Sunday, April 13, 2014

Lavoie Returns to Lineup, Berube Game Time Decision, CHL Upsets, McKenzie vs Preece Fight

While the Allen Americans had the day off on Saturday awaiting the second elimination game in their series with Brampton which will take place this afternoon (Sunday) at 3:00 pm Central/Allen time there was a lot of excitement in the other three CHL series which all played last night. Here is a quick recap.

#1 Missouri vs #8 Arizona:  Arizona defeated  Missouri 4-3 in double overtime in Game 5 of the best-of-7  series. The Sundogs now lead the Mavs 3-2 in the series with Game 6 slated for Tuesday in Missouri.  If a seventh game is required, the Mavericks would host the deciding contest next Wednesday. With Sebastien Thinel suspended and John-Scott Dickson and Tyler Currier out of the line-up, the Mavericks used one of their allotted two amateur spots in the post-season by signing Pete Massar (a forward from University of Vermont).  This would prove to be a key in the game for the Mavs as Massar scored two goals in the third period to tie the score and then give Missouri the lead 3-2. Arizona came back and tied the score with an extra attacker with 29 seconds left in the game to send it into overtime. It took over 30 minutes of overtime (30:32) before Arizona forward Johan Ryd scored the game winner.

#2 Denver vs #7 Tulsa: Talk about some stout goaltending and all you have to do is look at this game. Every opening the Tulsa Oilers had last night was slammed shut by Denver Cutthroats goaltender Kent Patterson.  Despite firing a season-high 52 shots on net, including outshooting Denver 21-5 in the third period, the Oilers were unable to solve Patterson and suffered a 1-0 loss in Game 5 of their first round playoff series.  The lone goal of the contest came from A.J. Gale just 2:45 into the first period. Denver holds a 3-2 series lead with Game 6 scheduled for Tuesday evening in Tulsa. If the series goes to a seventh game it will be back in Denver on Thursday. It shows what a fickle game hockey can be as Tulsa seemed to score at will on Friday night scoring six goals on thirty five shots and last night they couldn't buy a goal, getting shutout on fifty two shots. As Texas Ranger coach Ron Washington might say, "That's the way hockey go."

#4 Rapid City vs #5 Quad City: Quad City defeated  Rapid City 3-1 Saturday night to take a three games to two lead and move within one win of advancing to the CHL semi-finals.  The series will shift to Rapid City next Tuesday for game six.  If a seventh game is required, the Rush would host the deciding contest next Wednesday.  An interesting fight in this one, as the horn sounded to end the game, Jim McKenzie and Bobby Preece got into a fight at the blue line. McKenzie beat Preece to the ice, but not before Preece took McKenzie's helmet off and tried to punch him with it, instead hitting his back and shattering the helmet. Would expect to see Preece hit with a suspension on this one. If he had hit McKenzie in the head with the helmet, he could have done some serious damage. You can check it out with the link or go to YouTube and search Jim McKenzie V. Bob Preece. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UfOVkKco-0

- The Americans will have a second chance to close out this opening round playoff series this afternoon and should be refreshed and ready to go. They have had plenty of Tim Horton's coffee and doughnuts, maybe some home cooking for some, visits with family and friends, and a team dinner last night. They certainly don't want to head back to Allen, spending 26 hours on the bus having lost two games in a row to Brampton.

- Had a chance to check in with Steve Martinson and found out Alex Lavoie will play this afternoon and whether Mike Berube plays will be a game time decision.

- Probably sound like a broken record but Allen needs to win the special teams battle today and they will win the game. They have a much better power play and penalty kill than Brampton and they need to use that to their advantage. The special teams winner has won all four games in the series thus far.

- Even though they have played one less game Anthony Maiani and Greger Hanson still share the CHL playoff scoring lead (with five others) with seven points.

Courtesy CHL memes

Courtesy CHL Memes


DID YOU KNOW: Thirty seven year old Brampton forward Frank Littlejohn, who got the game misconduct slashing penalty on Friday night, played for Steve Martinson when he was coaching the Elmira Jackals (ECHL) in 2007-2008.

1 comment:

  1. All I can say today is "GO RED"! Hoping it is not a nail biter!

    ReplyDelete