The Allen Americans are in Wichita to take on the league leading (winning percentage) Thunder tonight (7:05 pm CST) in a critical division matchup. Wichita is the most improved team in the ECHL this season. They finished last season ranked #26 in the league with a .340 winning percentage compared to this season with the #1 ranking of .875.
- The game tonight will be the third of 12 times these teams will meet this season. They have split the first two meetings with Allen winning 5-3 in Wichita and Wichita winning 3-1 in Allen.
- The Americans and Thunder will meet again tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon and this two game set will go along way in showing whether Allen is indeed back on track after a five game losing streak at the end of October. Since that time the Americans are 4-1-0-1 but the games have been close and low scoring. The two games this weekend against Wichita will be a good measuring stick for Allen. Best case scenario for the Americans is they win both games in regulation and are tied with the Thunder for first place in the division with 21 points. Worst case scenario is they lose both games in regulation, fall eight points behind Wichita and are all alone in sixth place in the division with 17 points.
Here is a match up between Allen and Wichita:
ALLEN WICHITA
Team Record 7-4-2-1 (17 points) 10-1-1-0 (21 points)
Division Ranking 4th - Mountain 1st - Central
Conference Ranking 5th - Western 2nd - Western
League Ranking 11th 3rd
Last Game 4-3 Win (Tulsa) 2-1 Win (Kansas City)
Goals For 47 45
Goals Against 40 27
Power Play 15.7% 11/70) 23.3% (10/43)
Penalty Kill 89.6% (7/67) 89.4% (5/47)
Most PIM Arseneau (32) Stevenson (40)
Leading Scorers: Pierro-Zabotel (4-12-16) Platzer (5-9-14)
Pochiro (7-3-11) MacMillan (7-6-13)
- Here is how Allen and Wichita rank in the ECHL in some statistical categories:
Penalty Minutes Per Game: Allen 4th (21.14) - Wichita 20th (14.75)
Goals Scored Per Game: Allen 12th (3.36) - Wichita 4th (3.75)
Goals Allowed Per Game: Allen 7th (2.86) - Wichita 1st (2.25)
Shots For Per Game: Allen 7th (34.71) - Wichita 19th (30.42)
Shots Against Per Game: Allen 22nd (36.14) - Wichita 18th (33.50)
Power Play Percentage: Allen 18th (15.7%) - Wichita 3rd (23.3%)
Penalty Kill Percentage: Allen 3rd (89.6%) - Wichita 4th (89.4%)
- Both teams have been getting great goaltending. They rank #1 and #2 in team save percentage in the ECHL. Wichita leads at .933 and Allen is close behind at .923. Based on the recent past you would expect the game to be low scoring. Wichita leads the ECHL in goals allowed per game with a 2.25 average. Allen is ranked #7 at 2.86.
- If you look at the stats above a few things stand out. Wichita is historically toward the top of the charts in penalty minutes but this season is ranked #20 averaging under 15 penalty minutes per game. Don't let the numbers fool you as the Thunder are still plenty tough. They have had 13 fights in 12 games compared to Allen with 16 fights in 14 games.
- The battle of the special teams will be interesting to watch. Wichita has the #3 ranked power play at 23.3% but at home have converted at a much lower rate (16.0%). Allen has the #3 ranked penalty kill at 89.6% but on the road is 83.3%. As is typically the case special teams will be a key to victory.
- The stats show how important it is to score the first goal and have a good first period if you want to win. Allen is 5-0 when scoring first and Wichita is 7-1 when scoring first. The one loss the Thunder had when scoring first was against Allen. The combined record of these teams with a first period lead is 10-0.
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The Thunder have outscored their opponents 18-7 in the first period, 19-9
in the second period and have actually been outscored 6-10 in the third
period. Allen has had much more balanced scoring. The Americans have outscored their
opponents 16-15 in the first period, 15-10
in the second period and 14-12 in the third period. If Allen is going to
beat Wichita it is imperative they win the first period. If Allen falls
behind in the first period it may be a long night.
- Both teams will be missing key players tonight. Wichita's top scorer (Kyle Platzer) and third leading scorer (Zach O'Brien) are currently with the Thunder's AHL affiliate (Bakersfield). Allen's second leading scorer, Zach Pochiro, is on the injured reserve.
- Officials scheduled for the game are referee Sean MacFarlane (#4) and linesmen Tony Pizzutelli (#97 ) and Russ Coll (#40).
OTHER COMMENTS
- If you are on social media I am sure you know by now that Tulsa coach, Rob Murray, collapsed on the bench during the second period of the Oilers game in Quad City last night and was taken to the hospital. The game was suspended and will be completed at a later date. Here is the most complete information I could find. It is a story written by Bobby Metcalf of the Quad-City Times: http://qctimes.com/sports/hockey/professional/minor/tulsa-head-coach-rob-murray-taken-to-hospital-with-medical/article_0c23ac0c-fcd9-595d-ad3b-76cf98e116ca.html
The most current info I have seen is from Tulsa's broadcaster and Vice President of Communications John Peterson, who accompanied Murray in the ambulance to the hospital. About 2:00 am John put out this message, "Coach Murray is in good spirits (he's a fighter after all). We are staying over night in Quad Cities for precautionary reasons. Plan is to be released in the morning." Earlier in the evening John had said, "Coach Murray is doing well. The doctors have told me he is suffering from dehydration and exhaustion. They said there is no concern right now."
It was really heartening so see all of the messages from around the ECHL, fans and teams showing concern for Murray and sending along their thoughts and prayers. It really is one big family in AA hockey.
- Greger Hanson was sent back to Utah by the San Diego Gulls (AHL) yesterday and it didn't take him long to make his presence felt. Utah lost last night to Colorado 3-2 in overtime. Greger had both Utah goals in a losing cause and was named the #1 star of the game.
- With Allen not playing last night along with Colorado and Idaho winning, the Americans dropped to fourth place in the Mountain Division standings. Here are the current
Mountain Division standings with games played in parentheses:
21 points - Wichita (12 games)
18 points - Colorado (14 games)
18 points - Idaho (14 games)
17 points - Allen (14 games)
15 points - Utah (15 games)
14 points - Tulsa (13 games)
10 points - Rapid City (13 games)
DID YOU KNOW: Winning the regular season championship is not a good
predictor of playoff success. Once the playoffs start any team is
capable of winning. Allen won four straight championships but only
once (2012-13) did they have the best regular season record. If you look at the last ten seasons in the ECHL the regular season champion won the Kelly Cup just three times.
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