The script for the victory was a familiar one as Allen used excellent goaltending and special teams superiority to win the game. Allen was 2-4 on the power play and finished the series 9-24 (37.5%). They held Quad City scoreless on their five power play opportunities in the game. The Mallards finished the series 2-27 (7.4%).
Allen's two power play goals were scored by Zion in the first period and Asuchak in the third period. The only goal in the second period was a great individual effort by Jonathan Lessard who stole the puck at the blueline and skated in all alone for an unassisted goal.
STEVE MARTINSON POST GAME COMMENTS:
- It was really tough losing game five in Quad City as we out played them but they pulled the goalie and scored. I am a big believer in percentages so I didn't think they would be able to score an extra attacker goal tonight but I was certainly nervous in that last ten seconds when they had so much time with the puck on the wall. Luckily they were not able to find anyone. The win will make for a good bus ride to Denver.
- The power play was good again tonight as we got two power play goals. It was tough giving up that goal in the third period right after Asuchak put us ahead 3-1 with his power play goal. What happened is we over back checked, we worked to hard and came to low and the puck went out to the point and it cost us.
- I think the guys feel real good about themselves being down three games to two, having some adversity and coming back and winning two games at home. I know I feel good about the way they performed.
- We will have the day off tomorrow (Thursday) and get back up on the horse on Friday night.
- We have everyone available at this point. Hendrikx was sick but he is available. Kerbashian is also available and he will probably be in the line up on Friday. The problem Kerby has had is he missed three weeks with an upper body injury and then he broke his finger so he hasn't practiced much or skated a lot over the last two months.
- Garrett Klotz will be the player sitting out on injured reserve for the final series.
- We were confident of our ability during this series. The best team does not always win the best of five series but almost always the better team wins a best of seven. That's why the NHL plays best of seven.
- Quad City is a hard working team and when you combine that with a hot goaltender like Heemskerk they are really tough to beat. You have to give them a lot of credit.
- Part of the reason we are going to Denver tonight is to get in the high altitude so we can become accustom to breathing that thinner air. There is a difference when playing in Denver. There will be shorter shifts.
- Our special teams have been good the last part of the season and during the playoffs and that will have to continue against Denver.
- I am in the process of signing an emergency back up goalie for the finals.
- I am confident about our team going into the finals and I don't mind opening up on the road and then getting three games at home. We have been a pretty good road team all year.
TERRY RUSKOWSKI POST GAME COMMENTS:
"I didn't know what to say to them (after the loss)," coach Terry Ruskowski said. "I told them it was a tough loss and it was good season but I think we could have done better than what we did, and then I walked out. There wasn't much to say."
"People can say it's a small victory but I still say it's a void in my hockey life that I need to fill."
"It was the seventh game and we took stupid penalties and it cost us," Ruskowski said.
"We just don't have that go-to guy, when the chips are down that we can put him out there and he can create a chance to score," Ruskowski said. "That's what we're missing and this summer I'm going to see if I can get one or two guys who are capable of scoring."
"When we work hard, we're tough to beat," Ruskowski said. "When we don't work hard, we're not tough to beat. Everybody has to get in and grab the rope and pull."
OTHER COMMENTS:
Here is the CHL news release on the finals including dates and times;
The 2014 CHL Ray Miron Presidents’ Cup Finals is set with the Denver Cutthroats and the Allen Americans facing off in a best-of-7 series that gets underway on Friday, May 2 at the Denver Coliseum. The Cutthroats earn home ice in the series thanks to finishing second in the regular standings with a 38-17-11 record (87 points) while the Americans finished third with a 39-22-5 record (83 points). Denver will host Game’s 1 and 2 as well as Game’s 6 and 7 (if necessary), while the Americans will host Game’s 3, 4 and 5 (if necessary). The series will be a 2-3-2 format. The teams met seven times in the regular season with Denver winning the season series with a 4-2-1 record including winning both games at the Denver Coliseum. Allen went 3-2-2 during the series with a 3-1-1 mark at the Allen Event Center. Three of the seven meetings were decided in overtime/shootouts with Denver winning two of those and Allen winning once. Four of the seven contests were decided by one goal. In the all-time series, the teams have split wins in 10 contests and this marks the second straight season the clubs have met in the post-season with Allen winning in the Opening Round last year by a four games to one count. The trip to the Finals is the first in the brief history of the Cutthroats who are playing just their second season. Allen has been to two previous Finals winning last season and falling to Rapid City in 2010. Denver made it to the Finals with a 4-2 series win over Tulsa in the Opening Round and a 4-1 series win over Arizona in the Conference Finals. Allen’s path went through the Brampton Beast in the Opening Round (4-1) and the Quad City Mallards (4-3) in the Conference Finals.
Conference Finals (best-of-7)
Denver Cutthroats (2) vs. Allen Americans (3)
Game 1 – Fri., May 2 – Allen at Denver, 7:00
Game 2 – Sat., May 3 – Allen at Denver, 6:00
Game 3 – Wed., May 7 – Denver at Allen, 7:05
Game 4 – Fri., May 9 – Denver at Allen, 7:05
*Game 5 – Sat., May 10 – Denver at Allen, 7:05
*Game 6 – Fri., May 16 – Allen at Denver, 7:00
*Game 7 – Sat., May 17 – Allen at Denver, 6:00
*if necessary
all times local
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| Courtesy CHL Memes |
DID YOU KNOW: Since the Central Hockey League was formed in 1992 only two teams have won back to back championships. The Wichita Thunder in 1994 & 1995 and the Mississippi River Kings in 2002 & 2003.
I read the comments made by the QC coach on another site. He seems like a hot-head based on the times I have sat behind their bench this season. I think his comments to the team were akin to the phrase "kick them while they're down!" They forced the defending champs to a game 7 and gave us a run for our money in the last game. I think he was really harsh in his comments. I can imagine his disappointment but gee! Am I wrong to think Marty would not be like that?
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