As the Allen Americans head to the airport today for their flight to Boise where they will be spending the Thanksgiving holiday they can be thankful they are not getting on "Big Red" for a bus trip through the mountains in November. I am sure sometime this week the new Allen players will hear all about the "Trips From Hell" from last season heading west through the mountains. Two trips in November that featured numerous bus breakdowns plus snow, ice and blizzard conditions. This trip to Boise will be much more relaxing as the Americans prepare to play Idaho on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
- Yesterday I talked about the difference in winning percentage this season (.594) compared to last season (.400). Here are some other comparisons between last season and this season after 16 games played.
2016-17 2017-18
Team Record 7-9-0-0 (14 points) 8-5-2-1 (19 points)
Division Ranking 5th - Mountain 4th - Mountain
Conference Ranking 11th - Western 5th - Western
League Ranking 19th 9th
Goals For 52 54
Goals Against 56 48
Power Play 7.9% (5/63) 18.2% (14/77)
Penalty Kill 81.9% (13/72) 86.5% (10/74)
Leading Scorer Costello (5-17-22) Pierro-Zabotel (4-14-18)
Most PIM's Mathers - 73 Arseneau - 32
- Here is Allen's ECHL ranking last season versus this season in some key statistical categories:
2016-17 2017-18
Penalty Minutes Per Game: 3rd (18.31) 6th (20.06)
Goals Scored Per Game: 17th (3.25) 11th (3.38)
Goals Allowed Per Game: 21st (3.50) 9th (3.00)
Shots For Per Game: 5th (34.13) 9th (34.25)
Shots Against Per Game: 21st (34.63) 22nd (35.69)
Power Play Percentage: 24th (7.9%) 10th (18.2%)
Penalty Kill Percentage 20th (81.9%) 7th (86.5%)
- Based on all of the stats above it is easy to see the team is doing better than last season in almost every category. They have scored more goals and allowed fewer goals than last season. The power play is much better and the penalty kill is also better than last season. The real question is how much will this team improve going forward. Last season once December came around the Americans rarely lost. Allen's record the rest of the way was 42-8-4-2.
- It is hard to believe Allen has already played 25% of their home games as nine of 36 home games are already in the books. The Americans record for those nine home games is 4-2-2-1. Allen has played seven road games with a record of 4-3-0-0.
- I saw this stat posted on Twitter by @hockeyfights and found it interesting. It is the 2017-18 Gordie Howe hat trick counter by league through November 18. Allen is a big contributor to the eight ECHL Gordie Howe hat tricks. Spencer Asuchak against Tulsa, Vincent Arseneau against Tulsa and Jonathan Lessard against Orlando have all accomplished the feat this season.
NHL - 3
AHL - 4
ECHL - 8
SPHL - 1
OHL - 3
QMJHL - 5
WHL - 7
USHL - 0
NAHL - 1
- The Tulsa Oilers are in the midst of playing 14 straight games on the road. Their last home game was November 4 and they won't play again at home until December 15. It is a tough stretch that has been made worse by the medical emergency of their coach Rob Murray. Coach Murray is out of the hospital and is at home recuperating until he is ready to return to the bench. The team plays three games in Rapid City this week and then will head to Idaho for three games next week. Last I heard they are taking Big Red (the bus) on the entire road trip which is scary, especially through the mountains this time of year. So far the Tulsa record on the 14 straight road games is 0-3-1-1. Their game against Quad City, when coach Murray had the medical emergency, was suspended and will be finished at a later date. Have to admit I am pulling for the Oilers who are dealing with more than a fair share of adversity. Tulsa is already five points out of a playoff spot and their season could be over by the time they play at home again.
- Here is how the Mountain Division has fared against the other divisions.
North Division: 4-2-0-0
South Division: 4-2-1-0
Central Division: 7-7-2-2
It should be noted that Wichita and Tulsa have played 13 of the 19 games against the Central Division. Wichita's record is 5-0-1-0 and Tulsa's record is 1-5-0-1.
DID YOU KNOW: Shorthanded goals are one of the biggest momentum changers is hockey. It is something Allen will have to be aware of in the three games they play against Idaho this week. Allen has scored three shorthanded goals this season but allowed four. Idaho has scored four shorthanded goals this season but have not allowed a single shorthanded goal.
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