Game Recap & AHL Player With Americans Ties Hurt 2/17/13

The Americans lose to the Wichita Thunder tonight 4-1 before a huge crowd (8829) at Intrust Arena in Wichita. Penalties caught up with the team as the Thunder scored three power play goals  in the third period to put what was a close game out of reach. Special teams proved to be the difference in the game as Allen was 0-5 on the power play while Wichita was 3-10.

Penalties have been problem over the last three games even in the victories as the Americans are 1 for 10 while their opponents are 5 for 23. It is easy to blame the referees for bad calls but there have been three different refs in the last three games. Maybe it is time to emphasize the value of staying out of the sin bin again, especially at crucial times in the game. 23 power plays to 10 over a three game period is hard to overcome.

- Congrats to Alex Penner on his first goal of the season

- Mike Berube did not play in the game because of some unspecified injury  but according to Tommy Daniels on the radio broadcast he will be ready to go for the rematch with Wichita on Tuesday.

- It sure was a surprise to hear the Allen Americans mentioned as the CHL leaders on the national NHL television broadcast this afternoon during the Chicago vs Los Angeles game. SWEET!!

- Sounded like a scary moment this afternoon in the AHL game between the  Springfield Falcons  and Adirondack Phantoms as Springfield forward Wade MacLeod collapsed to the ice after initially getting up and skating toward the bench after being boarded. MacLeod did not immediately fall to the ice after the hit, which earned Brandon Manning a two-minute boarding penalty. He skated toward the Springfield bench and  collapsed to the ice and started convulsing, prompting trainers from the Falcons and Phantoms to come to his aid. This happened with 3:42 left in the second period. He was taken to a Springfield hospital, where the American Hockey League team said he was stable and alert.
The coaching staffs and players immediately agreed to stop playing. Adirondack was up 2-1 at the time. MacLeod was a teammate of Drew Daniels at Northeastern University and Jim MacKenzie at Evansville.