It was rinse and repeat on Sunday afternoon as the Allen Americans were swept by the Worcester Railers. Just like the loss on Friday night a bad first period doomed the Americans. Allen was outshot in the first period 16-4 and outscored 3-0. Even though Allen was the better team in the final two periods, outshooting the Railers 33-18 the Americans could manage just one goal to make the final score 3-1.
- Allen did not score even strength in the game. The Americans one goal was scored by Brayden Watts on the power play, his 17th goal of the season. Allen has now lost seven straight games and been outscored 39-14. That computes to giving up an average of 5.6 goals per game while scoring an average of 2.7 goals per game. Not a formula for success.
- It will be out of the frying pan into the fire this week as the Americans head to Kansas City for games on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The team will leave at midnight tonight and bus to Kansas City, arrive early Tuesday morning, grab breakfast and head to the rink for a 10:00 am practice and then have the rest of the day off. The Americans record against Kansas City is 1-5-0-0 and they have been outscored in the six games 29-11. If there is good news the one Allen win came in Kansas City. I will have a complete series preview on Wednesday.
- Here is the game recap from Worcester with all of the details and the video highlights:
- Worcester Railers game recap: https://railershc.com/news/2025/02/railers-sweep-americans-with-3-1-finale-win
- Video highlights: https://echl.com/videos/worcester-railers-vs-allen-americans-feb-16-2025
- Coach Ferguson met with season ticket holders after the game. Props to the coach who meets with the season ticket holders after every home game unless there is an on ice event after a game that requires the use of the room. Here is what he had to say:
"We all saw the story out there, we came out flat. I don't know what it is. It seems like the last few games home ice advantage has gone right out the window. Getting out shot 16-4 in the first period is not a recipe for success."
"The guys tried to battle back in the 2nd and 3rd period with a 33-18 shot advantage. We are not hear for little victories, but the fight was still in the players."
"We were a desperate trying to score in the third period. What we need is that type of desperation from the opening puck drop."
"Before the game yesterday I told the guys to go to a different coffee shop, drive a different way to the rink, if you ride with a buddy hop in with another buddy, if you play soccer before the game don't play soccer, if you don't play soccer before the game play soccer, try something different. Today before the game the guys were feeling good and we say all the right things, but the fact is there is another team out there when the puck drops and we have to be ready."
"In the first period our forwards weren't working back for our defensemen to give them outlets, so our defensemen were just trying to throw pucks up the wall and they would be picked off and head right back at us."
"We need our best players to be our best players this week in Kansas City."
OTHER COMMENTS
- Allen is falling further and further behind in the "Best of the Rest" race. Here are the standings with each team's schedule this week in parenthesis:
- .458 - Rapid City (at Utah Friday, Saturday and Sunday)
- ,417 - Utah (Rapid City at home Friday, Saturday and Sunday)
- .357 - Allen (at Kansas City Wednesday, Friday and Saturday)
- 7-2-1-0 Rapid City
- 4-3-1-2 Utah
- 3-6-0-1 Allen
- Grant Hebert (F) - left his team in England (Manchester Storm ) and has signed with the Norfolk Admirals. He had 35 points (14G, 21A) in 32 games in Manchester. His team is in ninth place in a 10 team league and out of playoff contention. He joins Norfolk who is ranked #9 of the 29 ECHL teams and will be in the playoffs.
- Andrew Nielson (D) - He played 10 games in Allen earlier this season and has played the last 30 games in Utah. The defenseman had 23 points (4G, 19A) for the Grizzlies. He just got in under the deadline and has signed with a team in the second best league in Sweden. Utah will not make the playoffs. His team (Sodertalje) in Sweden will, is currently in fourth place in a 14 team league.
- Jame Hardie (F) - He started this season in Allen and was traded to Wheeling. He just signed with a team (Blue Devils Weiden) in the DEL2, the second best league in Germany. His team is currently in seventh place in a 14 team league. His team should make the playoffs.
- Mark Sinclair (G) - played with Allen last season and had a .907 save percentage in 27 games. He signed with Bloomington this season and had a .929 save percentage in 21 games. Bloomington is fighting for a playoff spot, but has a losing record. Sinclair just signed with a team (HPK) in the top league in Finland (Liiga) which is considered one of the best leagues in Europe. His team is currently in 10th place in the 16 team league. The top 12 teams make the playoffs.
