Americans win fifth straight in 4-3 OT victory over Laredo
ALLEN, Texas – The Allen Americans beat the Laredo Bucks 4-3 in overtime tonight at the Allen Event Center to win their fifth straight contest. The victory brings their record to 22-7-2 (46 points).
The Americans took advantage of their first power play in the game midway through the opening frame. 2010 CHL All-Star Team starter Justin Bowers scored at 10:24 with assists from fellow All-Star teammate Bruce Graham and Jordie Benn, older brother of Dallas Star Jamie Benn. The Americans headed into the first intermission with a 1-0 lead.
In a goal-filled second, Laredo went up 2-1 after nabbing two straight tallies. The first one came from Evan Schwabe on the power play, and Eric Giosa scored the second. The Bucks’ lead lasted for a brief 1:37 before the Americans tied it. Defenseman Ryan Fairbarn scored his eighth goal of the season on a shot from the point for the Americans’ second power play goal of the night. All three goals came in the last five minutes of the period.
The third period kept fans on the edge of their seats. The Bucks scored with 6:27 left in regulation to take a 3-2 lead, but the Americans grabbed a power play goal to tie the game with 3:30 left. This one came from Sean Perkins.
The game looked destined for a shootout, but Nathan O’Nabigon nabbed the game-winning goal with 1:18 left in the extra period to make it 4-3.
Whitley made 31 saves tonight and earned his league-leading sixteenth win.