A Different Way to Lose, Game Recap, Coach's Comments, ECHL Rookie Numbers Rising, Critical Playoff Dates and More

 

The results were the same, but Allen got to its eighth straight loss and 20th loss in the last 21 games in a much different fashion last night. The Americans lost 6-5 to Utah in a game with six power-play goals, 13 opportunities, and 19 penalties.

 

- It was a typical start for the Americans as they gave up two goals in the first 105 seconds of the game. Utah took a 2-0 lead, scoring on the first two shots of the game. Every time a team has taken an early multiple-goal lead in the last 20 games, it was game over. Not last night as the Americans battled back with two goals of their own to tie the score 2-2 by the end of the period. Jared Westcott scored a power-play goal, his fifth goal of the season (2nd in Allen), and Jay Powell also scored his second goal since joining Allen.

 

-  Allen took the lead 3-2 early in the second period (4:37) on a Quinn Warmuth power-play goal, his fifth of the season. It was the first time in 22 periods (7+ games) that Allen had a lead in a game. The lead didn't last long as Utah scored twice to take a 4-3 lead, but that lead evaporated in the last minute of the period. Mark Duarte scored on Allen's third power play goal of the game to tie the score 4-4 going into the second intermission. It was Duarte's team leading 19th goal of the season. 

 

- Allen took the lead 5-4 just 46 seconds into the third period on yet another power-play goal. J.C. Brassard scored his fifth goal of the season and the third goal of the night by a defenseman. Once again, the Allen lead didn't last long. Just 22 seconds after the Brassard goal the Grizzlies got the tying goal again to make the score 5-5. The game-winner came, fittingly, on the sixth power-play goal of the game. Utah took the 6-5 lead with just over eight minutes remaining in the game. Allen had a 5-1 shot advantage in the last eight minutes but could not score the equalizer. 

 

- Here are the game recaps and video highlights:

• Allen Americans game recap: https://allenamericans.com/news/2025/03/game-recap-americans-score-four-power-play-goals-but-lose-6-5 
• Utah Grizzlies game recap: https://utahgrizzlies.com/news/2025/03/grizzlies-win-6-5-thriller-at-maverik-center 

- Here are some stats from the game, both good and bad:

• Allen ended its 0-39, 11 game power play drought going 4-7 last night.
• In one game, Allen raised its power play percentage from 15.5% to 16.9%.
• Allen came back from 2-0 and 4-3 deficits in the game to take the lead.
• Allen scored five goals for the first time since January 8 and just the third time all season.
• Allen allowed six goals; it was the seventh time in the last 21 games giving up 6 or more goals.
• Allen held its own on shots, Utah had a 32-31 advantage. 
• Allen gave up the first goal of the game for the eighth straight game.
• Allen was playing without forwards Brayden Watts (sick) and Miko Matikka (injured). Both could return for the game on Friday.

 

- I swapped messages with coach Ferguson after the game. This is what he had to say:

"You score five goals, and you expect to win."

"It was a tough call on the game-winner. You would hope the referee wouldn't decide a 5-5 game with under 10 minutes left in the game. But they are human too."   

"I liked our effort tonight after being down 2-0 on the first two shots of the game. The guys clawed back to take the lead a couple of times. It was good to see that resilience in our group."

"We need to hang on to those leads. It is a big weekend ahead of us. Excited to see our response." 

OTHER COMMENTS

- There were a couple of important Mountain Division games last night with playoff impact. Wichita beat #1 Kansas City on the road 3-2 while Idaho lost to Tahoe 5-1 on the road. The other team in the playoff mix, Tulsa, plays Rapid City at home tonight. It is the only ECHL game being played tonight. Here are the Mountain Division standings with games remaining in parenthesis:

• 89 points - Kansas City (8)
• 83 points - Tahoe (8)
• 79 points - Wichita (8)
• 76 points - Tulsa (9)
• 73 points - Idaho (9)
• 65 points - Rapid City (9)
• 50 points - Utah (7)
• 38 points - Allen (9)

 

- Most and fewest wins this season show just how poorly Allen has played even compared to other poor-performing teams:

FEWEST WINS

• 14 - Allen
• 21 - Utah
• 22 - Adirondack
• 23 - Greenville
• 25 - Cincinnati 

MOST WINS

• 46 - South Carolina
• 44 - Florida
• 42 - Kansas City
• 41 - Toledo
• 41 - Trois Riviéres

 

-  It is hard to have a wider gap than this. Both teams could make the record book this season for most and fewest home wins. South Carolina's home point percentage is .857. Allen's home point percentage is .283.

 

- The end of the ECHL season is coming fast, especially for the teams that will not make the playoffs. The upcoming critical dates:

• April 11 - Last day to place players on waivers
• April 13 - Last day of the regular season
• April 14 - Playoff rosters due
• April 16 - Playoffs begin

 

DID YOU KNOW: As teams add amateurs, the number of rookies on ECHL rosters is increasing. These are rookie numbers by team as of Tuesday.

 

16: ADK, BLM, CIN, GVL, SAV, UTA

15: ALN, REA, WHL, WOR

14: IA

13: IND, *KC*, MNE, RC

11: TUL, WIC

10: KAL, NOR, *TAH*, *TOL*, *TR*

9: *SC*

8: ATL, IDH, ORL

7: *FLA*, *FW*

6: *JAX*

 

*Top eight ECHL teams by points and point percentage. Likely Kelly Cup champion will come from this group. Notice the top teams skew toward the bottom part of this list.