It is game day for the Allen Americans as they take on the Rapid City Rush tonight in the second of a three-game series, having lost game one 2-1 in overtime. The key to the game tonight is more offense. Here are some stats that highlight the offensive struggles:
- Allen has yet to have a lead in regulation time this season.
- Allen has not scored the first goal of the game this season.
- Allen hasn't scored a first-period goal this season.
- Allen has trailed after the first and second periods of every game this season.
- Allen is averaging 1.75 goals per game, tied for last in the ECHL.
- Allen is mid-pack in shots per game (30.50) but has a low shooting percentage, converting on only 7 of 122 shots.
- Allen doesn't have a power play goal in the last three games.
- While the offense has struggled, the defense has allowed only 12 goals in four games for a 3.00 goals per game average, ranked #12 in the league. Three of the 12 goals allowed were empty-net goals. Not including them, Allen's goals allowed average is 2.25 goals per game.
- It is just a matter of time before Allen's high-powered offense breaks out. The question is, will it be tonight? Scoring first will be a big indicator, and an early power play goal will be a big boost.
- Another key to the game tonight is limiting the damage caused by Rapid City's top offensive weapons, #13 Ryan Wagner and #91 Blake Bennett. They combined on the winning overtime goal on Wednesday, with Wagner setting up Bennett. Since rejoining the Rush last season, Bennett has averaged .71 goals per game. He has three goals in five games this season. Wagner was #2 in the ECHL in scoring last season with 79 points (29G, 50A). He has four assists in five games this season. This duo, along with #10 Carter Wilkie, comprises the Rush top line. They have accounted for 43% of the Rapid City goals this season. Having the last change at home will help Coach Martinson get the matchups he wants. One strategy you can use against Wagner (5'8" 185) and Bennett (5'10" 185) is checking them every time you get the chance. Allen needs to be tougher to play against; the style they need to play to be successful.
- Allen has only one player with two goals, and that is defenseman Matt Register. Four other players have a single goal (Asuchak, Gildon, Hargrove, Watts). Only two players have two assists (Duarte and Sedley). Five players have a single assist (Asuchak, Caron, Crone, Hargrove, Register). That is all the scoring in four games: seven goals and nine assists.
- Marco Costantini will start in goal as the Americans will use an EBUG again tonight. Marco has been outstanding in his two starts this season, even though his record (0-1-1-0) doesn't show it. Marco has stopped 77 of 81 shots for a GAA of 1.98 and a .951 save percentage.
- The EBUG tonight will again be Landry Laird, a 23-year-old who played for Prosper High School in 2018-19. He had a record of 8-1-0, a GAA of 0.87, and a .937 save percentage. He played a couple of years of junior hockey and a little in a Division III program.
- There will be just one referee working the game tonight. David Lilly (#25), who was one of two referees on Wednesday, will work alone tonight. The linesmen will be Joey Kramer (#90) and Aaron Schacht (#51).
OTHER COMMENTS
- Danny Katic, who was recalled by Belleville on October 16, finally got to play in a game on Wednesday, the 29th. His stat line was all zeros except 2 PIM and a plus/minus of -1. I heard Belleville is getting players back, so hopefully, Katic will be back in Allen soon.
- Allen's other contract player, Jackson Parsons, was recalled to Belleville on Monday after goalie Mads Sogaard was injured in a game on Sunday in Toronto. Coach Martinson still hasn't heard how long Sogaard will be out. Here are the details: https://sports.yahoo.com/article/weekly-farm-report-mads-sogaard-231440159.html
- There are 11 games on the ECHL schedule tonight. All eight Mountain Division teams will be in action. Here is the ECHL Today with the previews: https://echl.com/news/2025/10/echl-today-oct-31
- Here are the penalty kill percentages for the Mountain Division teams:
- 100.0% - Kansas City
- 90.0% - Utah
- 85.7% - Wichita
- 84.2% - Allen
- 83.3% - Tahoe
- 78.9% - Idaho
- 77.8% - Rapid City
- 73.7% - Tulsa
- The Allen Americans have a maximum of four veterans (Register, Asuchak, Watts, Hargrove) on the roster, which is uncommon these days in the ECHL. The only other teams with four veterans are Fort Wayne and Idaho. There are four teams with no veterans on the roster (Iowa, Savannah, Utah, Wheeling). Teams can add a fifth veteran if a vet goes on the 14-day injured reserve.
- Allen has nine players on the roster who are 6'2" or taller, led by Braidan Simmons- Fischer, who is just shy of 6'8", and he is also the heaviest of the eight guys listed as weighing over 200 pounds. He weighs 240 pounds, with a single-digit body fat percentage.
DID YOU KNOW: Here are the best and worst shooting teams thus far in 2025-26 by shooting percentage. Source: ECHL daily report:
LFG!!
ReplyDeleteStill waiting for this Marty party to begin
ReplyDelete
DeleteIt takes time. If you actually know anything about hockey, a few games at the beginning of a season doesn’t dictate the rest of the season. In comparison to last year, it’s far better. The boys have corrections to make. They also have to gel together as a team. Right now, they are skilled players in the process of being molded. Sit back, watch and learn. As a 16 year STM and avid hockey fan, I am still learning but I know a couple of games will not tell you the outcome. Heck, only a few years ago, Barry bet the team wouldn’t make it to playoffs. They proved him wrong and Barry ate crow quite literally!!! In 2019, the St Louis Blues were at the very bottom at the end of December. After that, they spent the rest of the season winning one game at a time. They came together and became a team then won the Stanley Cup.
So quit complaining and learn. Marty did it 4 times here in Allen. I was privileged to have been there watching with a front row seat, trusting the process, and saw each of those teams change. It wasn’t overnight. Relax and enjoy the show!
🤣🤣 grab a tissue, hopefully being a hockey fan for that long you’re not that sensitive You probably made the same comment when BJ was the coach. I didn’t disparage the team coach or players. I said still waiting ….just like everyone else waiting for a win.
DeleteWe have more wins right now then we did last year
DeleteWe're 4 weeks away from being able to accurately predict who makes post season. The gelling needs to happen very soon.
DeleteI didn’t make the same comments about BJ, because I could see he was clueless before the season even started. It was obvious.
DeleteRegulation double U… bout to go on a heater, and the haters can suck it.
ReplyDeleteI bet you waited on the edge of your seat the last 2 minutes just waiting to hit the publish button.
DeleteI bet you couldn’t stop yourself from posting your comment in response, right?
DeleteIt’s early days folks. Very early days.