Knight Monsters Break Losing Streak With Overtime Triumph In Allen

Simon Pinard came into Tuesday’s ECHL matchup with the Allen Americans riding a three-game goal streak. It took until overtime to extend it to four, but the Tahoe Knight Monsters forward couldn’t have picked a better time to come through.

In the first-ever meeting between the two teams, Tahoe prevailed 4-3 in overtime in front of 3,119 fans at CUTX Event Center. The victory snapped a two-game losing skid for the Knight Monsters, who had given up 11 goals in their last two games against the Idaho Steelheads.

The game, which saw three lead changes and two separate comebacks, didn’t start well for the Knight Monsters. The Americans, who came into Tuesday as one of five teams in the ECHL without a shorthanded goal, rectified that situation when Spencer Asuchak sprung a breakaway and rifled a shot past Tahoe netminder Jesper Vikman at the 5:45 mark for a 1-0 lead. It was the seventh goal of the season for Asuchak.

Eight minutes later, Troy Loggins would bring the Knight Monsters even at 1-1 on a deflection from an Elijah Vilio shot for his fifth goal of the season.

Anthony Collins put the Knight Monsters in front 2-1 4:06 into the second period, when he ripped a wrister through a screen for his second goal of the year.

The Americans would fight back to tie the score 2-2 on a Mark Duarte one-timer for his third of the season and second in the last two games.

The Americans would take a 3-2 lead in the third period when Duarte set up Brayden Guy with a nifty cross-ice pass. Guy netted his fourth of the year.

It would be their last lead, however. Patrick Newell potted his third of the season at 10:38 to tie the score 3-3.

Late in the third period, the Americans took a delay-of-game penalty that would carry into overtime. That’s when Pinard worked his magic, burying a one-timer from the right circle 49 seconds into the extra frame to give Tahoe the 4-3 victory. It was the first over their division rival.

Pinard had plenty of other chances to score, putting eight shots on goal, but the one that struck home was the difference. Asuchak led Allen with five shots on net.

The Knight Monsters outshot Allen 34-25 for the game and 1-0 in overtime, improving their record to 9-6-2. The Americans fall to 7-6-4. The two teams face off again Wednesday night in Allen in the final game of their two-game series. Puck drop is set for 7:10 Pm CT.