More of the Same, Allen Loses 4-1. Game Recap, Video Highlights, Martinson's Comments, Standings, Some WOW Stats and More

 

The Saturday night, big crowd (5966), specialty jersey (Wizzard Night) curse is alive and well. The Allen Americans lost to the Kansas City Mavericks last night, 4-2. The loss looked very similar to the loss to the Mavericks on Friday night.

 

- Here were the keys to the game from yesterday's blog. Let's see how the Americans fared:

- Tonight's preview: In the post-game press conference, Martinson mentioned the need to create more speed at least a half a dozen times. Look for players to show more speed on the outside, as well as driving to the net. FAIL. Here are a few other keys to the game:

• Stay out of the penalty box unless you take a Maverick with you. Power plays were 6-2 last night. You can't expect to win against a talented team like Kansas City, giving up that many power plays and getting so few. FAIL - Allen gave up seven power plays last night. To their credit, the Americans killed them all (one goal was as a penalty expired), but sprnt way too much time killing power plays and not generating offense.

• The Americans have to get off to a better start. Giving up the first goal and trailing after the first period is the kiss of death against the Mavericks. FAIL - Just like Friday night, Allen gave up the first goal of the game and trailed after the first period (2-0). Since the beginning of last season, Kansas City's record when leading after the first period now stands at 34-1-1-0 (3-0-0-0 this season).

• Put pucks on the net, think greasy goals rather than pretty goals. Kansas City won more games last season when outshooting its opponent (38) than any team in the league. A 38-27 shot discrepancy, like last night, will not be enough to get the job done. FAIL - the shot discrepancy increased to 42-21 last night. Allen was outshot in all three periods (13-7, 14-5, 15-9)    

• Finally, prove the Saturday night, big crowd, specialty jersey curse means nothing this season, 2025-26. FAIL - It wasn't as bad as last year's Saturday Night Wizard loss (7-2), but the curse continues. Allen's record on Saturday night, wearing specialty jerseys, since the beginning of 2023-24, is now 3-13 (.188).

 

- Just like Friday night, Allen was still in the game in the third period despite being outshot and outplayed. The Americans cut the score to 2-1 on a Matt Register shot from the point with just over five minutes left in the game, but could not get the equalizer. Kansas City scored two empty-net goals to make the final score 4-1. The totals for the weekend:

• Allen was outscored 8-3
• Allen was outshot 80-48
• Allen took more penalties, 14-7
• Allen never led in the series.
• Allen was only tied when the score was 0-0.

 

- I made it a point to talk to a lot of people before, during, and after the game, from knowledgeable fans to media to people employed in hockey, and the feedback was consistent. Here is a summary of the comments I heard:

• Allen needs to stay out of the penalty box.
• Allen needs to put more pucks on net, they are trying to be too cute.
• Allen needs more traffic in front of the net.
• Allen did not match Kansas City's speed.
• Allen didn't score even on their "A" chances.
• Allen's passes were not crisp and off the mark too often. 

The consensus of my conversations was that the results this weekend are frustrating, but nothing to worry about. Kansas City is one of the best teams in the league, and the Americans will be fine; it will just take some time to have it all come together. 

 

- Here is the Allen game recap, and the video highlights:

Game recap: https://allenamericans.com/news/2025/10/americans-offense-struggles-in-4-1-loss-to-kc   

Video highlights: https://echl.com/videos/kansas-city-mavericks-vs-allen-americans-oct-25-2025 

 

- Next up for the Americans is a visit from Rapid City on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. The Rush record is 2-2, which includes a 5-2 road win in Kansas City and a home win against Wichita. The last time I checked, Rapid City has 10 NHL/AHL contracted players assigned. I will do a series preview on Wednesday. 

 

COACH'S COMMENTS

"It was more of the same last night. We actually had more puck possession than they did when we were at even strength. When we are not scoring, we can't spend almost 25% of the game in the penalty box, like we did last night."

"We're getting beat in faceoffs, which has always been a strength in the past."

"One of the reasons passes are not on the mark is that we are trying to make passes that are too hard. Too many times, players are not supporting the puck by getting to places to take the pass."

"What I told the players before the game was we are not going to out-skate or outwork Kansas City. If we match their skating and work ethic, we will be okay because we have more players with a history of scoring. But that means nothing if we are not ready to compete."

"The bottom line is, we don't have everybody ready to compete physically at the level they need to be to have success."

"We have some guys with speed that are pulling up at the blue line, rather than driving. It is something we work on in practice."

"How do we play better? By supporting the puck, better decisions, getting the puck in, and more middle speed. Everyone is not on the same page yet, we will get there, but we have a game on Wednesday." 

   

  

OTHER COMMENTS

- Of all of the players on the Allen roster, the one name I hear mispronounced most often is one of the shortest names. It only has four vowels and two "Ns", which would seem simple, but it is not. I am talking about defenseman Andre Anania. Here is a video where you can hear the correct pronunciation several times and learn a little about Andre from his junior career in the OHL (Sudbury): 

 

              

 

- After a poor start (0-3-1-0), Belleville has won two straight games, beating Laval (6-2) and last night beating Toronto 4-2. They play Toronto again this afternoon. The Senators rank sixth in the seven-team North Division. Danny Katic, who was recalled from Allen 10 days ago, has not played in a game. 

 

-  The Mountain Division is starting to show some distance from the top to the bottom. Kansas City is in a familiar spot at the top of the standings. Here are the current point percentages:

• .750 - Kansas City
• .667 - Wichita 
• .600 - Idaho 
• .500 - Utah
• .500 - Tahoe
• .500 - Rapid City
• .333 - Tulsa
• .333 - Allen

 

- I know many of you try to keep up with Chad Costello in Greenville. It has been a tough start for the Swamp Rabbits. They are 1-4-0-0 and rank #29 in ECHL point percentage at .200. FYI, the 30th-ranked team is Indy at .167. Just like Coach Martinson in Allen, Chad has a good team and will take some time to get everything to jell, being a new coach, in a new division, and with a new team.  

 

DID YOU KNOW: Here is my ECHL Stats post from this morning: 

Some wow stats early in the season:

 

- Atlanta (4-0) is the only undefeated team.

- Average ECHL attendance is 5198.

- 9 goalies have save percentages above .950.

- Cincinnati has a 57.1% power play percentage.

- Toledo has scored 3 shorthanded goals in 3 games, all on the road.

- Reading is averaging 5.25 goals per game.

- Iowa had a 51-shot game.

- Savannah scored 9 goals against South Carolina.