Allen Loses 3-1 to Thunder, Game Recap, Martinson's Comments, Allen vs Tulsa Preview, Steffes Ceremony

It was another loss at home for the Allen Americans as they fell to the Wichita Thunder 3-1 before an enthusiastic crowd of 4735 on Gary Steffes jersey retirement night. After an opening night win the Americans have now lost four straight home games.


- The loss last night was much different than the Americans 5-3 win in Wichita on Friday. Combined the teams only scored three goals (plus an empty net goal) compared to eight on Friday, took 60 shots compared to 77 on Friday, took 14 penalties compared to seven on Friday and had no power play goals compared to two on Friday.


- Allen gave up the first goal again last night for the seventh straight game. They have scored first in only two of the 10 games they have played this season. In a league where the team that scores first gets 75% of the points and historically Allen has gotten almost 90% of the points when scoring first, this is something that has to improve.


- Allen had only two power play opportunities in the game compared to four for Wichita and neither team had a power play goal.


- It is a recipe for defeat when you give up the first goal of the game and don't score on the power play. You can count on one hand the number of times that happens in a season and the Americans win the game.


- When things are going bad it seems like the calls go against you, penalties at crucial times go against you and you have bad puck luck. A goal to tie the game in the third period was disallowed that I would think most neutral observers would agree was a good goal. But as coach Martinson observed after the game you have to score enough to overcome those bad calls.


- The goal scorer for Allen was Zach Pochiro who got his seventh of the season with assists to Peter MacArthur and Spencer Asuchak. Pochiro leads the team in goals and is second in points (13) trailing only Casey Pierro-Zabotel who has 14 points.


- Here is the game recap from the Allen Americans: https://allenamericans.com/americans-fall-3-1-wichita/


- Here is a game recap from the Wichita Thunder perspective: https://www.wichitathunder.com/news/press-release/thunder-wins-road-battle-in-allen-3-1.html


- With the loss Allen's record falls to 4-4-2-0 and they are now in sixth place in the Mountain Division  all by themselves. The good news is the Americans are only four points out of first place.


- Despite the loss last night the Americans have played much better hockey the last two games, especially defensively. They need to stay positive and keep working hard and things will turn around.


 STEVE MARTINSON'S POST GAME COMMENTS

- It is tough to lose in such a tight game when we had some great chances, we hit the post a couple of times and played a pretty good defensive game. They had the one goal which was a deflection from a shot in the slot. The disallowed goal was really frustrating as the goalie never had control and Asuchak slid it by the goalie.

- It is frustrating when you are not scoring enough goals to overcome the disallowed goal. Ultimately if we scored more goal like we did in Wichita it wouldn't be an issue. We had plenty of chances tonight, several of them in tight and their goalie was good but we didn't score on those chances and that was the difference in the game.

- We have been much better defensively the last two games. The team is playing better but you have to take advantage of your chances when you need to win close games.

 - Overall I thought we played a pretty good game. Our power play is getting a little bit better but we only had two opportunities tonight. 


ALLEN VS TULSA GAME PREVIEW

- There is no rest for the weary as 18 hours and 27 minutes after the end of the game last night the puck will drop again for the Americans as they take on the Tulsa Oilers this afternoon with a 4:05 pm puck drop. It will be the third game in three days and fourth game in five days for Allen. Tulsa will also be tired as they have played the last two nights at home and both games went to overtime. Last night the Oilers beat Utah 5-4. They lost to the Grizzlies 3-2 in overtime Friday night. 


- There will definitely be some line up changes for the Americans this afternoon. Mathieu Aubin and Miles Liberati will come off the 21 day injured reserve and are expected to be in the line up.


-Vincent Areseneau was involved in a fight after the game was over and was given a game misconduct under rule 46.9, fighting other than during periods of the game. If you were wondering why the Wichita player was not given the same penalty the rule states, "Should one player be deemed the instigator of the fight, the game misconduct shall not be assessed to the opponent." Arseneau was deemed the instigator. As it relates to suspensions the rule states, "Any player who would be deemed to be an instigator pursuant to this rule (46.9) at a time other than during periods of the game, shall be suspended automatically for five games. Such determination may be made by the referee at the time of the incident or subsequently by the Commissioner based upon such reports and other information as he deems sufficient, included but not limited to video." Based on the penalties handed out by the referee at the end of the game it doesn't look good for Vincent. The decision by the league will be announced quickly since the Americans play this afternoon. UPDATE: Arseneau suspended for one game and will be miss the game against Tulsa this afternoon.


