Allen Wins in Utah, Game Recap, Sheehy, Breton, Falkovsky, Gagne #1 in Scoring, Allen on Pace for Franchise Record Winning Percentage and More

There has been a pattern to the three different two game series Allen has played against Utah this season. In all three the Grizzlies have won the first game and the Americans have won the second game. The pattern was kept alive last night as Allen beat Utah 6-3 before a big Saturday night crowd of 6737 at the Maverik Center. The game was much closer than the score as the Americans scored two empty net goals in the last 44 seconds of the game.


- While the pattern of lose game one, win game two held in Utah it was a very different series. When these teams played in Allen the Grizzlies blew out the Americans in game ones (10-4, 6-1) and Allen won the game twos in overtime (5-4, 6-5). Utah took six of a possible eight points.


- In the preview of this two game series in Utah, I said this would be a big test for Allen on the road. Utah has been the best team in the Mountain Division since the middle of November with a record of 20-4-3-1. Prior to last night Utah had only three regulation losses since November 30. While Allen lost game one in Utah they managed to pick up a point losing 5-4 in overtime. Last night Allen allowed the Grizzlies 29 shots after giving up 43, 45, 43 and 42 shots the last four times these teams played. The better defensive effort led to the 6-3 win.


- The game last night was a back and forth affair and some things didn't go well for Allen. After four straight games of scoring the first goal against Utah the Grizzlies tallied first last night at the 5:32 mark of the opening period. Allen then scored the next two goals, one late in the first period and the other 45 seconds into the second period, both on the power play. Allen's power play has been a difference maker the last five games. It was 2-4 last night and in the last five games is 10-21 for a staggering 47.6%. conversion rate.


- Utah was also effective on the power play going 2-6 and it allowed them to come back from a 2-1 deficit and a 4-2 deficit. Prior to last night the Allen penalty kill had not allowed a goal in the last five games.


- The game was close (4-3) until Allen got empty net goals from Sheehy and VanWormer in the last 44 seconds of the game.


- Goal scorers for Allen were Brett Pollock (14) (PP), Stepan Falkovsky (12) (PP), Jordon Topping (20), Josh Brittain (9), Tyler Sheehy (19) (EN) and Jared VanWormer (18) (EN).


- Here is the game recap from the Utah Grizzlies broadcaster: https://www.utahgrizzlies.com/en/grizzlies-news/grizzlies-lose-6-3-to-allen-on-saturday-night


- Here is the game recap from the Utah Insider with a different take on the game:  https://www.utahgrizzlies.com/en/grizzlies-news/grizzlies-insider-adam-turner-on-6-3-loss-to-allen


- The Americans will head back to Allen today having earned three of four points against one of the hottest teams in the league. They will not play again until Thursday when they take on the Tulsa Oilers in the first of three games in three days. They travel to Wichita for a game on Friday and then back to Allen to play Wichita again at home on Saturday.


OTHER COMMENTS

- Tyler Sheehy had a goal and two assists in the game last night and has once again taken the ECHL scoring lead with 54 points (19G, 35A). FYI, a rookie has not won the ECHL scoring title since the 2011-12 season.


- Alex Breton had three assists last night and has taken over the ECHL scoring lead among defensemen. Alex had a slow start to the season but has been on a hot streak recently. In his last seven games Breton has 12 points. Overall, Breton has 36 points (6G, 30A) and a two point lead in the scoring race.


- Stepan Falkovsky is another player who has been on a hot streak for Allen. Stepan had three points last night (1G, 2A). He has scored six goals in the last seven games and now leads the ECHL in goals by a defensemen with 12.


- Gabe Gagne still leads the ECHL in goals (24) despite missing Allen's last four games. Gagne is making the most of his opportunity in Rockford (AHL). Gabe has played in five games and has a goal and three assists. 


- Allen's power play is much improved and has now cracked the top ten in the ECHL after wallowing at or near the bottom early in the season. A lot has to work well to have an effective power play but the resurgence can be attributed in a large part to Tyler Sheehy. Since December 14 Sheehy has played in 14 games and the power play percentage is 32.8% (19-58). Of the 19 power play goals Sheehy has the goal or assist in 12. Sheehy missed seven games between December 29 and January 12 when he was recalled to Iowa. In those seven games the Allen power play percentage was 12.1% (4-33).


- Allen is now the highest scoring team in the ECHL ranked #1 with an average goals per game of 4.09. They are the only team averaging four goals per game.


- South Carolina had another shutout last night defeating Norfolk 3-0. The Stingrays GAA as a team is 1.91 and their team save percentage is .934, both tops in the ECHL. Parker Milner was in goal last night and recorded his seventh shutout. He has seven shutouts while playing in only 20 games. With his seven shutouts Milner is currently tied for #2 all time for shutouts in a season. Two of the players he is tied with are familiar to Allen fans. Riley Gill and Jake Paterson had seven shutouts in 2016-17. Gill with Allen and Paterson with Toledo. Milner needs one more shutout to tie three other players for the all time record of eight.


- Don't look now but Allen has been slowly moving up the ECHL penalty minutes list. They are now up to #12 with 568 penalty minutes. The Americans have been in 16 fights and are ranked #13 but they are only four fights behind #6 in the rankings. The top fighting team in the ECHL this season is Fort Wayne with 30 fights.


- Several of you have asked for an update on Nick Boka. Coach Martinson shared Boka is scheduled for surgery on Monday and his parents are in town to support him. 



DID YOU KNOW: Allen's winning percentage is now .739 and if the Americans maintain that level for the remainder of the season it would be the highest winning percentage in the history of the franchise. You will note a high winning percentage is not required for success. In the year the Americans had their third lowest winning percentage (.618 in 2015-16) they won the Kelly Cup.  Here are the regular season winning percentages:

.739   2019-20  (after 46 games)
.389   2018-19
.542   2017-18
.722   2016-17
.618   2015-16*
.736   2014-15*
.629   2013-14*
.659   2012-13*
.659   2011-12
.735   2010-11
.695   2009-10

*won championship