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Triple threat: Americans defeat Oilers three straight times
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
Prior to the start of the 2012-13 CHL season, Allen Americans minority owner Craig Ludwig said, "we are going to be a tough team to play and a tough team to beat."
That notion has proven particularly true for the Tulsa Oilers.
The Americans and Oilers took the ice three times in the last week with Allen amassing a 16-8 cumulative advantage and winning all three games.
The Americans defeated the Oilers last Wednesday, 6-4, and on Saturday, 6-3, but perhaps the most impressive of the bunch came Friday at the AEC. Allen faced one of its only deficits of the season after Jake Trask scored for Tulsa 90 seconds into the game, but the home teamed stormed back for four unanswered goals and a 4-1 victory.
"[Tulsa] has some guys that will score if you give them the opportunities," said Steve Martinson, Americans head coach. "But I thought we did a much better job limiting their opportunities, especially on the power play."
Allen's offensive outpouring came in the second period.
There, the Americans picked up goals from Jamie Schaafsma, Jarret Lukin and Ryley Grantham for a 3-1 lead. It was a huge period for Lukin, who scored an unassisted shorthanded goal and assisted on the other two. Special teams have been a specialty for Allen this season with the No. 1-ranked penalty kill (89.47 percent) and No. 2-ranked power play (27.91 percent) in the league.
Lukin's eight points are third best on the team behind Brett Skinner and Darryl Bootland (10), who both picked up assists in the second period as well. Skinner and Bootland are tied for sixth in the league in scoring with the former putting up a point in every Allen game this season and tied for second in the CHL for points by a defenseman.
Grantham doubled his goal output for the night with 35 seconds remaining in the third as he put away an empty-netter for his second goal and a 4-1 Allen victory.
"I had Ryley last year so I know he's a tough guy to play against and he's got good hands," Martinson said. "If you give him the opportunity to score, he will bury it. He doesn't take a night off and he has a mean streak to him. He's a nice guy off the ice and a mean one on the ice; he's my kind of player."
Such contributions were necessary with forwards Scotty Howes and Kip Brennan scratched due to injury.
"We had a couple of key guys out," Martinson said, "but we have good depth."
That offensive output was matched by the defense, which was steady in front of netminder Aaron Dell. Making his second start of the season, Dell (1-1, 2.02 goals against average) picked up his first professional win by stopping 18-of-19 Tulsa shots.
"I thought Aaron was great," Martinson said. "He showed why he was an All-American."
Steve Silverthorn (5-0-0, 2.52 GAA) returned between the pipes Saturday night. The CHL Goalie for the Month for October secured his league-leading fifth win of the season thanks in part to an offensive explosion that included Lukin registering the second hat trick of his pro career with goals in each period. Also lighting the lamp for the Americans in the 6-3 triumph were Jason Deitsch, Schaafsma and Brian McMillin.
Allen will look to extend its winning streak to five this weekend with games at 7:05 p.m. Friday and Saturday on the road against the Quad City Mallards.
Americans now tied to Aeros
The Americans will be affiliated with the AHL's Houston Aeros this season.
Allen was previously attached to the Lake Erie Monsters.
"The Allen Americans are a model franchise in the CHL," said Jim Mill, Aeros general manager. "They have a great building and a strong ownership group that includes former NHLers Steve Duchesne, Mike Modano, Craig Ludwig and Ed Belfour. With our proximity to Allen, it makes perfect sense for us to have a few players develop within their organization."
The Americans have two players on their roster via Houston in Grantham and defenseman Mike Montgomery.
"I'm excited we were able to get this done," Martinson said.
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