Americans’ Power Play Stings Killer Bees in 4-1 Victory.
Allen Americans goaltender Chris Whitley made 26 saves on 27 shots, on route to leading his team to a 4-1 victory over the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees on Saturday night. (Photo Credit: John O'Neill)
One night after a physical, hard-fought win against the Mississippi RiverKings, the Allen Americans hosted the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees for a Saturday night bout. The Americans are fighting several injuries to key players from the past week, and came into the game against the Bees with a short bench. Thanks to a couple of early goals on the power play early in the 2nd period, and strong play in net once again, the short-handed Americans skated away with the win, 4-1.
After two penalties at the end of the 1st period by the Bees, the Americans started the 2nd period up 1-0, and on their second 5-on-3 advantage. Unable to cash in on their first opportunity, Allen really pushed offensively to start the frame. They were rewarded a minute and a half into the period, as Nino Musitelli grabbed a rebound from Franck’s pads and buried it high in the net.
Still with a one-man advantage, the Americans struck again just 19 seconds later. Ryan Fairbarn got the puck from Jarret Lukin, and pounded a slapshot from along the boards. Bruce Graham re-directed the shot, beating Franck low, and gave Allen a 3-0 lead.
“I think the power play situation at the beginning of the second period really gave us a lot of confidence,” said Americans head coach Dwight Mullins. ”I liked the tone and the tempo, especially after the way last night’s game played itself out. I think that start in the second period gave us a bit of energy and kind of carried us through.”
“I thought we executed the way we wanted to tonight,” Mullins continued. ”We kept the tempo high, we kept the puck deep, and that allowed the opportunities we had offensively and also kept it off of their sticks.”
A minute after the powerplay goals, this time at even-strength, Colton Yellow Horn poked another rebounding puck past Franck, putting the Americans up 4-0.
Rio Grande finally got on the board with about six minutes to play in the 2nd period. But, the tally ultimately unfolded through a series of events.
Rio Grande cleared the puck out of their zone and it trickled into the Americans’ end of the ice. Whitley made the decision to go out and play the puck up to his teammates, and then saw a couple of Rio Grande players advancing into the zone. He hesitated slightly before going on to play the puck, which caused him to have to make a diving poke check in order to keep it out of the Bees’ possession. In the play, Whitley lost his stick, and skated back to his crease without it. He eventually retrieved it with some help from a defenseman, but he was clearly still getting settled in net when Rio Grande made another push into Allen’s zone.
Sean Muncy made a great solo play with the puck, spinning and firing it on net. The puck beat Whitley cleanly, and the Killer Bees were on the board, trailing 4-1. Although the goal was certainly a fine one by Muncy, Whitley was obviously not happy with allowing it.
“I was kind of lost in the net a little bit,” Whitley said about the after-math of the play. ”I was sitting on the goal line, and (Muncy) snuck one through my arm, which is one of those ones you definitely want to have back. I don’t think it was a great goal. But I think one goal on 27 shots is pretty good. I’d rather take the win than worry about a goal.”
In the third period, the two teams held one another off the scoreboard completely. Franck stopped seven shots, while Whitley came up with 8 saves. The win gave Whitley a league-leading 23rd victory, and helped keep Allen in solid possession of second place in the Southern Conference.
The Americans will take to the ice again on Thursday, when they host the Tulsa Oilers at the Allen Event Center.