Allen Loses 3-2, Game Recap, Video Highlights, Coach's Comments, 4th Line Magic, Point Percentage Difference Since December 1, Roster Makeup and More

 

Allen lost 3-2 last night in Kansas City. It was the Americans seventh loss in eight games against the Mavericks this season. The loss also matched Allen's longest losing streak of the season (eight games). Kansas City scored first and kept the streak alive, the team that has scored first has won all eight games these teams have played this season. Unfortunately Allen has scored first just once. 

 

- Once again the Americans fell behind and couldn't catch up. Allen trailed 1-0 after the first period which was a death knell for the Americans. The Mavericks haven't lost a game all season when they have had the lead after the first period. A perfect 20-0-0-0.  

 

- Things didn't get any better for the Americans in the second period. Kansas City took a 3-0 lead midway through the period before Allen finally got on the scoreboard. Nick Isaacson scored his first goal since joining the Americans.  

- Allen scored the only goal of the third period to cut the score to 3-2. Isaacson scored his second goal of the night early in the period (4:52). Allen had plenty of time to get the equalizer which included two power play opportunities, but came up short. Kansas City's stellar defense was the difference in the game. The Mavericks have the #3 ranked defense in the ECHL giving up an average of 2.49 goals per game. If you look at the last 12 Kansas City games, they have a record of 10-1-1-0 (.875) and have allowed just 19 goals for a goals per game average of 1.58. Allen will have to score more than two goals if it expects to win on Friday and Saturday.

 

- If you are looking for positives from the game last night there are a few:

• After gave up eight power play goals (3,2,3) in the last three games against KC. The Allen penalty kill was perfect last night (0-6).
• Allen allowed fewer shots (34) than its average against KC (39).
• Allen took more shots (28) than its average against KC (22).
• Nick Isaacson scored both of Allen's goals. His first goals for Allen.

 

-  Here is the game recap from the Allen Americans which includes post game comments from coach Ferguson: https://allenamericans.com/news/2025/02/americans-lose-a-tight-battle-with-kc 

- Here are the video highlights. Notice Kansas City's second goal was from the goal line in the corner. The Mavericks third goal was on a shot headed way wide that went off an Allen skate into the net. https://echl.com/videos/allen-americans-vs-kansas-city-mavericks-feb-19-2025

 

COACH FERGUSON'S COMMENTS

- I asked coach Ferguson for his thoughts on the game:

"We were off to a good start on the road, but when they scored the first goal we took our foot off the gas for a bit."

"Richardson held us in the game, bouncing back after a couple of unlucky goals."

"We found ourselves chasing the game again after they scored one goal from a bad angle and one off our defenseman's skate that was going three feet wide."

"Good on Isaacson going to the net and getting rewarded."

"In the third period our forecheck took over and we got pucks back, controlled a lot of the play, but never could get the equalizer."

"The guys fought hard to battle back, we need to end up on the other side of these one goal games." 

 

 OTHER COMMENTS

- If Allen players are in a goal scoring slump they should ask coach Ferguson to put them on the fourth line. Check out these stats:

• The fourth line goal scoring barrage started with Harrison Blaisdell. He had one goal in 28 games and then rattled of goals in three straight games (February 7, 8, 12),
• Blaisdell's fourth line teammate Liam Gorman, kept the streak going in the next game on February 14. Gorman had three goals in his first 43 games for Allen. He scored two of Allen's three goals last Friday.
• Kamerin Nault was the fourth line hero the next game on February 15. He had no goals in his first six game since being recently acquired, but scored the first two goals of the game last Saturday.
  
• Nick Isaacson was put on the fourth line last night and the magic continued. All he did was score Allen's only two goals. Isaacson had no goals in the 23 games he has played for Allen prior to last night. 
• The fourth line has something special going on when it comes to goal scoring. Three multiple goal games and a three goals in three games streak. All this happened in the last seven games. Nine of Allen's 16 goals (56%) in the last seven games were scored by the fourth line.
  
• Gorman was promoted to the #1 line last night and Blaisdell was promoted to the #3 line and neither one scored. They might ask to go back on the fourth line where all the goal scoring happens. (Just kidding).     

- Other than a three game sweep of Rapid City at the end of January the Americans haven't won a game since January 8. Since January 8, Allen has had a seven game losing streak and an eight game losing streak wrapped around the three wins against Rapid City. The Allen record is even worse if you go back to the beginning of December. Here are the details:

• 8 game losing streak
• 1 win
  
• 5 game losing streak
• 2 wins
• 7 game losing streak
• 3 wins
• 8 game losing streak

 

- You add it all together and the Americans record since December 1st is 6-22-4-2 (.264). At the end of November here were the Mountain Division point percentages:

• .694 - Tulsa 
• .632 - Kansas City 
• .583 - Idaho 
• .563 - Tahoe
• .531 - Allen
• .500 - Wichita
  
• .389 - Rapid City
• .353 - Utah

Here are the point percentages today:

• .707 - Kansas City
• .620 - Wichita
• .620 - Tulsa
• .608 - Tahoe
• .592 - Idaho
• .458 - Rapid City
• .418 - Utah
• .350 - Allen

Here is the point percentage difference from December 1 until today:

• +.120: Wichita
• +.075: Kansas City
• +.069: Rapid City 
• +.065: Utah
  
• +.045: Tahoe
  
• +.009: Idaho
  
• -.074: Tulsa   
• -.181: Allen 

You can see Allen has lost more ground in point percentage since December 1st than any other Mountain Division team and it isn't close. Six of the eight teams have a better point percentage today than on December 1st. 

- Probably not much outdoors activity for the team's off day today with a high temperature of 10 degrees. I heard a lot of the players will be watching the Canada vs USA game tonight at a Sport's bar right next to the hotel. Would assume some of their per diem money will be on the line. 

 

 

DID YOU KNOW: The ECHL Stats post today is about the number of NHL/AHL contracted players and rookies on ECHL rosters. With Dylan Well recalled to Tucson, Allen has four contracted players on the roster but two of them (Thornton, Gavin) are on injured reserve. Allen has 10 rookies on the roster. How does this compare to Allen's opponent, Kansas City last night? Kansas City had eight contracted players dress for the game last night (two goalies) and will get a ninth back on Saturday when Max Andreev returns from suspension. He is second on the team in points (42) and first in assists (30). Kansas City has nine rookies on its roster. 

ECHL teams with the most and fewest NHL/AHL contracted players and rookies. Numbers include players on reserve and injured reserve:

 

Most NHL/AHL Contracted Players

12: SAV

11: CIN, GVL, SC

 

Fewest NHL/AHL Contracted Players

1: WOR

2: IDH

3: TUL

 

Most Rookies

19: ADK

15: CIN

 

Fewest Rookies

5: FLA

6: FW, KAL, ORL