Anyway you slice it the Allen Americans will have their work cut out for them tonight as they take on the best team in the Mountain Division, the Kansas City Mavericks. The stats don't lie and they tell a pretty bleak story and it started from the beginning of the season and it has never stopped:
- In Allen's home opening weekend Kansas City shutout the Americans 4-0 and 9-0.
- Allen is 1-5-0-0 against Kansas City this season.
- Allen scores one goal per game less than KC (2.6 vs 3.6).
- Allen allows 1.6 goals more per game than KC (4.2 vs 2.6).
- Allen takes 5.5 shots fewer per game than KC (28.5 vs 34.0).
- Allen allows 12.9 more shots per game than KC (38.9 vs 26.0).
- Allen's home record is 6-12-4-0 with 5 of the six wins against Rapid City and Utah.
- Kansas City's road record is 18-6-0-2, 2nd best in the ECHL.
- Allen has lost three straight games while being outscored 21-5.
- Kansas City is 6-0-1-0 in its last seven games, allowing and average of 1.71 goals per game.
- Positive news is very scant, but there is a little:
- Allen has beaten Kansas City one time all season, but it was the last time these teams played and the Americans won handily, It was an afternoon road game and a Brayden Watts pure hat trick led Allen to a 5-2 win. One of the Kansas City's two goals was scored with five seconds remaining in the game.
- Allen's home penalty kill percentage (80.5%) is better than Kansas City's road penalty kill percentage (77.2%).
- Allen's home power play percentage (18.2%) is better than Kansas City's road power play percentage (17.2%).
- Kansas City's best goalie, Victor Ostman, who is an NHL contracted goalie (Seattle) and has accounted for 18 of the Mavericks 28 wins was just recalled to the Kraken. I heard even though the NHL is shutdown during the 4-Nations tournament until February 22, each NHL team must have a minimum roster. Ostman is occupying one of the goalie slots even though there no games. Since the AHL is still playing, I assume this is a way of preventing NHL teams from sending a bunch of players to the AHL during the 4-Nations tournament. I also assume it is a big payday for Ostman, whose NHL salary is $775,000 versus his minor league salary of $82,500 according to the website Puckpedia.
- How important will the first goal be tonight? Hard to overstate this stat. Kansas City and Allen are at different ends of the scoring first spectrum. The Americans have the worst record in the league when scoring first, 7-9-4-1 (.492). In contrast, Kansas City has the best record in the league when scoring first, 22-2-2-1 (.885). The conclusion you can draw from this stat is Allen won't necessarily win if it scores first, but Kansas City will almost certainly win if the Mavericks score first. FYI, the team that scored first has won all six games these teams have played this season.
- Playing with the lead is a big advantage for both of these teams. Allen is 5-2-3-1 when leading after the first period and 10-1-2-0 when leading after the second period. Kansas City is almost unbeatable when it has the lead. The Mavericks are 18-0-0-0 when leading after the first period and 20-1-2-0 when leading after the second period. If Allen gets behind tonight it will most likely mean defeat.
- Special teams may play key role tonight. Kansas City leads the division in points percentage but also in penalty minutes. Against most teams Allen has taken more penalties and given up more power play opportunities than its opponent. Checkout how close these two teams are in penalty minute stats:
- Penalty minutes: 543 Allen, 608 Kansas City
- Minor penalties: 199 for both teams
- Major penalties (5 minute): 17 Allen, 20 Kansas City
- Misconduct (10 minute): 4 for both teams
- Misconduct (game): 1 Allen, 6 Kansas City
Odds are both teams will get plenty of power play time tonight. It will be imperative the Americans win the special teams battle.
- Kansas City has nine NHL/AHL contracted players on its roster including six forwards. The six forwards are the Maverick's #1, #3, #4, #5, #6 and #7 goal scorers and the #1, #2, #4, #5, #7 and #9 point scorers. Maybe as important as all of the contract players assigned to Kansas City the team has stayed healthy. As of yesterday the Mavericks don't have any players on the 3-day or 14-day injured reserve.
- In the six head to head matches between Allen and Kansas City the Americans have been outscored 29-11 and outshot 247-131. Allen has had three of its lowest shot totals of the season against the Mavericks (16, 18, 18) while allowing three of the highest shots totals of the season against Kansas City (51, 48, 45). Needless to say Allen will have to keep the shots close to stay in the game.
- Brayden Watts is the Allen player to watch for tonight. He is the only Americans player with a point per game average against Kansas City (3G, 4A) in six games. Kansas City, on the other hand has seven players averaging a point a game against Allen. The leader in points is #44 Max Andreev (3G, 8A) and the leader in goals is #9 Cam Morrison (5G, 4A).
