Allen Loses to Ontario 4-1, Game Recap, Martinson Comments, Matvichuk Loses Bet & His Hair

The final score in the latest ending (11:41 pm in Allen) game in team history was 4-1 in favor of Ontario before a smaller than normal crowd (6139) at the Citizens Business Bank Arena. It was a story of missed opportunity by the Americans. Opportunity started right out of the gate when Ontario took the first of three "too many men" penalties they would take on the night. One of the keys to victory was a fast start and Allen was on the power play 49 seconds into the game. The Americans not only failed to convert on the power play, they allowed a shorthanded goal (the 6th they have allowed this season) to give Ontario the lead at the 2:02 mark of the first period. An even strength goal by the Reign at 7:13 upped the lead to 2-0 and it was apparent it was going to be a long night for Allen. Ontario improved to a record of 22-2-0-2 when scoring first. Aaron Gens scored the lone goal for Allen on a power play in the second period to cut the lead to 2-1 but that is as close as the Americans could get. The story was definitely one of missed opportunity:

- Power play for too many men at :49 results in short handed goal allowed

- Three too many men penalties on the night by Ontario ended up with no Allen goals, one Reign goal

- Allen scored their only goal on the power play but we're 1-8 on the night. 

- The Americans could not capitalize playing against a backup rookie goalie with only three ECHL games who was just signed by Ontario. 

- The Reign were forced to play their EBUG (emergency back up goalie) for the last 12:33 of the game after the starting goalie was injured and Allen could not get a puck past him as he made 10 saves.

- Allen outshot Ontario 39-30 and lost the game 4-1.

- The best part about the loss is it won't take long to do something about it as the two teams play again tonight. It will be the last game of the regular season for Allen against an opponent outside the Central Division. It has not been a pleasant experience for the Americans thus far playing outside the division as they have only managed one win in four games. Lose tonight and the theory Allen isn't as good as their record because they play all of their games against weaker Central Division teams might hold some water. With Allen's loss last night to Ontario the Central Division record when playing teams outside the division is now 9-25.

- The game tonight (9:00 PM CST) will be a real test for Allen to show they can play with the teams in the Pacific Division by getting a split with Ontario. A loss tonight would be the first time all season Allen has lost back to back games in regulation.

- Steve Martinson's post game comments were mostly about special teams though he felt in general the team was not sharp after skating for only four of the past ten days. Special teams play was very poor with a less than stellar power play and giving up that early shorthanded goal was frustrating. Garrett Clarke had a breakaway where the puck appeared to go off the back cross bar that was not called a goal.

OTHER COMMENTS

- Chad Costello had his 17 game point streak come to an end. It was only the fifth game all season Chad has not scored a point.

- The game last night was only the second time all year a forward has not scored a goal for Allen.

- The Central Division standings are starting to tighten up as two of the teams toward the bottom of the standings the last few weeks have started to play better hockey. Rapid City beat Brampton last night, has won five straight games and leap frogged Tulsa for the fourth playoff spot in the division. Tulsa lost to Missouri last night (7-3) to continue their slide. The Mavericks are 5-5 in the last ten games and just five points out of a playoff spot. Allen maintains an 18 point lead in the standings but only four points separates second place Quad City and fifth place Tulsa.

- Since the end of November the Americans have won just six of thirteen road games.

- Allen has not won a game all year on the road when trailing after two periods. It is a strange statistic but the Americans have not lost a game in regulation all year when they are out shot by their opponent. The Americans record when being out shot is 11-0-1-1.

- Happy Birthday to Allen captain Jamie Schaafsma who turns 32 today.

- Missouri not only won their game last night against Tulsa they got to see the coaches shave their heads to pay off a bet. Richard Matvichuk had some fun with the team agreeing to have his head shaved (along with the other coaches) if the team won at least five games during their seven game home stand and last night was the fifth win. If they didn't get the five wins the goalies would have had their heads shaved. With most of the sold out crowd looking on after the game goalie Mike Clemente as well has Matvichuk's family (wife Tracy and sons Dillion and Dalton) took turns with the clippers.

Goalie Mike Clemente admires the coaches new haircut

DID YOU KNOW: The Allen Americans lead the ECHL in shooting percentage. They score on 12.5% of their shots on goal.