Allen vs Utah Series Preview, Americans Attend Utah HC Game, Equipment Manager Matt Miletich Gets NHL Experience, Practice at Olympic Oval and More

 

The Allen Americans begin a three game series tonight against the Utah Grizzlies with their last best hope to get on the winning track. Even though Allen plays six of its last seven games at home the Americans will be underdogs in all of them. Allen has a winning record against Utah (3-2-1-0), but a combined record of 4-16-4-1 (.260) against the opponents Allen will face after the Utah series. 

• 1-5-2-1: Tulsa (4 games - all at home)
• 0-4-0-0: Idaho (2 games - at home)
• 3-7-2-0: Wichita (1 game - on the road)

 

- Allen has played Utah five times this season but four of the games were in November. The only recent meeting was in Allen 10 days ago. In that game the Americans outshot Utah 48-33 but lost the game 3-1. Allen gave up the first goal, trailed 2-0 heading into the third period, cut the score to 2-1, but could not get the equalizer. An empty net goal made the final scorer 3-1. 

 

- Allen set season highs for shots in a period (20) and shots in game (48) in the last game against Utah, so you would expect Allen will have plenty of scoring chances tonight. The question is can the Americans capitalize on those chances? Here are a few stats that Allen will have to overcome in this series to be successful:

• The last time and only time Allen scored six goals in a game was a 6-4 win in Utah on November 2.
• Allen has scored five goals just twice all season, in back to back wins on January 4 and 8.
• Allen's record in the last 20 games is 1-17-1-1 (.100). The only time the Americans scored four goals was in the lone win.
• In the last 20 games Allen has been shutout four times, scored one goal five times, two goals five times, three goals four times and four goals once. 
• Allen's average goals per game in the last 20 games is 1.60 (32 goals).
• In the last 20 games Allen has allowed nine goals twice, seven goals twice and six goals twice.
• Allen's average goals allowed in the last 20 games is 4.40 (88 goals). 
• Allen has not scored a power play goal in the last 11 games (0-39).
• Allen hasn't scored the first goal of the game in its last seven games.
• Allen has given up the first goal of the game in 16 of the last 20 games.   

- What is certain is one of these teams will earn two points in each of the three games in this series (tonight, Friday, Saturday). If Allen has any hope of avoiding last place in the ECHL a series sweep against Utah is essential. While not impossible to win three straight, it is definitely a long shot. Allen has swept a series just once all season. A three game sweep of Rapid City at home at the end of January. Allen trails Utah by 10 points (38 vs 48) so the Americans are running out of time.

 

- Allen and Utah are the two worst teams in the ECHL (by point percentage). Here is an update on how Allen and Utah rank in some key stats this season:

• Goals scored average: Allen #29 (2.29) - Utah #16 (3.03)
• Goals allowed average: Allen #29 (4.13) - Utah #28 (4.03)
• Shots for average: Allen #18 (29.63) - Utah #12 (31.42)
• Shots against average:  Allen #29 (38.03) - Utah #26 (34.59)
• Power play percentage: Allen #25 (15.5%) - Utah #20 (18.5%)
• Penalty kill percentage: Allen #16 (80.0%) - Utah #29 (71.1%)

 

- I will post the lineup later today on social media, but coach Ferguson did share with me newly acquired forward Ayden MacDonald and Reid Perepeluk (who had been out injured) will be in the lineup. Allen will add some banging bodies up front to get after the Utah defensmen trying to bring the puck out of the zone. That proved to be successful against Utah in the last game when Allen had 48 shots.

 

- Just one referee will work the game tonight. Hunter Mottinger (#9) is the scheduled referee. By my records he has worked three Allen games this season and called a total of 17 penalties (5,6,6) so you would expect a more let them play type of game tonight. Neither of these teams is a high penalty minute team this season. Allen is ranked #13 (276 PIMS) and Utah is ranked #28 (241 PIM). With the players Ferguson is adding to the lineup, Allen could be looking for a physical game which typically comes with more penalties. Have to expect Mottinger will call more than six penalties tonight.

 

OTHER COMMENTS

- The trip to Utah, home of Allen's NHL affiliate, provided a unique opportunity for the team. They attended a Utah HC hockey game Monday night. It was against the Detroit Red Wings. The game was close going into the third period (2-1), but Detroit scored three unanswered goals to make the final score 5-1. Here is what coach Ferguson and Mark Duarte had to say about the experience:

Brett Ferguson

"The players were in a suite together so that was a nice touch by the Utah HC."

"Some of our guys knew some of the NHL players (Noah Kane's cousin, Patrick, plays for Detroit). The guys that knew some of the NHL players got to meet up after the game."

"Our equipment manager, Matt Miletich, was able to work the game, helping out the Utah equipment staff."

"I was able to meet with some of the Utah management staff, as did our contracted players."

 

Mark Duarte

"Attending the Utah game was a great time. We are very grateful to the Skinner family and coach Ferguson to put that together for us. It was cool we had the chance to see our affiliate's facilities and to see them play."

"We still have a handful of new faces on the team, so it is nice to do things like this outside of the rink and get to know one another."

