Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad!

It used to be that there were usually a few absolutes in life that are inevitable and unavoidable.

We always hear the terms death and taxes. In sport it used to be a given that the home team would win.

That has been rare of late when making the trek to Allen for Americans hockey.

Teams have highs teams have lows. That adage applies in all sports. To lose five games in a row at home? That is simply unheard of!

Perhaps a bad patch of road work before the furious finish and final product.

One month removed from the best performance all season on New Years Eve (a 4-0 shutout of the Mallards), the Allen Americans have now lost five games at home in a row. Friday night they met up with the Arizona Sun Dogs for the 11th time this season and lost by a 2-1 count.

It could be said that Allen of late has resembled more of a Cloud Cat to the Sun Dogs. Their first place lead is still intact for the moment. Their #1 rankings in the power play and penalty kill continue to be consistent. Yet...

Something appears to be missing on the front lines. Not sure if it's energy, a spark, a ringleader, or something other than. Maybe it's a collective lack of overall defense. During their current losing skid getting burned shorthanded was an issue in one game.

Not one shot attempted in the second period Friday night. That's a rarity with this adept team of stick handlers. Makes one wonder if perhaps the influx of talent going elsewhere with the return of the NHL is to partly blame?

Jamie Schaafsma would provide Allen with their lone goal of the night on a feed from Brian McMillan early in period 1. Things would knot up at 1-all when Ron Meyers would light the lamp under an outstretched Steve Silverthorn.

Five minutes into period three Arizona would get the game winner when Kevin Petovello would wrist a shot past Silvethorn for the 2-1 final result.

Allen also announced the trade of Kip Brennan to the Sun Dogs for future considerations upon games end. The Rush of Rapid City now comes to Allen for a 7:05 puck drop tomorrow night.

The talent and personnel are there. Something is missing. I'm not sure what, but this writer is confident that the Americans, Matty, and Steve Martinson will figure things out and right the ship.

On a night where the Suns, Coyotes, and Sun Dogs of Arizona played the Mavericks, Stars, and Americans of Dallas I chose to simply pick the wrong game to attend.

Over and out in Big D.

Mr. Will