- The game tonight will be a one referee game. #29 Logan Gruhl will work the game. He worked the two games these teams played in Allen at the end of December and called just five minor penalties in each game.
LINEUP TONIGHT
OTHER COMMENTS
- A bunch of loaned/contracted NHL/AHL players have been sent down to ECHL teams the last few days with the NHL shutdown. While NHL teams do have to keep a certain number of players on their rosters, they have some sent down to the AHL rich provides the trickle to the ECHL. I count 13 players sent to ECHL teams in the last two days. Rapid City got three players from Calgary and Kansas City got a defenseman (Charlie Wright). Wright will be in the Kansas City lineup tonight.
- In the race for the "Best of the Rest" the Utah Grizzlies had a 2-0 lead in Wichita last night well into the third period, but ended up losing in a shootout. Utah has a three game point streak (2-0-0-1) and Rapid City has a four game point streak (3-0-1-0). Allen has a three game losing streak (0-3-0-0). What makes it even more disappointing is Rapid City and Utah's streaks were on the road, while two of Allen's losses were at home. Here are the "Best of the Rest" standings with games this week in parenthesis:
- .378 - Allen (4 home games vs Kansas City tonight, Worcester on Friday, Saturday, Sunday).
- .413 - Utah (at home vs Idaho, Friday, Saturday, Monday)
- .422 - Rapid City (at home vs Maine, Thursday, Friday, Saturday)
- Kansas City is the only team in the ECHL with eight wins in the last 10 games. Three teams have seven wins in the last 10 games. Here are the hottest teams in the league right now:
- 8-1-1-0: Kansas City
- 7-1-2-0: Toledo
- 7-2-0-1: Trois Riviéres
- 7-3-0-0: Jacksonville
- There is only one ECHL team in the top five in average goals scored and goals allowed. Maybe a surprise that team is the South Carolina Stingrays. They are #2 in average goals scored (3.75) and #3 in average goals allowed (2.50). The Stingrays have been under the radar to some of the more high profile teams, but have the #6 best point percentage (.670) in the league. South Carolina is in the tough South Division, so a deep playoff run will be a challenge, but don't count them out.
- It is a light schedule around the ECHl tonight with just four games on the schedule:
- Florida at Indy
- Adirondack at Trois Riviéres
- Cincinnati at Iowa
- Kansas City at Allen
Here is the ECHL Today with the previews: https://echl.com/news/2025/02/echl-today-feb-12
- Seven former ECHL players are taking part in the 4 Nations Faceoff. Here is the ECHL press release with the details: https://echl.com/news/2025/02/seven-former-echl-players-two-coaches-participating-in-4-nations-face-off
- I posted this info on my ECHL Stats page yesterday so wanted to share it here if you haven't seen it. It is the average attendance as a percentage of arena capacity. It is always controversial when I compute these numbers. Fans/teams question the capacity numbers (I take the numbers from the ECHL website) and also question exactly what is included in the attendance figures. My take is these numbers are a decent indicator, especially the teams at the top.
DID YOU KNOW: The ECHL stats post today is about 3rd period comebacks. Allen did this recently but it is still a rarity. The Americans record when trailing after second period is 2-21-2-1:
Why does Allen always have such a bad Ahl affiliate??? They don’t ever send us anyone!!! Why??? Is it because we are so bad??
ReplyDeleteWhat died that have to do with anything? We have 2 affiliate goalies and cut Constantini who is definitely better than our affiliate goalies.
DeleteYou need to build a team that can stand on its own, not hope we get help when we suck.
Joe has already stated that he will make it his mission to allianate anyone who helps the Americans. He has already called other team presidents and our affiliate. It’s ridiculous that Little Joe has this much control and is tied to an ownership group who’s creating an ECHL monopoly.
Proof?
DeleteIf there were any validity to the above, and there very well may be, Myles needs to initiate a cease and desist letter immediately, with a cc to the ECHL, its integrity department (assuming that even exists) and to Ryan Crelin.
DeleteIf there were any truth to any aspect as alleged, Joe Ernst should be banned from the ECHL and banned from working in any capacity as it relates to any management company, or part thereof, of an ECHL team or ownership group.
Furthermore, if the allegations are true, Joe would not be protected by some corporate shield, and Myles should look to sue Joe personally, as an additional defendant to the suit, which at the very least would force Joe to hire separate outside counsel to Zawyer. His actions may be beyond the scope of his corporate Zawyer responsibilities, all of which would be clarified in a deposition. Count me in for $5k to see it makes it to this stage. Would love to see Joe peppered with 600 questions as it relates to the ECHL, his role formerly, his role currently, emails, phone records etc. What a field day we'd all have.
