Central Hockey League: Jackalopes drop Game 3 to Americans

ALLEN In order to defeat the Allen Americans, the Odessa Jackalopes need to silence the line of Nino Musitelli, Bruce Graham and Justin Bowers.

On Wednesday night in Game 3 of the Southern Conference Finals, the trio skated around the Allen Event Center at will, resulting in a 5-2 victory for the Americans.

Musitelli and Bowers each finished with one goal and three assists, with Graham contributing a goal and two assists to the victory. Christian Gaudet and Jordie Benn also scored for Allen.

Jeff Pierce scored both goals for the Jackalopes, with Sebastien Thinel assisting on both tallies.

Allen now leads the best-of-7 series 2-1 with Game 4 scheduled for 7:30 p.m Friday. Game 5 is scheduled for the same time Saturday.

It was the first road loss for Odessa in this year’s playoffs, having won all three on the road against the Texas Brahmas in the Southern Conference Semifinals.

Allen goaltender Chris Whitley again was a star in net, stopping 35 of the 37 shots he faced on the night. Jackalopes starter Joel Martin gave up four goals through two periods and was replaced by Juha Toivonen to start the third period.

The Americans, playing at home for the first time in the series, wasted no time getting their night started as Graham, from the right circle, snapped a wrist shot inside the left post just 3:39 into the game.

Musitelli then made it 2-0 just 52 seconds later, finishing off a 2-on-1 with Graham with a shot inside the left post.

Pierce’s fifth goal of the playoffs with 9:03 elapsed in the opening period cut Odessa’s deficit to one, but that was as close as the Jackalopes would come on the night.