T.J.’s Fox’s goal late in the third period Sunday night gave the Brahmas the 4-3 win over the Americans, evening the series at one game each.
The Brahmas took a 1-0 lead 3:17 into the first period when Dan Nicholls beat Rejean Beauchemin with a wrister along the right side. At the 10:36 mark, Bruce Graham notched his third goal of the series to even the score at one goal apiece.
Allen then grabbed a 2-1 advantage at the 14:21 in when Keith Johnson snuck the puck past Mark Guggenberger.
Under one minute into the second period, the Brahmas converted on a five-on-three advantage as Chad Woollard found the back of the net for the first time in the series, tying the score at two. Texas then regained the lead with 6:04 remaining in the period when Andrew Lackner picked up a loose puck in the offensive zone and sent a wrister by Beauchmin.
With 5:15 left in regulation, the Americans evened the score at three goals apiece behind Jason Deitsch’s first goal of the postseason. But at the 17:11 mark, T.J. Fox led a two-on-one break and sent a wrister over Beauchemin’s left shoulder and into the back of the net.
With the Allen’s net empty, Texas had two shots hit the post in the final minute but was still able to keep the Americans at bay, despite only getting two shots on goal in the third period.
Guggenberger made 28 saves on 31 Allen shots en route to the first postseason win of his career. Beauchemin stopped 22 of 26 in net for the Americans.
The series now shifts to North Richland Hills knotted up at one game apiece and with the Brahmas now controlling home ice advantage. Games three and four of the series between the Brahmas and Americans will be played Wednesday, April 4 at 7 p.m. and Friday, April 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the NYTEX Sports Centre.
For ticket information, call 817-336-4423 or visit www.brahmas.com.
