Allen Americans forward Colton Yellow Horn takes a shot on net during Friday's game against the Odessa Jackalopes. The Jackalopes won the game, 3-2, in overtime. (Photo Credit: John O'Neill)
When a team pulls their goalie to get the man-advantage in the final minute or two of a game, it’s usually a last-ditch effort. But, when nothing else is working, it bears out statistically as a prudent move.
Odessa Jackalopes head coach Paul Gillis made the decision to do just that Friday night, with his team down 2-1 to the Allen Americans at the Allen Event Center, and time running out. With just under a minute to go, Jackalopes forward Sebastien Thinel worked the puck from behind the net, and over to defenseman Alex Dunn. Dunn moved it on to forward Mike Ramsay, who put it past screened goaltender Chris Whitley to tie the game.
Dunn came through in overtime period as well. Jackalopes forward Brian Swiniarski forced a turnover in Allen’s zone, and fed Dunn at the point. His slapshot gave Odessa the 3-2 victory.
The game started off contentious and physical; big heavyweights from both teams – Allen’s Britt Dougherty and Odessa’s Garrett Gruenke added to their penalty minute totals for the year by squaring off at center ice. After circling one another, removing equipment, for what seemed like quite a while, they launched into the fighting, with both players landing solid punches. A few minutes later, Liam Huculak of the Americans and Michael Grenzy of the Jackalopes decided to drop gloves and chuck some knuckles. The tone was set early that this game was not going to be won easily by either team.
Odessa got the lone goal in the first period. With just over six minutes to go in the game, the puck was turned over in the Americans defensive end. Jeff Pierce jumped on the errant puck, and put it behind an unprepared Chris Whitley. Despite controlling the pace of the period, and out-shooting the Jackalopes 11-8, Odessa led in the first intermission, 1-0.
Allen came out in the second period and got the tying goal early. Just 3:59 into the second period, Justin Bowers fed Bruce Graham from behind the net, and Graham put it behind Jacks’ netminder Juha Toivonen.
Odessa really took control of the pace of the period from that point on, though. The Jackalopes hemmed the Americans into their own zone for much of the period, and forced several turnovers. The pressure resulted in 14 shots on goal by the Jacks in the second. But, Allen’s Whitley was open to the challenge, and turned away all shots he faced in the frame.
“They’re a good team and they’ve got a lot of offense; they shoot the puck a lot,” Whitley said. “That’s kind of what I got ready for. I made sure I was controlling the rebounds and hoped the team was going to eliminate (Odessa’s) good scoring chances. I weathered the storm there and made it through all right.”
“I thought he really did a great job under some adverse circumstances,” Mullins said of Whitley. “I think we took three or four penalties in a row and that doesn’t do great for your shot totals. I also thought that once we got out of that it took us a little while to get back at it. We got out of our rhythm.”
The Americans got the go-ahead goal in the third period, on a power play opportunity. Tyler Wooddisse scored on a longer-distance shot, and put the Americans up 2-1. That lead lasted until the final minute of the period, and Odessa pulled off the improbable comeback.
“They’re a really good team,” Mullins said, referring to the Jackalopes. “You have to respect a lot of different things. They have some good players and they execute really well. There’s certain games guys know what’s at stake, and I thought tonight was one of them. I thought the tempo, the pace and the competitiveness was as good as what I’ve seen all year.”
“We were very fortunate to be able to tie it up and get the win in overtime,” said Gillis. “But I thought both teams played well, and it was a well-played game.”
The two teams will face off again on Saturday night, with the venue changing to the Ector County Colosseum for the second game of the home-and-home.
Photos by: John O’Neill
