Allen Americans Extend Win Streak
{fshare id=5786}
Tulsa, Oklahoma – On Thanksgiving Day, the Americans have a lot to be thankful for, not the least of which is their eighth straight victory.Kevin Young scored a goal and two assists, and Chad Costello scored a goal, an assist and the shootout game-winner as Allen prevailed 5-4 in a shootout over the Tulsa Oilers (8-5-1-2) at the BOK Center.
Jack Combs, who entered the day leading the entire ECHL in scoring with 22 points, extended his scoring streak to 14 games with two more assists, marking the second-longest streak in franchise history.
The Americans overcame multiple deficits on the night, falling behind 2-0 in the first period and 4-3 in the third, to improve their record to 11-3-0-0, good for first in the Central Division. The Oilers edged into second in the Central with the extra point.
“We just kept battling, playing three in three in three different towns, we just did what we needed to do,” Young said of the comeback. “We’re learning how to win in every way possible.”
In their third game in three nights, the Americans fell behind 2-0 late in
the first period on goals by Matt Larke and Nathan Lutz.
Lutz’s goal came after Allen goaltender Riley Gill made about six consecutive saves, with 3:15 remaining in the opening period, and prompted Gill to shatter his stick over the goal. The Americans then responded, with Gregor Hanson notching his ninth goal of the year just 26 seconds later, as his wrist shot from the slot beat Tulsa goalie Brady Hjelle between the pads.
Ian Schultz then tied it up with 54 seconds left in the first, scoring just 10 seconds into an Allen power play.
The Americans dominated the second period, outshooting the Oilers 20-6 while enjoying five power plays, but were only able to score once. Young, who collected his 200th career assist on Hanson’s goal, scored for the second straight night, blasting a laser beam of a slap shot over Hjelle’s shoulder at 13:25 to give the Americans a 3-2 lead.
“If anyone’s having individual success, it’s a direct reflection of the team success,” said Young, who was named third star of the night. “Our goalie is making saves and making things easier on the defensemen, the defensemen are making things easier for the forwards and the forwards are making things easier for the defensemen. We all have a direct effect on each other.”
With the Americans feeling the effects of three games in three nights, though, the Oilers scored twice within 4:22 early in the third period to surge ahead. Kyle O’Kane and Jeff Jubinville paired up on both goals, as O’Kane drilled a one-timer from the slot after Gill’s pad save on Jubinville at 5:14, and then fed a nice pass in front on a 2-on-1 to Jubinville for a one-timer to make it 4-3 at 9:38. O’Kane was the game’s second star.
But Allen did not give up and Costello scored the game-tying goal on another power play with exactly five minutes to go, as his pass in front out of the left corner ricocheted off a Tulsa defender’s skate and past Hjelle for his sixth goal of the season.
After a five minute overtime completely dominated by Allen, who outshot Tulsa 4-1, the Americans prevailed in the shootout 3-1. Gary Steffes, Costello, and then Hanson each scored in the shootout in succession, while Gill allowed just T.J. Caig’s shot to get past him. Costello, who beat Hjelle with a wrist shot under the blocker, was named the contest’s first star.
The Americans finally get a day off to rest on Friday, before heading up to Wichita to face the Thunder on Saturday.