Not sure as to the validity of the below, but heard this rumor, this may have some legs to it, or may not.
ReplyDeleteLet me state that I think Ferguson has skills and knowledge much more developed than we think. In fairness, he is working with the roster and transactions, both good and bad that BJ left him. I do believe Ferguson could be a great long term coach for Allen and would fully support him if he was made the HC/GM permanently. Costello isn't coming back.
The rumor I am hearing in ECHL circles, is that the IceMen parted ways with their Head Coach Brandon Mashinter and Allen Americans were mentioned in the same conversation.
I don't know if Myles has approached Brandon, or the IceMen/Zawyer in any capacity based on his interests in the IceMen (minority), or if Allen was mentioned due to Brandon and BJ being hired by Ernst.
Either way, there is enough speculation to believe that Zawyer parting ways with Mashinter midway through a winning season is beyond strange, and the fact Allen is mentioned in the same sentence, makes you wonder.
Again, simply a rumor, zero sources yet to confirm any of this other than hearing some chatter. This could be way off base and not accurate at all.
Ferguson has only won against 1 team. He is not the answer
DeleteThe best coach in the NHL couldn’t fix the mess that has been created in Allen. Fresh blank sheet of paper is needed although there is talent on this roster. Ferguson hasn’t had a fair crack at proving himself. He’s doing the best he can with the BJ mess. I’m a Costello fan, I want Costy back, but Ferguson deserves a chance like the poster said.
DeleteInteresting comments. Ferguson deserves a seat at the table.
DeleteYou're the only one who thinks so!
DeleteHe is 3 10 2 2 in 17 games and those 3 wins came against another bad team. Losing 14 out of 17 doesn't shout "hire me" in my book.
DeleteI think he deserves a full season. I'm not the previous poster so add me to the list. I bet you are the same guy posting negatively though, Boom .. I'm right.
DeleteAre you really wanting another season like this one next year? I'm not the same one posting but you sound like someone in management that's trying to prepare the way to bring back this same disaster next year. He has shown nothing at all to indicate he knows what he is doing or that he can fix any of this.
DeleteWe let our BJ go today...
ReplyDeletePensacola, Fla. (February 17, 2025) – The Pensacola Ice Flyers have announced that Head Coach Gary Graham has been relieved of his coaching duties, effective immediately. The decision comes as the team faces ongoing challenges on the ice, currently sitting at the bottom of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) standings.
Hype, or an inherent belief of success is not a recipe for winning games. The coaches thinking and convincing ownership, whether SPHL or ECHL that success can be achieved in the first season are delusional, and shame on ownership for thinking it can happen.
DeleteAt a minimum, a new coach deserves at least 2 seasons to prove themselves.
Clearly BJ was an exception to the rule blatantly blowing up a team and refusing to call players from Costello's roster. Bonehead decisions.
Who hired Ferguson originally?
DeleteSure when you have hired the very best possible candidate give them a chance - but that is not even close to the case here.
Why has Costello turned RC around and Ferguson actually made things even worse? You really want to give that 2 years?
Myles Jack has had months to connect with Costello.
DeleteFrom what I understand, he has not.
Not sure if he's afraid to make contact, or what, but a failure to acknowledge a colossal mistake to Costello speaks volumes.
Costello WILL be the HC/GM at Rapid City next season.
It is such a shame momentum was lost and the club essentially taken back 10+ years in a matter of months.
I just saw where their coach is returning after finishing treatment so your information may or may not be correct
DeleteAesthetics. I remain confident in my sources.
Delete5102….. some of us older folks remember when Jerry Jones bought the Cowboys, fired Tom Landry and brought in Jimmy Johnson.
ReplyDeleteBlew up the team.
Their record their first year was 1-15.
If my memory is correct, three years later they won the first of three super bowls in four years.
I say let’s give Ferguson at least a season or two to build a team.
We’ve been season ticket holders since the first game of the first year, and YES we renewed for next year!
GO RED!!
Let’s compare Jimmy’s and Furbies accomplishments before they they got those positions
DeleteFaulty-logic comparison for sure.
DeleteOn a positive note: Only 10 home games left to get through this season. Any predictions on the home record for the last 10 home games? I am thinking 3-7.....
ReplyDelete2-8 based on statistics so far.
Delete