Americans fall 4-3 on Star Wars Night in Allen

Americans Box Score

Dallas/Allen, Texas – The Allen Americans, ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators, and AHL’s Belleville Senators lost a close game to the Wichita Thunder on Saturday night in Allen in front of a crowd of 6,044 at CUTX Event Center.

Wichita got the early jump on the Americans with a pair of goals from Peter Bates, his 10^th and 11^th of the year. The Thunder had a 2-0 lead after the first period.

Jay Dickman made it 3-0 Wichita in the second frame scoring his 11^th of the season at the 2:54 mark of the period. However, the Americans had an answer. First, William Provost with his second of the season and second in consecutive games cut the lead to 3-1. Then Eric Williams with his first of the year on a pass from Solag Bakich cut the lead to 3-2. Brandon Puricelli evened the score with his third goal of the year in the final minute of the period to tie the game at 3-3.

In the final period both teams had several scoring chances. Matt Marcinew came close as he slid a puck through the crease that almost crossed the line, however it was Wichita that eventually found the back of the net. Peter Bates completed the hat trick with his 12^th of the season on a 5-on-3 power play that held up as Wichita evened the season series at 1-1, and won the game 4-3 on Star Wars night in Allen.

“It was a frustrating ending. Taking the two penalties late definitely hurt us,” said Americans Head Coach Chad Costello. “We had an opportunity to extend our point streak instead a couple mistakes cost us the game.”

Hank Crone’s seven-game point streak came to an end on Saturday night. Allen went 1-for-5 on the power play. The Americans head back on the road next week in Utah for a three-game series starting on Wednesday night.

Three Stars:
1. WIC - P. Bates
2. ALN - W. Provost
3. ALN - E. Williams