- The expectation is Jeremy Brodeur will be in goal against Tulsa this afternoon.


- It shouldn't be difficult for Allen to get motivated to play the Oilers even though the players have to be tired. When you lose three games in three days against the same opponent as the Americans did last weekend to Tulsa getting motivated should not be an issue.


- Here is a match up between Allen and Tulsa:

                                     ALLEN                                TULSA

Team Record               4-4-2-0 (10 points)                  5-3-1-1 (12 points)
Division Ranking         6th - Mountain                         3rd - Central
Conference Ranking   7th - Western                          3rd - Western
League Ranking          12th                                        6th
Last Game                  3-1 loss (Wichita)                    5-4 Win (Utah)
Goals For                    35                                           32
Goals Against             30                                            31
Power Play                 12.5% (6/48)                           10.9% (5/46)
Penalty Kill                  89.1% (5/46)                           80.4% (9/46)
Leading Scorer           Pierro-Zabotel  (3-11-14)         Bleackley (7-4-11)
Most PIM's                  Eberle (25)                              Pleskach (20)


-  Here is how Allen and Tulsa rank in the ECHL in some statistical categories:

Penalty Minutes Per Game: Allen 5th (21.60) - Tulsa 25th (13.60)
Goals Scored Per Game: Allen 13th (3.50) - Tulsa 19th (3.20)
Goals Allowed Per Game: Allen 8th (3.00) - Tulsa 12th (3.10)
Shots For Per Game: Allen 6th (35.40) - Tulsa 3rd (38.10)
Shots Against Per Game: Allen 22nd (35.50) - Tulsa 19th (35.20) 
Power Play Percentage: Allen 23rd (12.5%) - Tulsa 25th (10.9%)
Penalty Kill Percentage: Allen 7th (89.1%) - Tulsa 18th (80.4%)


- If you just look at the stats above Allen is the better team but head to head it is a different story with Allen losing all three games against Tulsa. In those three games the Oilers have outscored Allen 10-6 but Allen has a slight edge in shots (119-117). The Americans are 2-12 (16.7%) on the power play while Tulsa is 2-8 (25.0%). Tulsa has 48 penalty minutes compared to 34 for Allen.

- I know I sound like a broken record but the Americans have to get the first goal against the Oilers, something they failed to do in the three losses last weekend. If Allen can get the first goal and at least one power play goal they will win the game. They are definitely due to score the first goal.


- Officials scheduled for the game are referee Jonathan Sitarski (#23) and linesmen Brian Bull (#95) and Lucas Bisbee (#72). Sitarski was also the referee last night.


- Here is the game preview issued by the Allen Americans: https://allenamericans.com/americans-face-tulsa-afternoon-405-pm/


GARY STEFFES

The Americans put on a very nice ceremony last night to honor Gary Steffes and retire his #12 Jersey. From the ceremonial puck drop where Spencer Asuchak represented Allen and Dyson Stevenson represented Wichita, to Gary taking a knee and giving a prayer, to the first period intermission ceremony with video highlights of Gary going back to his college days at Miami University (Ohio), to the messages from the Commissioner and players to Gary's remarks to the audience, it was a class ceremony for a guy who has always been a class act.    

 Here are a few favorite photos from last night courtesy of Lauren Lyssy:

Gary takes a knee for the last time on AEC ice

Gary and family enjoying highlight video

Gary's mom, dad and sisters feel the powerful emotion of the night

DID YOU KNOW: The first time Allen fans ever saw Gary Steffes play at the Allen Event Center was December 18, 2010 when he was playing for the Tulsa Oilers. Gary led Tulsa in shots with five and had a goal as the Oilers spanked the Americans 5-0.