If it seems like it has taken forever for Allen's first round playoff series to start it is well founded. Of the eight first round series the Allen vs Idaho matchup will be the last to commence (Monday, April 22). However, once the series begins things will go very fast. In fact it will take only one day less to play the series than the wait the Americans had between the last game of the regular season and their first playoff game. If the series with Idaho goes seven games it will mean seven games in 10 days with two trips to Idaho.
- The Americans will have a final practice today before flying to Boise on Sunday. Having been at all of the practices this week it is clear to me the coaches and players have put in the time and effort to be ready for this series. Plus the team is as healthy as it has been for a long time. All 22 players on the playoff roster are ready to go. I will delve into the nuts and bolts of this series the next two days, but here is one stat that may help understand how the Americans will have to play to beat Idaho. Allen won three times against Idaho during the regular season and scored five, six and five goals in the wins. Allen scored two or fewer goals six times and lost all six games. Tight low scoring games tend to play into Idaho's strengths. Allen will have to play a more offensive style to be successful. More details tomorrow.
- While Allen has been waiting, the Kansas City vs Tulsa series is in full swing. The Mavericks won again last night and already have a 3-0 lead in the series. Kansas City can close out the series and be waiting for its second round opponent before Allen vs Idaho completes its first game. Both series play Monday, but with the time difference the Kansas City vs Tulsa games will be completed earlier.
- Six of the eight playoff series are already underway. Here is where they stand:
- North Division
- #1 Adirondack trails #4 Maine 1-0
- #2 Norfolk is tied with #3 Trois Riviéres 1-1
- South Division
- #1 Greenville vs #4 Orlando play first game on Sunday
- #2 Jacksonville leads #3 Florida 1-0
- Central Division
- #1 Toledo leads #4 Kalamazoo 1-0
- #2 Indy leads #3 Wheeling 1-0
- #1 Kansas City leads #4 Tulsa 3-0
- #2 Idaho vs #3 Allen play first game on Monday
- A few observations on the first round playoff series:
- Tulsa made the playoffs with a win against Allen in the last game of the regular season. It was a meaningless game for Allen and if you watched the game the Americans did not give a good effort. That 4-1 win over Allen to get the Oilers into the playoffs is Tulsa's only win since March 22. Over the last nine games Tulsa's record in 1-7-2-0.
- Toledo had the second best points percentage in the ECHL during the regular season (.739) and won the Central Division by 19 points. Conventional wisdom would say the Walleye would easily get to the Conference finals, However their first round opponent, #4 seed Kalamazoo gave Toledo fits during the regular season. Toledo was 4-7-2-0 against Kalamazoo. The Walleye won game one of the playoffs last night but it wasn't easy. Kalamazoo took a 2-0 lead in the game before Toledo came back to win in overtime. This is a #1 vs #4 series to keep an eye on.
- Florida got off to a poor start in its attempt to become the first team in ECHL history to three-peat. The Everblades are the #3 seed in the South Division and got shutout 4-0 by #2 seed Jacksonville in game one.
- The higher seeds win the vast majority of first round series. It is very early in the first round but the higher seeds are 7-2 so far.
- I am not a big fan of FloHockey but once the ECHL playoffs start it is nice there is no extra charge for the playoffs for annual memberships and switching from series to series and between home and away broadcasts is easy. Switching between games also allows viewers to compare the difference in production from team to team. I was switching between the Kansas City at Tulsa game and Kalamazoo at Toledo game last night and the production contrast could not have been more stark. Tulsa uses one camera with a very long shot for the entire game. Toledo uses multiple cameras from various angles with closeups of the action and the benches. The Tulsa feed was almost unwatchable while the Toledo feed was very professional with use of graphics and long form interviews between period interviews.
- The Belleville Senators beat the Laval Rocket 3-2 last night to clinch a Calder Cup playoff spot. It was one of those rare games that Laval had to win in regulation time to keep its playoff hope alive. Belleville tied the score 2-2 late in the third period (14:18) on a power play goal. That forced Laval to pull its goalie to try and win the game. Belleville scored and empty net goal with one second remaining to take the win 3-2.
- Belleville has its final game today and will finish in either fourth or fifth place in the North Division. The fourth and fifth place teams will play a best of three series with the winner becoming the #4 seed in the North Division playoffs. Tomorrow (Sunday) is the final day of the AHL season. It is possible the best of three series Belleville will play could take place next week and be over before the weekend. Dates can't be set until the season ends because the standings are so close. Bottom line is don't give up on Belleville sending Meriläinen and/or Fizer to Allen before the conclusion of the Americans series with Idaho. It may be a slim chance but definitely a chance.
- Here is my ECHL Stats post from this morning:
Chad and Gens are great connoisseurs of the game. Allen is lucky to have both. Both should be locked up long term to get this franchise back to it's Championship ways.
ReplyDeleteI suspect with what has been done and players recruited on the back end of the season, I expect seismic changes next season - both from a results standpoint and team standpoint.
Our affiliate is pathetic. Kudos to Chad for "thinking outside the box".
He's saved the team this season from embarrassment because he has recruited very very well. I hope ownership and Mydra is taking note.
Oh, and those 4pm games don't sound good.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. If the front office and coaching staff have not been working on finding a new affiliate for next season, particularly with the Maple Leafs losing their ECHL affiliate, then they are failing.
ReplyDeleteI second this. When the news came down about the Growlers folding, my first reaction was to recall how generously Toronto assigned AHL talent to them. My second was to wonder whether Chad could swing a switch in Canadian affiliates.
DeleteWorst video following the play goes to Toledo. Watch the replay of the Toledo game on the echl website. That is the worst video I've ever seen, and you might want to bring something to throw up in if you easily get dizzy. Whoever is running that group ought to be fired.
ReplyDelete