Americans Special Teams Lead the Way in 4-2 Win
April 23, 2014 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Allen Americans News Release
Moline, Illinois - The Allen Americans jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead and never looked back in a 4-2 win over the Quad City Mallards on Wednesday night at the I-Wireless Center. Allen now leads the best of seven series 2-1.
"All three lines are creating scoring chances," said Allen Americans Head Coach Steve Martinson. "Pitton has been outstanding and the defense has limited Quad's quality scoring chances."
Allen got on the board first, on the power play, when Bruce Graham netted his 5thgoal of the playoffs at15:38, assisted by Jonathon Zion and Anthony Maiani. The Americans extended their lead with a short-handed goal by Jonathan Lessard, his 2 nd goal of the playoffs, assisted by Tyler Ludwig at the18:35mark.Allen held the edge in shots13-10and going 1 for 1 on the power play while holding Quad City at bay 0 for 4 with the man advantage at the first intermission.
A tightly contested second period was scoreless for both clubs with Quad City edging Allen in shots on goal by a count of 10-8, but trailing Allen 21-20 in shots and 2-0 on the scoreboard. Quad City was held to 0 for 1 in the lone penalty called for the period, going 0 for 5 on the power play after two periods of play, while Allen was 1 for 1.
Quad City finally got on the board and cut the Americans lead in half at the 8:40mark of the third period on a goal by Jordan Mayer, assisted by Michael Monfredo and Thomas Frazee.
Allen regained their 3-1 lead on a goal by Jamie Schaafsma, who knocked in a rebound of a Bruce Graham breakaway shotat 14:12. The goal was Schaafsma's 4 th of the post season for the Americans.
The Mallards answered back three minutes later when Matt Boyd knocked in a loose puck over Bryan Pitton in the Americans net, to cut the Allen lead to 3-2. Michael Monfredo and Nicholas Rioux were credited with the assists on the Boyd marker.
Allen was able to cement the lead and the victory with a nifty center-ice goal by Greger Hanson, who fielded a pop up from Tyler Ludwig with his glove, dropped it to the ice and spun while shooting it right into the empty Mallards net to give Allen the 4-2 victory and the 2-1 series lead. Quad City outshot Allen in the final frame by a 15-13 count and took the three period shot total 35-34, but couldn't put more than 2 shots past Bryan Pitton in the Americans net.
The Americans and Mallards continue their serieson Friday evening,when they face off in game four at the I-Wireless Center witha 7:05PMscheduled puck drop.
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Central Hockey League Stories from April 23, 2014
- Kent Patterson Stops 54 Shots on Goal for Victory - Denver Cutthroats
- Americans Special Teams Lead the Way in 4-2 Win - Allen Americans
- Americans Down Mallards in Game Three, Take Series Lead - Quad City Mallards
- Americans Look To Reclaim Home Ice Tonight In The Quad Cities - Allen Americans
- Cutthroats Edge Past Sundogs in Overtime - Arizona Sundogs
- Cutthroats Come Back for Victory - Denver Cutthroats
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