After the 7-0 shellacking the Idaho Steelheads gave Allen on Wednesday it looks to be a difficult weekend for the Americans. The game tonight will be just the third of six games between these teams this season. Allen has 12 games remaining and four of them are against Idaho. Tonight and tomorrow night in Idaho and in Allen on April 4 and 5.
- Here are the cumulative totals in the two games these teams have played:
- Idaho has outscored Allen 13-2
- Idaho has outshot Allen 80-63
- Allen is 0-5 on the power play
- Idaho in 0-2 on the power play
- Allen has taken five penalties for 13 minutes
- Idaho has taken eight penalties for 19 minutes
- Here is how Allen and Idaho rank in some key statistics:
- Goals scored average: Allen #29 (2.33) - Idaho #7 (3.47)
- Goals allowed average: Allen #29 (4.17) - Idaho #22 (3.35)
- Shots for average: Allen #18 (29.5) - Idaho #3 (33.85)
- Shots against average: Allen #29 (38.07) - Idaho #25 (34.32)
- Power play percentage: Allen #25 (16.1%) - Idaho #3 (21.8%)
- Penalty kill percentage: Allen #15 (80.5%) - Idaho #19 (79.7%)
- Team save percentage: Allen #22 (.891) - Idaho #13 (.903)
- Shooting percentage: Allen #29 (7.9%) - Idaho #10 (10.1%)
- When you look at the stats above and add in the fact that Allen has scored just 12 goals in its last 17 games (1.4 per game) and hasn't scored a power play goal in its last nine games (0-31), the Americans will have an uphill battle tonight.
- Idaho added two defenseman in the win on Wednesday that makes the Steelheads much stronger. Reigning ECHL Defenseman of the Year, Patrick Kudla, returned to the lineup after missing a month because of an injury. Rookie defenseman, Parker Berge, played his first game for Idaho after being assigned to the Steelheads by Ontario (AHL). Here is the firepower Allen will face from the Idaho defensemen:
- Matt Register - Leads all ECHL defensemen in assists (44) and is #3 in points (49).
- Patrick Kudla - Averaged a point per game last season.
- Parker Berge - Leads all ECHL rookie defensemen in points (39) and is #7 among all defensemen.
Allen's entire defensive corp has 75 points this season. Register, Kudla and Berge have 111 points. If you include all Idaho defenseman the Steelheads have totaled 181 points this season.
- What does Allen have to do to be competitive tonight and earn points?
- Allen has to score the first goal of the game. Idaho is 20-1-6-1 (.839) when it scores first.
- Allen has to score a power play goal. Currently on a 0-31 drought.
- Allen has to score four goals, something it has done once (won the game) in the last 18 games.
- Allen has to hold Idaho under 40 shots.
- Allen has to have more power play opportunities than Idaho.
- I will post the lineup on Facebook and X later today, but if you track ECHL transactions you noticed a couple of changes for the Americans yesterday.
- Defenseman Artyom Kulakov, who was injured in the game against Utah on March 16, has been placed on the 14-day injured reserve.
- Defenseman Cole Fraser was placed on reserve and will sit out tonight.
- Defenseman Kenny Johnson was activated from 14-day IR and is expected to be in the lineup tonight for the first time since February 7.
- Referee Sam Heidemann (#22), who was the lone referee on Wednesday, will be joined by Ryan Siegel (#42) tonight. Heidemann let the players play for the most part on Wednesday calling only six minor penalties. Would expect you will see more penalties tonight.
OTHER COMMENTS
- Idaho defenseman Matt Register is a sure fire ECHL Hall of Famer after he hangs up his skates. The three time Kelly Cup champion (one with Allen) and three time ECHL Defenseman of the Year is having another great season at the age of 35. His 44 assists is ranked #4 among all ECHL players. His 49 points is more than any Allen Americans player. Register has been a thorn in Allen's side so many times over the years. Don't be surprised if he has a key assist or goal against Allen this weekend.
- Had someone ask me how close Spencer Asuchak is to passing Chad Costello for the Allen franchise points record. In the history of the Americans, four players have totaled more than 175 career points. Here is the list with games played in parenthesis:
- 422 points - Chad Costello (282 games)
- 363 points - Spencer Asuchak (496 games)
- 213 points - Jack Combs (162 games)
- 183 points - Gary Steffes (228 games)
CORRECTION
- When I posted the all-time points list (above) earlier this morning I forgot to include games played for Allen in the Central Hockey League. The stats above are ECHL games only. Here are the players with 175 or more points when you combine the CHL and ECHL points:
- 422 - Chad Costello (282 games)
- 419 - Spencer Asuchak (562 games)
- 235 - Bruce Graham (185 games)
- 225 - Greger Hanson (195 games)
- 213 - Jack Combs (162 games)
- 183 - Gary Steffes (228 games)
- 178 - Colton Yellow Horn (168 games)
- The official records only include regular season games. If you look at all games, regular season and playoffs, there are 10 players that have totaled 200 or more points. A who's who of Allen Americans hockey:
- 502 - Chad Costello
- 482 - Spencer Asuchak
- 302 - Greger Hanson
- 287 - Bruce Graham
- 225 - Gary Steffes
- 221 - Jack Combs
- 219 - Colton Yellow Horn
- 210 - David Makowski
- 209 - Tyler Ludwig
- 201 - Jarret Lukin
- 199 - Jamie Schaafsma
- This will be a big weekend in the ECHL as many teams will be trying to clinch a playoff spot or battle for a playoff spot. There are 13 games on the ECHL schedule tonight. All eight Mountain Division teams are in action, all games are within the division and they all have playoff implications:
- Utah at Kansas City
- Tahoe at Tulsa
- Wichita at Rapid City
- Allen at Idaho
DID YOU KNOW: The ECHL Stats post today is about the number of NHL/AHL contracted players assigned to the top teams in each division. FYI, Allen has three players assigned. Goalie Anson Thornton (contracted with Tucson) and forward Miko Matikka (contracted with Utah, NHL) are on the active roster. Will Gavin (contracted with Tucson) has been on the 14-day injured reserve since February 1.
