Playoff Stats - Some Good Some Not, Playoff Series Update & April 24, 2013 Revisited

I plan on going to practice this morning to get any updates on the roster, practice plans for the week ahead and anything else of note but in the mean time thought it would be interesting to look at some team and individual statistics now that the playoffs are underway. In many categories Allen is situated similar to the regular season as they lead all teams in the playoffs in average goals per game and average shots per game. In other categories such as special teams they are not performing as well as they did during the regular season. Here is a look:

Penalty Minutes - Allen is ranked #8 of the 16 teams in the playoffs with sixteen penalty minutes per game. It is a big improvement from the regular season when they were #1 with 22.8 minutes per game. The news isn't all good for the Americans as the 80 penalty minutes are all minor penalties. Of the teams remaining in the playoffs only Colorado with 31 minor penalties comes close to the 40 minor penalties taken by Allen.

When Scoring First - Allen is a perfect 2-0 when scoring the first goal of the game. They are one of only five teams in the playoffs that have not lost after scoring the first goal of the game.

Power Play - Allen had the #2 ranked power play during the regular season converting 21.9% of the time. In the first round of the playoffs the Americans were 4-25 on the power play or 16%. They are ranked #7.

Penalty Kill - In the regular season Allen was #3 on the penalty kill at 83.6%. For the playoffs they are ranked #12 at 81.5%.

Scoring By Period - As they did in the regular season Allen has continued to be a second period team in the playoffs. They scored 120 goals in the second period during the regular season which was 23 more than any other team. They have 11 second period goals in the playoffs which is four more than any other team. Here are the goals scored by period for the regular season and playoffs.
Regular Season: 74 - 120 - 92
Playoffs:             2 - 11 - 4

Goals For & Against - The numbers are a little different but the rank is exactly the same in the regular season and the playoffs for Allen in this category. Allen is #1 in average goals scored in the regular season (4.06) and also in the playoffs (3.60). The Americans are #7 in average goals allowed in the regular season (2.82) and also in the playoffs (2.80)

Shots For & Against - Allen has improved both of these numbers from the regular season. In the playoffs Allen is #1 in shots for per game (37.80) and #4 in shots allowed per game (27). In the regular season they were #5 in shots for (32.83) and #11 in shots against (29.31).

- Here is a list of the top ranked Allen players in some of the offensive categories. The number represents league wide rank in the playoffs. Keep in mind Allen has one or two more games than the other teams in the playoffs.
Points: #1 - Spencer Asuchak (8 points)
Goals: #2 - Gary Steffes (4 goals)
Assists: #1 - Spencer Asuchak (5 assists)
Plus/Minus: #2 Greger Hanson (+5)
Points Defensemen: #1 - Konrad Abeltshauser (5 points)
Goals Defensemen: #1 - Konrad Abeltshauser (2 goals)
Assists Defensemen: #1 - Kevin Young (4 assists)
Plus/Minus Defensenmen: #2 Aaron Gens (+4)


OTHER COMMENTS

- There will be a lot of progress this weekend in determining which teams will make it to the second round of the playoffs. The only series that could end tonight is Fort Wayne vs Kalamazoo. Fort Wayne has a 3-0 lead and they play tonight in Kalamazoo. Here is the status of the other series:

Toledo vs Wheeling - Toledo is the ECHL #1 seed overall but they have dug themselves a hole and trail the series 2-1 with games tonight and tomorrow night in Wheeling.

Florida vs Orlando - This series is tied 2-2 with a game Saturday night in Orlando. The home team has won every game thus far. The final two games of this series will be in Florida.

South Carolina vs Reading - It took two overtimes for higher seeded South Carolina to win the opening game of this series at home. Since then each team has won on the others home ice. South Carolina has a 2-1 series lead with games Saturday and Sunday in Reading.

Rapid City vs Quad City - Rapid City leads this series 2-1 with games tonight (Friday) and Saturday in Quad City. Allen gets the winner of this series but may have a to wait a while as this series could go the distance. All three games thus far have been one goal games and one has gone to overtime.

Idaho vs Utah - The #1 seed in the Pacific Division is Idaho and they have a 2-1 lead over #4 seed Utah. They play tonight and Saturday in Idaho. This series had an unusual sequence because of building availability. It is a 1-2-2-1-1 series.

Ontario vs Colorado - This series is tied 2-2 and is another that could go seven games. Most of the games haven't been close as the teams have taken turns beating each other. It has been a hard fought series with three major penalties and five misconduct penalties called in the first four games. Both teams have won a game on the road. They play tonight in Colorado before returning to Ontario to finish the series.

- Was asked by a reader where they could find the home schedule for next year. The easiest place to go is the Allen Americans web site. That is also the place to go to buy tickets for the next round of the playoffs. The web site is www.allenamericans.com. You can get tickets through the web site or you can call 972-912-1000 for ticket information. Nothing like "Allen Americans Playoff Hockey, Rock Your Red."


DID YOU KNOW: Two years ago today Allen fans were celebrating a seventh game victory over the Missouri Mavericks to win the semi-finals series and move on the the Presidents' Cup final. Here is part of the post from April 24, 2013:

The Allen Americans defeated the Missouri Mavericks last night 7-3 in a winner take all game to advance to the CHL finals for the second time in their four years as a franchise. A disappointing loss for Missouri as they came up one game short of a finals appearance for the second straight year. There is nothing like attending a game seven at home and last night was no exception as an enthusiastic crowd of 4847 saw the Americans get off to an early lead when Brian McMillin scored less than two minutes into the game. Allen would never relinquish the lead. The Americans were led by McMillin and Todd Robinson who each had two goals in the victory. 

Two Handshakes Down, One To Go As Allen Is Victorious In Winner Take All Game Against Missouri 7-3 - photo by chlphotos.com