It would seem that what the Allen Americans need in order to win at home is for Defending Big D to not pick the three stars of the game. In the two Friday night home games played so far this season at the Allen Event Center, they have lost both games I picked the three stars for. Luckily forward Nick Layton gave me a reason to name at least one of the Americans players as one of the three stars of the game, scoring both Americans goals for the evening and earning third star honors.
Allen has seem to have found their winning stride this past week, going 2-1-0 in the past week. After the jump, a look at all three of the games played lately and a look ahead to the road trip this weekend.
Allen Americans Lose Close One To Arizona Sundogs, 3-2
The Allen Americans started the scoring early last Friday, with Nick Layton taking a beautiful pass from Joshua Hepditch that caught the opposing goalie out of position where Layton had a wide open side of the net to pot the puck into. Following the goal, the Americans showcased a stronger defensive game in front of their net than earlier in the season. There were many blocked shots and shutting down passing lanes in the first, with Trevor Ludwig with possibly the biggest blocked shot of the game on what looked to be a for sure goal from Arizona. Through the second period, the teams had exchanged matching goals to go into the third frame of play tied. The Americans powerplay wasn’t clicking on Friday night, even though they had several opportunities to capitalize. Arizona eventually scored the game winner on a 3 point night from forwards Daymen Rycroft and Craig Macdonald.
Allen Americans Win a Thriller in OT, Beat Arizona Sundogs 6-5
Allen had six different players with multi-point games on their way to an overtime win against the Sundogs. That depth of scoring is a positive sign that Allen is starting to click and get some chemistry going. After two relatively defensive tight periods, tied at 1, both teams exploded in the third period with four goals apiece. Heading into overtime where both teams received a much deserved point in the standings, fan favorite Colton Yellow Horn scored his second of the night to win it for his team. As you can see in the picture above, he was pretty stoked about it.
Allen Americans Get Great Goaltending, Win Two In A Row By Beating Killer Bees 3-1
Brian Mahoney-Wilson had a very strong game, stopping 32 of the 33 shots he faced in goal. In front of Mahoney-Wilson, the forwards did their part by effectively shutting down much of the scoring chances by the Rio Grande team. Bruce Graham, one of the few returning veterans from last year’s Allen squad, had quite a strong night with two assists on the evening. Colton Yellow Horn also scored a goal, extending his point streak to 6 games. Yellow Horn currently has 8 points (4g, 4a) in 7 games played this year, making his point average at about 1 per game. Not too shabby from one of the speediest forwards in the CHL.
The Week Ahead
The Allen Americans (3-2-2, 8 points, 3rd in the Berry Conference) will take on the Laredo Bucks (3-4-0, 6 points, 4th in the Berry Conference) on a back-to-back this weekend. Continuing their south Texas roadswing, Allen will take on the Rio Grand Killer Bees (3-4-0, 6 points, 5th in the Berry Conference) again on Tuesday. Their is no love lost between those two teams, having some pretty decent playoff matchups last season, so it’s always an entertaining tilt between the two squads. With both teams below Allen in the standings, these will be big games for points that can give Allen some more leadway on them in the standings, or put them right down in the mix with the rest of the conference teams. Three big road games for the Americans squad.
Random Tweet Award Winner
Spencer Edwards is quickly becoming one of my favorite Americans players on Twitter. Take for example his knowledge of the Mexican drug war’s effects on the border towns of Texas:
@spencereddy27 In Laredo. Hopefully be able to stay away from the A&E worthy type action.
#stayinhotelroom
Trevor Ludwig is on 10 day IR. Spencer Edwards was moved from 14 day IR to 30 day IR.