Americans Lose 4-2, Martinson's Post Game Comments, Allen Signs Star's Prospect Austin Smith

It is always difficult to win back to back games against the same team on the road and that proved to be the case last night as Rapid City flipped the script on Allen and beat the Americans by a score of 4-2 before a crowd of 4229 at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. The game was almost the exact opposite of Friday night when Allen came away with the victory. Rush goalie, Danny Battochio, who was pulled after giving up three goals by the 6:32 mark of the first period on Friday, came back to have a great game last night and had some key first period saves for Rapid City. Allen got off to a fast start on Friday but it was the Rush with the fast start on Saturday as two first period power play goals gave them a 2-0 lead and they built the lead to 3-0 in the second period before Allen could get on the scoreboard. And when Allen pulled their goalie and scored a six on four power play goal with three minutes remaining in the game to close the gap to 3-2 Rapid City responded with a goal of their own just 25 seconds later to seal the victory. The Americans headed back to Allen after the game and do not play again until they host the Tulsa Oilers for back to back games at the Allen Event Center next Saturday (11/8) and Sunday (11/9).

STEVE MARTINSON'S POST GAME COMMENTS:

- Stick/retaliation penalties continue to hurt us as Rapid City scored on their first two power play opportunities tonight. We had twelve of these penalties over the two games and Rapid City scored three of their five goals on the power play this weekend.

- If you take bad penalties it is made worse if you have a bad penalty kill and that is what happened at the start of the game.

- We will have another week of practice which will help as we need work on puck support and gap control. It will be back to Hockey 101 this week at practice.



OTHER COMMENTS:

- Goal scorers for Allen were Tyler Ludwig and Jack Combs. Combs and Ian Schultz have both had points in all four games Allen has played thus far.

- Despite scoring only one power play goal in ten chances in the two games in Rapid City the Americans still have the #1 ranked power play in the ECHL at 30.0%

- The penalty kill unit gave up two goals in five attempts last night and is ranked #22 in the league with a penalty kill percentage of 77.3%.

- With a 2-2 record and four points Allen ranks tied for #23 in the ECHL in points. They do have several games in hand over most of the teams in the league. The only teams in the ECHL with fewer points than Allen are Missouri and Alaska with two and Brampton with one.

- It might be time to acknowledge what was said by many when the seven new teams joined the ECHL that they would struggle against the older teams. With two more losses last night the record when one of the new ECHL teams play one of the older teams is now at 1-8-1. Still plenty of time to improve on this record. Allen doesn't get their first chance until the end of January when the play Indy (1/23), Toledo (1/24), and Kalamazoo (1/25).

- One way to look at the strength of a team besides their record is goal differential. Two teams that are starting to separate themselves from the pack are the Idaho Steelheads who have a record of 6-1 and a goal differential of +14 and the Fort Wayne Komets who have a record of 6-1 and a goal differential of +10. Idaho has score 28 goals and only given up 14 while Fort Wayne has score 28 goals and allowed 18. Allen has a goal differential of zero as they have scored and allowed seventeen goals.

-  The Americans announced yesterday they have signed forward Austin Smith. A Dallas native who was one of three finalists for the 2012 Hobey Baker Award (hockey's Heisman Award), Smith was drafted by the Dallas Stars in the fifth round of the 2007 NHL draft.  Since finishing his collegiate career in 2012 (Colgate University) he has played in 38 AHL games (Texas Stars) and 42 ECHL games for the Idaho Steelheads. In 2012-2013 he had fifty points (27 goals, 23 assists) in 38 games for Idaho. Before joining the Americans, Smith had been playing in Finland. Smith is described as a hard working winger with good wheels who plays both ends of the ice. Has nice hands but plays more of a a straightforward style with not too much flash and dash. A quick creative player who has a good shot that he gets off quickly. Smart player with good offensive instincts. strong on the forecheck and plays a high energy game and is very competitive. He also adds to the many outstanding scholar athletes on this year's team as Austin was a three year member of the NCAA All Academic Team while attending Colgate University.

Hobey Baker Finalist, Dallas Stars 5th Round Draft Choice Austin Smith Signs With Allen

 Here are the statistics for Austin Smith courtesy of Hockeydb:

Austin Smith

Right Wing -- shoots R
Born Nov 7 1988 -- Dallas, TX
[25 yrs. ago]
Height 5.11 -- Weight 180 

Drafted by Dallas Stars

- round 5 #128 overall 2007 NHL Entry Draft

Regular Season						Playoffs
Season	Team	Lge	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2007-08	Penticton Vees	BCHL	60	32	35	67	42		15	11	11	22	12
2008-09	Colgate University	ECAC	37	17	14	31	24
2009-10	Colgate University	ECAC	36	16	25	41	20
2010-11	Colgate University	ECAC	41	10	21	31	36
2011-12	Colgate University	ECAC	39	36	21	57	30
2011-12	Texas Stars	AHL	12	0	3	3	8	-6	--	--	--	--	--
2012-13	Texas Stars	AHL	16	2	1	3	6	1	--	--	--	--	--
2012-13	Idaho Steelheads	ECHL	38	27	23	50	15	24	17	7	5	12	12
2013-14	Texas Stars	AHL	10	0	0	0	4	-1	--	--	--	--	--
2013-14	Idaho Steelheads	ECHL	4	1	0	1	18		--	--	--	--	--
2013-14	Assat Pori	SM-liiga	28	6	7	13	20	-5
2014-15	Assat Pori*	SM-liiga	10	2	1	3	8	6

DID YOU KNOW: The Dallas Stars had the 128th and 129th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2007 NHL draft. Austin Smith was taken with the 128th pick and current Dallas Stars captain, Jamie Benn was taken with the 129th pick.