 

-  Allen equipment manager, Matt Mieltich,  had one the best experiences of all. Matt is in his second season as an equipment manager and had the opportunity to not only see how an NHL equipment staff operates, he got to experience it. I asked Matt to share with me how his day went. Here is what he had to say:

Hey Barry, last night was a wonderful opportunity. It started with a long day of getting off the bus from Boise and going straight to the arena to work. I went with the equipment manager from the Utah Grizzlies, so when we got there, he showed me around the Delta Center and the Utah hockey club facilities and the Utah hockey club equipment. Staff were in the weight room getting their pregame workout in before the players showed up. I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with the Utah hockey club equipment staff for a little bit pregame. We discussed the ins and outs of what type of issues they deal with at their level. Found out that there’s not much difference at the NHL level than at the ECHL level.  It boils down to the resources, and money is the big difference. From my end, it was an unbelievable, surreal experience. Just getting to see how things at the NHL operate. They did give me a pullover 3/4 zip.  I was able to get a couple of pictures of myself to document the experience. During the game play, I was just behind the bench, observing and watching the equipment staff more than I was watching the game. It all didn’t quite hit me until I made my way back to the hotel and just realized what I had been through. I was trying to piece together the evening from seeing players that you see on TV all the time. The next thing you know, you’re up close and personal with them as they’re walking by or just saying hi. The atmosphere is very professional. The game day staff had a lot of good personalities that made the evening that much more enjoyable. Everyone was very welcoming and let me jump right in and get my hands dirty. It’s an experience I will never forget and hopefully look forward to getting another opportunity sometime in the future.

Matt on the Utah HC bench 

 

- Yesterday Allen held their practice at the Utah HC practice facility that I talked about on Sunday. In case you missed it here it is again:

- The practice on Tuesday will be at Utah's temporary practice facility (they are building a permanent one). The temporary practice facility is at the Olympic Oval and the hockey rink is in the middle of the speed skating track. When the players leave the locker room, they walk on carpet laid over a running track and skate across a 400-meter speed skating oval known as the "Fastest Ice on Earth." The hockey rink is in the middle of the oval and has been converted from Olympic size to NHL size. The players might be able to take a lap around the oval depending on its schedule. Here is a photo that shows the track, the oval and the hockey rink.

 

Utah HC temporary practice facility at Olympic Oval

 

Here is what I heard from coach Ferguson and Mark Duarte about the Utah HC practice facility:

"The practice facility was cool. They just took the ice out of the oval over the weekend so the guys didn't have a chance to take a lap on it. The size of the facility is crazy. You could fit two NHL size rinks inside the skating oval. It was a great experience for our guys.".....Ferguson

"Practice at the Utah HC facility was awesome and talking to Matt at practice about his experience and the high standards the NHL staff  hold themselves to is something we can learn from.".....Duarte

"We are working to build a winning culture in Allen and we are lucky to be in Utah's system. We all have the goal to be the best we can be and play at the highest level possible. Our visit to the Utah HC acts as motivation and shows you all the little things it takes.".....Duarte

 

- This week will be huge when it comes to the Mountain Division standings. Check out the schedule:

• Idaho plays four games in five nights in Tahoe.
• Wichita plays four games in five nights starting in Kansas City tonight, at home against Kansas City on Friday, back in Kansas City on Saturday and in Iowa of Sunday. Whew!
• Rapid City plays three games in Tulsa.
• Allen plays three games in Utah.  

 

- If the last week of the season is make or break for some teams and surely it will be, here is how the season ends:

• Allen plays Tulsa three times at home.
• Idaho plays Kansas City three times at home.
• Rapid City plays Utah three times at home
• Tahoe plays Wichita three times at home.

 

- There are eight games on the ECHL schedule tonight. The only team that can clinch a playoff spot is Kansas City. If the Mavericks win and Idaho loses in regulation, Kansas City will punch its ticket to the Kelly Cup playoffs. Here is the ECHL today with all of the previews: https://echl.com/news/2025/03/echl-today-march-26   

 

DID YOU KNOW: The ECHL Stats post today is about South Carolina possibly reaching the record book for home wins. Allen on the other hand is trying to avoid the record book for fewest home wins in a season. To avoid the record book listing for fewest home wins Allen will need to win four of its final six home games. Allen has six home wins. If the Americans end up with eight home wins they will tie with four other teams for the second fewest all time. If Allen ends up with six or seven home wins they will be second all time by themselves: 

South Carolina has 28 home wins this season with one home game remaining (vs Orlando). If the Stingrays win that game they will join the record book for all-time home wins in a season. Here is the list:

 

MOST HOME WINS, ONE SEASON

32 - Idaho Steelheads, 2022-23

30 - Cincinnati Cyclones, 2018-19

30 - San Diego Gulls, 2003-04

30 - Louisiana IceGators, 2001-02

30 - Alaska Aces, 2005-06

29 - Missouri Mavericks, 2015-16

29 - Alaska Aces, 2011-12

29 - Cincinnati Cyclones, 2005-06

29 - Gwinnett Gladiators, 2005-06

29 - Toledo Storm, 2002-03

29 - Pee Dee Pride, 1998-99