ALLEN, Texas- In the final game before the Christmas break for both squads, the Allen Americans defeated the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs 6-2 tonight in a spirited battle for first place in the Berry Conference. With the victory, Allen takes over first place in the conference with 39 points. The Mudbugs (38 points), have skated in four more games than the Americans thus far.

Box Score

It wouldn't take long for the Americans to get on the board in this one, as newcomer Scott Langdon found the back of the net just 0:43 into the first period to put the Americans up 1-0. The goal was Langdon's first of the year. Langdon, the game’s first star, also contributed with several bone-jarring hits throughout the evening.

Allen's lead would be extended to 2-0, 10:14 later when Judd Blackwater found Dave Bonk cutting to the net. Bonk received Blackwater's pass and quickly slipped the puck past Bossier netminder John DeCaro for his seventh tally of the season. Recently re-assigned to Allen from Oklahoma City of the AHL, Bonk was a huge factor in the game, registering 2 points and a plus-2 rating.

With 39.5 seconds remaining in the period and the Americans on a power play, David Nimmo fought his way to a loose puck near the net and fired it past an out of position DeCaro to extend Allen's lead to 3-0. The goal was Nimmo's sixth of the season.

Bossier-Shreveport's Jeff Kryzakos would trim the Americans lead to 3-1, 0:29 later with a wrister that beat Scott Campbell five-hole. After a whirlwind of a first period in Allen, the Americans led Bossier-Shreveport 3-1, while outshooting the Mudbugs 9-6.

The second period saw the Americans extend their lead to 5-1 behind goals from Colton Yellow Horn and Justin DaCosta at 3:16 and 17:05, respectively. Yellow Horn's tally came after a scramble in the crease while DaCosta's was deflected in off a Bossier defender on a delayed penalty.

No further scoring occurred in the middle frame, despite a barrage of shots from the Mudbugs. Scott Campbell kept the ‘Bugs at bay, finishing the period with 12 saves.

Jamie Milam scored for the Mudbugs from the slot on a power play with 6:25 remaining in the third to cut the Americans lead to 5-2, but the goal would be answered by David Simoes with 2:13 remaining to restore the Americans four goal lead at 6-2.