RiverKings Get Much Needed Shootout Win
It was a defensive battle on Saturday night at the Allen Event Center as the Mississippi RiverKings topped the Allen Americans 2-1 in a shootout. It was new goaltender Kyle McNulty who was the star stopping 35 of 36 shots for the ‘Kings. McNulty was signed on Friday after being waived by Arizona.
The win keeps the RiverKings in position for one of the five Northern Conference playoff slots temporarily moving them past Missouri into fourth place.
For the Americans, by earning a point, they join the Odessa Jackalopes as the Southern Conference teams that have earned home ice advantage in their first playoff series. The Americans are seven points behind the Jacks and can finish no worse than second in the conference.
Bruce Graham and Louis Dumont exchanged even strength goals in the first period and that would be all the offense either team could muster.
In the shootout, Ryan Held earned the game winner and reached the 30-goal plateau for the second time as a RiverKing.
Chris Whitley made 21 saves but took the SO loss.