at the Allen Event Center. The Bucks lead the best of 7 series' one to nothing with game two on Saturday Night.

Laredo trailed 3-2 entering the third period but struck twice in the final frame to improve to 15-4 all-time in game one of a playoff series. Pier Pelletier stopped 33 of 36 shots he faced including all in the third period as he won his pro playoff debut. Going back to the regular season Pelletier is 10-0-2 in his last 12 games.

Neil Trimm gave Laredo a 4-3 lead with 10:50 left in the game when he scored on a slap shot from the top of the slot to pick up his first career CHL Playoff Goal.

Mike Looby scored his 2nd goal of the night just 2:46 into the third period to tie the contest at 3-3. Looby entered Friday's game with just one career CHL Playoff Goal. The Americans had an empty net for the final 1:09 of the game but could not tie it as Pelletier made several key stops to hang on for the win. Allen was 28-1 after two periods during the regular season.

Laredo would battle back and take a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes of play. Looby tied the game at 1-1 at the 9:32 mark of the first when he scored from the top of the right circle off of an Allen Turnover. The strike was Looby's second career CHL Playoff Goal.

The Bucks took a 2-1 lead with just 42.5 seconds left in the first period. Jarred Mohr picked up a loose puck in Allen's zone and found a wide-open Darryl Smith in front of the net who scored on a backhander. The Goal was Smith's sixth career CHL Playoff Goal.

Laredo was out shot 11-10 in the 1st period. Allen would strike twice in a span of one minute to take a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes.

Tobias Whelan tied the game at 2-2 at the 5:31 mark of the 2nd period on a broken power play in the Bucks Defensive zone. Just one minute later Eric Adams put the Americans up 3-2 when he jammed in a rebound into the back of the net after a breakaway attempt by Bryce Graham.

The Bucks out shot the Americans 13-9 in the 2nd period but were out shot in the game 36-32. Chris Whitley suffered the loss for Allen as he set aside 28 of 31 shots he faced. Jeff Bes picked up an assist in the game to score his 100th career CHL Point.

Laredo Bucks Lead Series 1-0

Laredo VS. Allen Boxscore

Laredo Bucks 4 Allen Americans 3 (2-1, 0-2, 2-0)

0-1 ALN: Liam Huculak (Radoslovich, Gaudet) 4:34 1st

1-1 LAR: Mike Looby (Deschatelets, Bes) 9:32 1st

2-1 LAR: Darryl Smith (Mohr) 19:17 1st

2-2 ALN: Tobias Whelan (Huculak, Fairbarn) 5:31 2nd

2-3 ALN: Erik Adams (Graham) 6:31 2nd

3-3 LAR: Mike Looby (Giosa, Billsten) 2:46 3rd

4-3 LAR: Neil Trimm (Griffith) 9:10 3rd


Game Stats

SOG: LAR 32 ALN 36

PP: LAR 0/3 ALN 0/5

PIM: LAR 10 Minutes on 5 Penalties ALN 6 Minutes on 3 Penalties

Goalies: LAR Pier-Olivier Pelletier 33 SVS on 36 Shots ALN Chris Whitley 28 SVS on 31 Shots

ATT: 2493

3rd Star: Tobias Whelan (ALN)

2nd Star: Mike Looby (LAR)

1st Star: Pier-Oiliver Pelletier (LAR)