Allen will get destroyed tonight like they have been all season!!! S—— show as usual. Major changes needed from top to bottom!!!
ReplyDeleteChad's efficiency was off the charts.
ReplyDeleteTotal shame things occurred last may the way they did.
The events of last May, and the subsequent blind leading the blind events of June to now have left a bitter taste in many peoples mouths, including those that renewed for 25/26.
One thing is for sure, there will be total decimation of the STH base after the 25/26 season if there is not serious change and the on ice product changes dramatically. The All Star game only adds so much value.
#fixthemess!
Chad Costello 💪🏻
DeleteSTH here. Not renewing until ownership changes or they somehow get their act together. The on ice product is a disgrace and not worth my money. Do I expect them to win the Kelly Cup every year no, but lets at least be competitive.
DeleteWho really cares about the All Star game anyway!
DeleteHere we go AA - going to get a W tonight.
ReplyDeleteLook at the average goals per game played on those 4 highest scoring players. One stands out and it isn’t Asuschak. All Asuschak has is longevity at this point and that says more about his inability to get a better offer than it does his ability to play. He’s hockeys version of Crash Davis without the 21 days in the show.
ReplyDeleteYou have a very weird personal grudge against him don’t you?
DeleteNot at all. I just don’t idolize him. Back in the day, I thought he was something special and had hopes for him to reach the NHL. I saw him play a couple of AHL games even. That’s got to be 8 or 9 years ago. He hasn’t done much since. It was reported here that he started this season in the best physical shape of his life, but that didn’t translate to performance. Although he might be a locker room leader, we never hear about it. He was Captain for a few seasons, but that was a couple of seasons ago. Basically, he is and has been underperforming on ice not making up for it off ice. Not a grudge, just how I see it. He needs to move on to another career. I’m welcome to have an opinion just as much as anyone else here, it’s not out of a very weird personal grudge. It’s not personal, it’s hockey. It’s not a grudge, it’s my opinion based on his performance.
DeleteI agree. We all lose a step as we age, hockey players are no different. There comes a time to leave it behind. I have always liked him and in previous years on ice performance was always better when he was on the ice. The past couple of years, not so much
DeleteTotally agree. 4-5 years ago he was a leader and productive player. Last few years he is just a guy.
ReplyDeleteHe’s just a guy who’s led this team in goals for two of the last four seasons, including this one. I mean, come on, man!
DeleteBarry, correct me if I’m off here, but wasn’t he scoring goals at the highest rate of his career before that injury hit?
The fact that he’s still tops of the league with faceoffs and net-front play after all these years is pretty darn impressive, if you ask me.
Thanks for the stats, Barry.. Man, I miss the good ol days of Costello, Hanson, Steffes, and Stevenson who won’t show up on a list like that, but talk about a dynasty!
A lot of people would look good against the guys BJ recruited from lower level leagues.
DeleteAnd the ones video guy is replacing them with
DeleteHe is still great at face-offs and the ONLY one who will ever lurk in front of the net. For those two reasons, he is still productive. I wish he could teach some of these younger guys how important front of net play is, one hell of a way to build those goal stats!
Deletehi barry - do you have any scoop on what has happend to Brayden Watts? He was our best player until he got the C, now he's arguably our worst. Do you think BJ was onto something not giving him the C and he knew it would go to his head, or is he just in a big time slump?
ReplyDeleteI don’t think BJ has ever been on to something
DeleteThis comment isn't far off base. I've seen a decline. Not sure what it is. Demoralized because of the season?
DeleteWell he’s a great player, hard to be excited to go out there and get kicked in the teeth every game with no coach. I’m sure he’s more frustrated than fans are. He came here to be coached by Chad and the players who were returning until the dismantling of the team. I see what you’re saying but let’s be realistic of the season.
DeleteI get it, but he got the "C". When you wear the C you are always a step above and must be seen as a leader, regardless as to the results. If he can't be that leader, then he doesn't deserve the "C".
DeletePretty simple.
Duarte deserves the C.
DeleteWatts performance has evaporated since he got the C.
JC Brassard for the "C"
DeleteFergie comparing the team to a ketchup bottlle…. Houston we have a problem
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's not good!
DeleteLook at Rapid City's results from when they visited Allen in late January through to today. Chad Costello has killed it. What a winner.
ReplyDeleteMyles - CALL CHAD .... Please!
Barry :
ReplyDeleteYou’re deleting comments that aren’t slander, defamation, impersonation etc.
The Americans make a Facebook post about Trivia night and there’s Watts on the video, not engaged, on his phone and looking disengaged/disinterested. Why delete the post?
Watts’ game has fallen off a cliff in the second half of the season. What’s going on? Watts needs to shoulder criticism just like anyone else, he’s the Captain, he’s not exempt from it.
I’ll add that this isn’t the first time Watts engagement in team activities is beyond sub par as it relates to the team captain. That’s a visual that many have seen.
Fans are entitled to legitimate criticism etc. That post certainly wasn’t warranted to be deleted.