Would love Ryan Crelin to make some big boy decisions, I mean that's what he is paid $400k+ to do ..... right?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
DeleteAgree 100 and hopefully he will! Its factual
AND cc every other "governor" in the ECHL as to Joe's alleged actions, because as it pertains to an executive of an ECHL ownership group and a direct connection to an existing ECHL Governor in Andrew Kauffman, they need to know what is going on. I mean it (allegedly) appears that it could be believed, that Zawyer is championing the actions of Joe Ernst. Or is this going on unbeknownst to Zawyer executives and ownership?
DeleteLittle Joe. If only he was as good as the “real” Little Joe on Bonanza. 🤠 We need Pa to kick — and take names. Or Hoss.
ReplyDeletePart of what made Coach Martinson and then Coach Costello good coaches and GM's is that they were able to rebuild teams on the fly mid-season without getting help from the AHL team affiliate. The ECHL game is mostly all about how many players on AHL level are sent down. You get 10 players sent down you will have a strong ECHL team. You get no help then you play catch up the entire season. The difference this year, outside of Allen's top end talent leaving is that the players that were brought in by BJ were mostly SPHL guys. He did get a couple of guys that are good core players...Watts, Duarte...but lack of experience in the coaching ranks, lack of support by AHL affiliate, and lack of understanding by ownership about how this works just killed this season for Allen. I really hope that next season we can complete on at least the same level as the other teams. That would mean have an actual coach that knows what he's doing, sign some guys above the SPHL level, get an affiliate that will actually help, and then have ownership help the team instead of destroying the team. Allen can be a good team again but it won't be if this season is repeated next season.
ReplyDeleteApologies left this out of the last post. Thank You Barry for continuing to be a rock in providing this blog. You are something about this team that has been and is excellent!
ReplyDeleteThe affiliate also has to trust the coach at hand, I would not send any players to be guided by BJ, luckily he is gone. Agreed Marty and Chad had the trust from others bc they had shown they know what they are doing.
ReplyDeleteStop beating me.
ReplyDeleteAmen
DeleteYou’re dead. Be quiet.
DeleteYou're beating yourself and it's really inappropriate - youngsters visit this site...
Delete^^^^^^^^^^^LOL^^^^^^^^^^
Delete74% LMMFAO!!!! This has to include the stacks of tickets I saw in the dumpsters behinds DICKS
ReplyDeleteWednesday night - February - WORST team in the League - Attendance tonight CLAIMED: 3,012 ACTUAL: 843
DeletePeople in Line to claim non-renewed season tickets = 0
DeleteIf you’re are a STM it counts even when you are not there
DeleteWhere did the actual number come from? I counted 6 of the fuller sections and got to 102. I think the actual number was closer to 300 and I don't think there were another 500 hiding in the suites... that 843 number must include employees!
DeleteIt does - I also counted the concession people and cleaning crew
DeleteLast minute game predictions?
ReplyDeleteOh yea - we are well past this...just say UGLY!
I saw KC break the record for goals scored against
DeleteNot hard to see why powell was released
ReplyDeleteHalf this team belongs in the SPHL - like watching a Peanuts soccer game - just a gaggle of slop moving up and down the ice
DeleteThat’s where they came from lol you know will all of BJ’s contacts he had
DeleteHaving to keep two affiliate goalies is ridiculous. Wells is barely decent and the fact we can’t keep Richardson more than a “reserve” is pure insanity. Thornton needs to be out of the ECHL and get some experience winning in the SPHL or rec league. Our defense isn’t great but solid goalie play would surely be helpful.
ReplyDeleteOur goalies aren't this - yes, they are below average for this level but the defense is pathetic - beyond pathetic and the offense might have some moments but they blow game in/game out - NO basics skill at all
DeleteAgreed and I should have commented on that. Thanks for covering.
DeleteMy pleasure - I'm not an expert but I did watch them play last night
DeleteThornton and Wells -Released from SPC
DeleteI hope
🙏🏼
DeleteFergie looks like George Castanza on a really bad day
ReplyDeleteThe only way this team is going to get back to winning again is if the owners hire a good experienced coach that knows how to coach and knows what he’s doing. Also, hire a coach that can get good players here, because right now, no good players will sign to come here because of our losing record this year. Owners please step up and hire a coach that knows what they’re doing!!!
ReplyDeleteCostello?
DeleteAgreed. Need a coach who knows players and has contacts to call.
DeleteLapping track same comments over and over again. Although valid tired of repetition.
ReplyDeleteI guess we can only have one persons opinion. Makes sense.
DeleteSo many experts repeating what all the other experts say.
ReplyDeletebecause its true and everyone is upset with what has been done to this team. I'm sorry that you don't get it.
DeleteTulsa Oilers
ReplyDeletedelete Easton Brodzinski, F placed on reserve
I miss him