The good news is Allen beat Rapid City 4-3 in overtime last night to even the series 1-1 and will head home for the next three games (Tuesday, Friday, Saturday). The bad news is the Americans played the ugliest game in their ECHL playoff history. Luke Peressini faced a record 63 shots and made 60 saves to steal a win for Allen. To quote Rapid City coach Scott Burt after the game, "Their goalie played well, hats off to him. He was excellent tonight. We had some grade-A opportunities and he stood on his head." Burt went on to say, "You can't allow that team, which has that much experience, to hang around. We did, and we didn't capitalize when we needed to capitalize."
- Allen got off to a good start, when Colby McAuley scored the first goal of the game on the Americans first shot of the game at the 2:56 mark of the opening period. Rapid City responded less than two minutes later to tie the score on the only power play goal of the game. The first period ended in a 1-1 tie, but the score was not indicative of the one-sided nature of the period. The Rush outshot Allen 20-7, aided by three power plays.
- There was no scoring in the second period despite Rapid City having another 20+ shot period. The final tally was 24-11 for a two period total of 44-18. Thanks to goalie Luke Peressini, whose save percentage over the first two periods was .977, the Americans started the third period with a chance to win the game. Allen took a 2-1 lead early in the period (6:14) on Chad Costello's second goal in as many games. Rapid City then scored two unanswered goals (8:50 & 12:18) to take a 3-2 lead and it looked like Peressini's heroic effort might go to waste. As Luke was headed to the bench for an extra attacker, Branden Troock blasted a one timer past the Rush goalie from the right circle. There were two minutes and two seconds remaining in the game when Troock scored the tying goal.
- Allen had renewed energy in the overtime period. The Americans outshot the Rush 8-6 in overtime and Allen had to kill a penalty. Ben Carroll scored the game winner 13:24 into the extra period on a wrist shot from the slot.
- The game winning goal was full of irony at so many levels, with the young players delivering:
- The goal came off a neutral ice turnover by Rapid City, something that has been an Achilles heel for Allen this season.
- Rookie Justin Young made a great play to create the turnover despite being tripped.
- Jackson Leppard beat two Rush players on the side boards to make a cross ice pass to Chad Butcher.
- Chad Butcher, who could have shot, saw defenseman Ben Carroll driving toward the net an gave him a perfect little touch pass.
- Ben Carroll shot the puck right in stride from the high slot just outside the right circle to score the game winning goal. It was Ben's first playoff goal and just his third goal of the season.
- Justin Young, who started the play, hustled to net front and stood right in front of the goalie on Carroll's goal. Young doesn't show up in the box score, but he was critical to the start and the end of the game winning goal.
- Here are the video highlights: https://youtu.be/RVPz0_9LnB0
- Game recap from the Allen Americans: https://allenamericans.com/media/americans-beat-rapid-city-in-overtime-to-even-the-series/
- Here is the game recap from the Rapid City Journal. If you didn't watch or listen to the game this is an excellent play by play, goal by goal description of the game with stats and quotes: https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/rush-s-63-shots-not-enough-as-americans-win-in-ot-tie-series-1-1/article_17d848a2-e7c4-5987-9022-b6b318e260d0.html#tracking-source=home-top-story
- How amazing was Luke Peressini's 63 shot and 60 save performance last night? It was one for the ages. Allen has played in 76 playoff games over six seasons since joining the ECHL in 2014. Here is the highest single game save total in each of Allen's playoff seasons:
- 63 saves - Luke Peressini (2022)
- 40 saves - Jake Paterson (2021)
- 40 saves - Jake Patterson (2018)
- 35 saves - Riley Gill (2017)
- 44 saves - Jake Hildebrand (2016)
- 44 saves - Riley Gill (2015)
- Part of the reason Allen allowed 63 shots was because the Americans took too many penalties. Rapid City had eight power plays (one in OT) compared to three for Allen. Allen was 0-3 while Rapid City was 1-8.
COACH'S CORNER WITH STEVE MARTINSON
"The positives from the games is we found a way to win and we played better in the third period and especially in the overtime."
"Our penalty helped kill kept us in the game, but it was Peressini's performance that really kept us in the game until we got going in overtime. Luke has been our best and most consistent player for over a month."
"We continue to turn the puck over trying to make low percentage plays."
"We have to put in the work in their end of the ice, pressuring the puck and being in the right position to deal with passes."
"I thought we played better in the game on Friday night than we did last night."
"We were able to leave Rapid City at around 11:00 pm last night. The roads were open and the driver was okay with leaving. The players wanted to leave so we headed out. It was a little spotty the first three hours or so, but then it was fine. Instead of staying overnight in Rapid City we will now get home late Sunday afternoon."
"We will have a light practice on Monday."
OTHER COMMENTS
- It was a good night for the lower seeded road teams as they had a record of 5-1 last night. Newfoundland was the only home team to win beating Trois-Riviéres 6-2. All 16 teams have now played two games with four holding 2-0 leads. Newfoundland and Reading in the North Division, Jacksonville in the South Division and Wheeling in the Central Division. All four playoff teams in the Mountain Division are 1-1.
- All ECHL playoff series now move to the window prescribed for playing games 3-5. This set of games must be completed by Saturday (4/30). There will be games everyday this week. Here is the list:
- Monday
- Toledo at Cincinnati
- Tuesday
- Newfoundland at Trois-Riviéres
- Utah at Tulsa
- Rapid City at Allen
- Wednesday
- Atlanta at Jacksonville
- Florida at Greenville
- Fort Wayne at Wheeling
- Toledo at Cincinnati
- Utah at Tulsa
- Thursday
- Reading at Maine
- Newfoundland at Trois-Riviéres
- Atlanta at Jacksonville
- Toledo at Cincinnati
- Utah at Tulsa
- Friday
- Florida at Greenville
- Fort Wayne at Wheeling
- Reading at Maine
- Rapid City at Allen
- Saturday
- Reading at Maine
- Newfoundland at Trois-Riviéres
- Florida at Greenville
- Fort Wayne at Wheeling
- Cincinnati at Toledo
- Rapid City at Allen
- Chad Costello seems to set to some type all time Allen record every time he scores. His two points (both goals) in Rapid City has vaulted Chad past Greger Hanson for the most all time playoff points in franchise history. Chad now has 78 playoff points in 62 playoff games, surpassing Greger Hanson who had 77 playoff points. Hanson is still #1 in playoff goals with 37, followed by #2 Gary Steffes (29) and #3 Spencer Asuchak (27).
- With the win last night, Steve Martinson moved into a tie for second place in the most ECHL playoff wins all time. His next playoff win will tie him for #1 all time. Here are the four ECHL coaches with 50+ playoff wins:
- 54 - John Brophy, Hampton Roads
- 53 - Steve Martinson, Allen, Elmira, San Diego
- 53 - Matt Thomas, Cincinnati, Stockton, Fresno, Atlantic City
- 50 - David Payne, Alaska, Pee Dee
DID YOU KNOW: Sure it is only two playoffs games for each team, but check out these stats:
"Our penalty helped kill kept us in the game". Well, stop making so many penalties. Felt like the whole was was played in PK. Same players over and over. Still need forwards to play defense. Glad for the win. Glad they get home Sunday.
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