Allen vs Utah Preview, Hargrove Returns, Parsons' Update, Mountain Division Parity, Overseas Success, Best Team in Each Pro League and More

 The luster of snapping Allen's six-game losing streak hasn't worn off yet, but what have you done lately is already setting in as the Americans get ready for game two of the three-game series against Utah tonight (8:10 PM CST). The momentum built from the 4-2 win on Wednesday must carry over tonight.

 

-  You can cite all of the statistics, and I will, but as Coach Martinson said yesterday, the key to the game tonight will be hard work, structure, supporting the puck, and using speed through the neutral zone. With that said, here are some stats-driven keys to the game:

• Allen allowed Utah only 24 shots on Wednesday, almost 13 shots fewer than the Americans' seasonal average. They outshot the Grizzlies in every period. If Allen can come close to repeat performance tonight, it will be a good sign.
• Allen has scored first in only four of 14 games. When you consider the team that scores first wins 75% of the time, the odds are that the team that scores first tonight will win the game. Allen defied the odds in Wednesday's win; they don't want to do that again tonight. 
• There weren't a lot of penalties on Wednesday, and the same referee will handle the game tonight. Both teams were 0-3 on the power play in game one. Allen has scored only two power-play goals in the last seven games. Scoring a power-play goal tonight and winning the special-teams battle will be another key to victory. 
• Balanced scoring was key on Wednesday with all three lines scoring a goal. The more Allen spreads the goal-scoring around, the more likely it is to lead to victory. It will be huge if the reunited line of McAuley - Hargrove - Crone lights the lamp.
• This stat is a little over-simplified, but not by much. If Allen scores three or more goals, they will win; two or fewer goals, they will lose. Allen's record when scoring three or more goals is 5-0-1-0. When the Americans score two or fewer goals, their record is 0-6-2-0. 

 

- If you want more stats and information, check out the game day preview issued by the Allen Americans: https://allenamericans.com/news/2025/11/game-day-preview-americans-looking-for-a-series-win 

- The biggest change to the lineup tonight is the addition of Colton Hargrove, who sat out the last two games under suspension. He will be reunited with a line that has been very successful in the past. I would expect that the newly acquired defenseman, Trevor LaDonne, will also be in the lineup. Marco Costantini should get the start in goal. He has had the hot hand with save percentages in his last three games of .917, .929, and .943. 

 

OTHER COMMENTS

- One way to look at how close the Mountain Division is, in addition to the fact that the point percentage difference from the top team (.667 Kansas City) to the bottom team (.438 Rapid City) is by far the smallest in the ECHL, is to look at points earned in the last 10 games. Here is that list:

• 14 points - Idaho
• 13 points - Tahoe
• 12 points - Kansas City
• 12 points Tulsa
• 11 points - Utah
• 10 points - Allen
• 8 points - Wichita 
• 8 points - Rapid City 

When you consider 10 games ago takes most teams back to the end of October, the division has remained close, with all eight teams still in contention for the playoffs and first place. 

 

- After a near-perfect start to his career in Belleville, goalie Jackson Parsons has had a couple of tough outings. He won his first three starts for the Senators, stopping 89 of 91 shots for a .978 save percentage. It has been tough going in his last two starts. Jackson lost 7-2 on Saturday and 5-1 on Wednesday. In the two losses, he faced 72 shots and saved 60 for an .833 save percentage. Such is the development of a rookie goalie who just turned 21 last Sunday.

 

- Two former Allen players are tearing it up in Germany. 

• Defenseman Alex Breton, who was the ECHL Defenseman of the Year when he played for Allen in 2019-20, plays in the top league in Germany (DEL). Alex has 29 points (10G, 19A) in 27 games playing for ERC Ingolstadt, the first-place team in the league.
• Center Corey Mackin was Allen's leading goal scorer in 2020-21 (30G, 32A). Corey plays in the second-best league in Germany (DEL2). He leads his team in scoring with 27 points (7G, 20A) in 19 games. His team, Eispiraten Crimmitschau, is in 8th place in the 14-team league. 

 

- It is another busy Friday night schedule in the ECHL with 28 of 30 teams in action. All eight Mountain Division teams are playing, and all within the division. The marquee game of the night is an interdivisional matchup between the North and Central Divisions. The #1 team in the league, Wheeling (12-3-0-0), is visiting Toledo (9-3-1-1).  Here is the ECHL Today with all of the previews: https://echl.com/news/2025/11/echl-today-nov-28 

 

DID YOU KNOW: Some high-flying pro teams were the subject of the ECHL Stats post today:

As of Thanksgiving, the best record (by points percentage) for each professional league in North America:

 

.906 - AHL (Grand Rapids Griffins)

.848 - NHL (Colorado Avalanche)

.844 - FPHL (Binghamton Black Bears)

.800 - ECHL (Wheeling Nailers)

.792 - SPHL (Evansville Thunderbolts)