Allen Wins in OT, Game Recap, Video Highlights, Steve Martinson's Post Game Comments, Rematch Preview, Martinson's Accomplishments and More

It wasn't pretty but the Allen Americans beat the Kalamazoo Wings last night 3-2 in overtime before a crowd of 3488 at the Allen Event Center. With the win the Americans now have 57 points, three more than second place South Carolina. In the process Allen surpassed their point total for the entire 2018-19 season (56) and gave Steve Martinson his 1028 win which vaulted him into second place on the all time win list for professional coaches.


- Allen got off to a good start scoring the first goal of the game. Nick Boka scored his first pro goal just 2:45 into the game and it was shorthanded. Allen scored a second goal at 11:32 of the opening period as Brett Pollock, who just returned from his loan to the San Diego Gulls (AHL), put home a rebound. Allen had a 2-0 lead after the first period.


-  Everything looked great at the first intermission with the Americans meeting two keys to the game, scoring first and leading after the first period. If you add together Allen's record when scoring first and leading after the first period it is a lofty 30-4-3-0.


- In the second period Allen looked like a different team. What has happened all too often this season, as talented as this group is, happened again. The Americans let Kalamazoo back in the game. Too many guys not working hard, not finishing checks and undisciplined penalties led to two Wings goals and a 2-2 tie at the end of the second period.


- The third period was scoreless though both teams had good scoring opportunities. Both goalies, Jake Paterson for Allen and Jake Hildebrand for Kalamazoo made great saves down the stretch.


- Allen's power play was 0-8 in the game but had a lot of puck possession. There was one power play in the first period where the Americans were in the offensive zone the entire time. The penalty kill was perfect (0-8) and also had a shorthanded goal. You can't ask for more than that, however, Kalamazoo's second goal was scored one second after a penalty expired. 


- When it comes to overtime there is no team in the league with more experience. 16 of Allen's 39 games have gone to overtime, by far the most in the league. The Americans won their first five overtime games this season but have struggled recently. Going into last night Allen had lost four of their last five overtime decisions including their last three. It didn't take long last night as Gabe Gagne scored the game winner just 75 seconds into the overtime period. Allen has eight overtime wins this season, Gagne has the game winner in three of them.


- Here is the game recap from the Allen Americans:  https://allenamericans.com/americans-dump-kalamazoo-in-overtime/


- Here is the Kalamazoo game recap: https://www.kwings.com/en/news/k-wings-gain-a-point-against-west-s-best-in-texas


- Goal scorers for Allen were Nick Boka (1), Brett Pollock (10) and Gabe Gagne (19). Here are the video highlights with all of the goals and plenty of good saves by both goalies:

STEVE MARTINSON'S POST GAME COMMENTS

"It was a frustrating game tonight. We got off to that 2-0 lead and the power play was good in the first period. We had the puck in the offensive zone the whole time but had trouble getting the shots we wanted but I liked our puck possession."

"The goals we allowed in the second period were really frustrating. After the second period I was really pissed. I laid into some of the guys on their work ethic and some of the penalties we were taking because we weren't skating."

"I didn't think we played very well tonight but we got the two points. We need to play better tomorrow."

"We are in a good spot and we have plenty of talent but we are not there yet. We have guys that aren't winning puck battles and aren't working hard. If Iowa stays healthy we could get three forwards assigned soon. If that happens it is going to get real competitive around here. We have a lot of guys that can score but we are going to get a lot of other guys that can score. Some guys need to put their work boots on or they will be sitting in the stands. My patience is at an end."



REMATCH PREVIEW
 

- The Allen power play was 0-7 last night and is now 2-26 (7.7%) over the last six games. It was encouraging to see how well the Americans controlled the puck on the power play. They came close to scoring last night and they will likely break through tonight.


- Here is the update on special teams play for both teams. Comparing Kalamazoo's road and Allen's home special teams record shows they both have struggled. Allen, at home, is ranked #2 on the power play (12.0%) and #9 on the penalty kill (84.6%). Kalamazoo, on the road, is ranked #22 on the power play (13.7%) and #24 penalty kill (75.8%).


- Jake Paterson was great in goal in game one against Kalamazoo stopping 37 of 39 shots for a .949 save percentage. The Iowa Wild goalie (Kaapo Kahkonen) that was call up to Minnesota was returned yesterday so Dereck Baribeau should be headed back to Allen. 


- You can expect Kalamazoo will be playing desperate tonight trying to snap what is now a four game losing streak. Kalamazoo will be playing with out their leading goal scorer and All-Star game selectee Dylan Sadowy, who is out with an injury. Sadowy has 17 goals, no other player on the Wings has more than 10.


OTHER COMMENTS

- Last season two teams (Cincinnati & Florida) finished the season with winning percentages over .700. There are still three teams above .700 this season:

.794 - South Carolina
.731 - Allen
.714 - Newfoundland


- This streak has flown under the radar but Brett Pollock's goal last night extended his streak for games with a point to 11. Brett has at least one point in every game he has played for Allen since December 4. His 11 game streak is the longest current streak in the league.


- With his game winning overtime goal last night Gabe Gagne is now tied for the league lead in game winning goals with six. Three of the six game winning goals came in overtime. 


- I had a chance to meet Kayle Doetzel's mom and dad after the game last night as they were waiting for Kayle to shower and dress. They hail from Rosetown, Saskatchewan which is just southwest of Saskatoon. I am planning a duck and goose hunting trip to that area next fall and was asking them some questions about the town closest where I will be hunting. We also talked about the Doetzel family, Kayle has an older brother and sister, Kayle leaving home at age 15 to play hockey and of course the weather. They thought the Texas weather was great despite the storms. Might be because when they return home the forecast is -20 for a high temp with lows in the -30's. We talked for quite a while and I noticed there wasn't anyone else around. That is when they informed me Kayle is always the last one out of the locker room. His dad said, "I blame myself for that, when I coached Kayle and his brother when they were kids I always told them the best part of a hockey game is in the locker room before the game with your teammates and after the game in the locker room with your teammates. I guess I taught him well because he is always last." I walked back into the locker room to check and sure enough Kayle was the only player left and he was chatting with equipment manger Tim Abbott."


DID YOU KNOW: I post these stats quite often in one fashion or another and wanted to do so again today now that coach Martinson has passed John Brophy for #2 on the all time wins list. If you have spent time with him you know Martinson doesn't take praise well and is not big on milestones. I think he gets his satisfaction from the day to day grind of making his team better and winning the next game. It is a singular focus you rarely see in any line of work. He is as honest as the day is long, open to a fault, an entertainer who is at his best when chirping his players and others around him in good fun. I know from first hand experience the chirps are funny but there is often a message that comes along with the chirp. And as many have said, if he is giving you a hard time it means he likes you (officials excluded from this comment).  It goes without saying how fortunate the Allen Americans are to have Steve Martinson as their coach and general manager. Martinson has 10 championships in his 24 years as a coach including four in seven years at the helm in Allen. His regular season record in Allen is 301-171-25-21. That computes to a winning percentage of .625. He has coached in 17 playoff series with the Americans and has a record of 15-2. Martinson is 5-1 in seven game playoff series including 2-0 in seven game championship finals.