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48 Seconds: Power-play pair puts Allen on the brink

BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@acnpapers.com

Published: Monday, April 18, 2011 12:17 PM CDT

In seven regular season meetings, Odessa defeated Allen only twice.

Two games into their Berry Conference Semifinals, the Jackalopes have already matched that total and put the Americans in a sizable hole in the best-of-5 series. Odessa took a 2-0 advantage in the series Sunday night with a 5-2 victory.

�Our guys understand that it�s a tough spot, but plenty of other teams have been in this position before,� said Dwight Mullins, Allen head coach and general manager. �We haven�t lost anything yet and they haven�t won anything yet.�

Odessa, which won last Thursday�s opener 3-2, took another step toward taking the series in a physical Game 2.

Allen controlled the first 10 minutes behind solid puck movement inside the blue line. The Americans wouldn�t get on the board though as Odessa goalie Joel Martin made several stops, including a glove save on Dylan King and a poke check away from Colton Yellow Horn.

Allen held an 8-2 shots on goal advantage through the first 11 minutes.

But in the next minute, the game would change.

With 8:17 remaining in the first period, Americans forward Kip Brennan was given a five-minute major and game misconduct penalty for boarding. The Jackalopes took advantage of that opportunity by scoring twice over the span of the penalty to take a 2-0 lead.

�That�s a judgment call from the official, but it�s a call that alters, blatantly changes, the game,� Mullins said. �But it�s done, so it�s a waste of my time to complain about it.�

Allen was the only team remaining in the CHL playoffs that had not allowed a power-play goal, but that trend changed in a hurry Sunday as Todd Robinson scored twice in a 48-second span. The first goal came after picking up a Philippe Plante shot went off the boards and the second score from Robinson came on a blast from just outside the face-off circle.

Odessa scored again in the second, only this goal came 23 seconds after its power play had been completed as Patrick Mbaraga lit the lamp to make it 3-0 with 11:04 remaining in the period.

But with the game looking as though it would get out of hand, Allen responded.

The Americans got on the board with 6:48 left in the second when Nino Musitelli pushed the puck up to Dave Bonk, who was feverishly calling for it. Bonk�s shot was stopped by Martin, but Jarret Lukin was there to put back the rebound and give the home team a bit of momentum.

�After that period it was 3-1; that�s two shots,� Mullins said. �We were there; we had opportunities and didn�t seize them.�

Odessa had the same opportunities and did take advantage.

As the physicality increased, with several skirmishes nearly breaking out, the Jackalopes tickled the twine twice more to take a 5-1 lead after third-period goals from Plante and Jeff Pierce. Americans goalie Chris Whitley allowed five goals on the first 17 shots he faced.

�I think Chris would probably want that first one back,� Mullins said, �but we had some missed coverages too and can�t be giving up that number of odd-man rushes.�

Allen would get on the board again before the night was over as Tobias Whelan scored on a putback with 12:13 remaining to make it 5-2.

That would also be the final score, but not before some more fireworks.

The game was stopped two times in the final 10 seconds as the fights, penalty minutes and ejections piled up. But when the buzzer did finally sound, it was the road team that had captured a 2-0 advantage.

The series resumes at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday when Allen travels to the Ector County Coliseum.

�In Game 1, we just weren�t ourselves and then tonight, things were altered,� Mullins said. �So now we have to find a way to play a complete game. We don�t have a choice but to go back to work and take things one step at a time.�

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