The Idaho mastery of the Allen Americans in Boise was front and center again last night as the Steelheads won 5-2 to sweep the three-game series and hand Allen its sixth straight loss. As a reminder, here is Allen's record in Boise since 2021-22. You add it all together, and the record is 3-21-4-0 with a point percentage of .179:
- 0-2-1-0: 2025-26
- 0-3-0-0: 2024-25
- 0-1-1-0: 2024 playoffs
- 1-6-1-0: 2023-24
- 1-3-0-0: 2023 playoffs
- 0-5-0-0: 2022-23
- 1-1-1-0: 2021-22
- Here are some of the stats that led to the loss last night:
- Allen was outshot 17-1 in the first period, the fewest shots in a period (tied) in the ECHL this season.
- Allen allowed 20 shots in the second period.
- Allen took 11 minor penalties, the most (tied) in a game in the ECHL this season.
- Allen had 82 penalty minutes, the second most (tied) in the ECHL this season.
- Allen was outshot 49-21
- Allen allowed the first goal for the 9th time in 13 games.
- Allen scored only two goals for the 8th time in 13 games (lost all of them).
- There were a few positives in the game:
- Allen was outshot 17-1 in the first period, but only allowed one goal and went into the first intermission with a 1-0 deficit.
- The shots were 20-1 when Allen scored at the 2:33 mark of the second period on its second shot of the game to tie the score 1-1. Brad Morrison was the goal scorer, assisted by Hank Crone. The Americans were still in the game until midway through the second period.
- After Idaho scored three unanswered goals, Allen scored a power play goal with 16 seconds remaining in the second period. Kevin Spinozzi scored his first goal of the season, assisted by Sam Sedley and Hank Crone.
- Allen's penalty kill was 1-9.
- Despite the one-sided game, it wasn't decided until Idaho scored three unanswered goals in the middle of the second period to make the score 4-1. The Steelheads took a 4-2 lead into the second intermission and scored the only goal in the third period to make the final score 5-2.
- Here are the game recaps from both teams. If you want a goal-by-goal summary of the game, along with the video highlights:
- Allen Americans: https://allenamericans.com/news/2025/11/americans-drop-series-finale-in-idaho
- Idaho Steelheads: https://idahosteelheads.com/news/2025/11/steelheads-sweep-americans-with-5-2-triumph
- Video highlights: https://echl.com/videos/allen-americans-vs-idaho-steelheads-nov-22-2025
- I talk to Coach Martinson every day, and he steadfastly believes this team will start scoring and can play the Allen Americans' style of offense despite Ottawa providing no help. As you know, right now, Allen has no assigned players, and one of their players (Duarte) is on loan to Belleville. Despite the obstacles, if this play continues, Martinson will have to make some changes. When the Americans return from the current road trip, the season will be 22% completed (16 of 72 games). If the losing continues, Martinson will have no choice but to make changes, and the changes, in my opinion, won't come from the bottom part of the lineup.
OTHER COMMENTS
- Allen's six-game losing streak is the second-longest in the ECHL this season, as is their five-game road losing streak. Orlando, which has lost 10 straight, seven straight on the road, is #1.
- I have said this before, Allen is lucky to be in the Mountain Division, which is either the weakest division in the league or the division with the most parity, depending on your perspective. Here is the point percentage difference between the top and bottom teams in each division.
- .667 - South Division (.750 Atlanta to .083 Orlando)
- .461 - Central Division (.769 Fort Wayne to .308 Kalamazoo)
- .393 - North Division (.786 Wheeling to .393 Worcester)
- .267 - Mountain Division (.667 Kansas City to .400 Rapid City)
- With the Mountain Division so tight, if Allen sweeps Utah next week, the Americans will likely be in a playoff position with a .532 point percentage. If they get swept in Utah, the Americans could find themselves in last place with a .344 point percentage. Next week will be a lot more important than just an early-season three-game road series. Here are the updated Mountain Division standings with games played in parentheses:
- .667 - Kansas City (15)
- .618 - Tahoe (17)
- .618 - Idaho (17)
- .538 - Tulsa (13)
- .533 - Utah (15)
- .433 - Wichita (15)
- .423 - Allen (13)
- .400 - Rapid City (15)
- I did a survey this week on my ECHL stats Twitter/X page asking which division was the strongest. Completely non-scientific and probably biased to the followers of my ECHL Stats page. Here are the results of the fan vote for the best ECHL division:
- 36% - South Division
- 26% - Central Division
- 21% - Mountain Division
- 17% - North Division
If you go by which division has the best record when playing the other three divisions, here is the rank by point percentage:
- .667 - South Division
- .615 - Central Division
- .500 - Mountain Division
- .458 - North Division
In the odd stat of the day, the fan vote and actual records match 100%.
Nothing to do with the refs last night.
ReplyDeleteAllen got frustrated easily and discipline was not a part of the game plan.
Caron jumping on a linesman? C'mon.
That was fantastic, though the linesman was in the way. Caron went for the player.
DeleteLet's all acknowledge, Idaho plays dirty, and has for years.
Allen players have struggled to keep their emotions contained at critical times. This has been ongoing for years.
DeleteEven outside the Mountain division the Americans are known for playing dirty.
Grow up guys walk away when provoked! Be better than they are! Fight only when it is absolutely necessary to defend a teammate...Unnecessary penalties taken for fighting does not help win games!
DeletePlease make some trades!!!! Put a C on a player that will lead this team. Our offense is trash! Make McCauley the captain!
ReplyDeleteWhy?
DeleteHe has produced nothing offensively since joining Allen.
Zilch.
Its a matter of time. Changes will happen at some point soon if the players don't wake up and start playing like a team both on offense and defense! Too many passes and very few shots does not = goals and wins.
DeleteI agree, there are players on the team that should have been gone the last time be was coach.
ReplyDeleteWho?
DeleteYou won't get a response from that post
DeleteComments are there for comment, speculation, frustration, exhilaration etc....
DeleteLet's not be afraid to call things how we see them.
We certainly did last season. Want a laugh? go back and read each blog from the start of last season. Despite the results so far, I think we can all agree visually, it isn't the train wreck that was last season.
"It does not bother me to trade a fan favorite, I can always find a new fan favorite "
ReplyDeleteToo many fan favorites have been traded unnecessarily.
DeleteTop 2 centers(Hargrove/Asuchak) for Allen slow, undisciplined and not winning faceoffs.
ReplyDeleteHargrove underperforming last season in FL.
DeleteCurrent projected numbers have him performing at 50% of last seasons numbers.
Asuchak, numbers down also, with projected doubling of penalty minutes.
Numbers don't lie.
Every single player on the rosters numbers are down with the exception of Gildon. The whole group looks under-prepared and out-coached to a level that’s honestly hard to believe. Watching the series, it seemed as if Idaho had a clearer grasp of Allen’s game plan than Allen’s own players did.
DeleteLaughable comments from the clueless
DeleteMarty has the best system in minor pro hockey. The players just are not scoring. Guys like Crone and Hargrove used to be great players and they now look like they want to retire. This losing streak is not on Marty at all.
DeleteWho wants to win and who is just along for the ride? The top players need to step forward and take charge and prove they want to win and be successful or go home!
DeleteSystem? What system?
DeleteMaybe Marty needs to change his approach on changing lines so much. The guys don’t have time to gel before they change again. Playing different teams clearly different lines will perform better against them. He said himself he is just going to keep changing lines until he gets at least 2 that will score. These guys aren’t familiar with each other. It is also only a month into regular season. You guys freak out and start to bash our guys and demand trades and talk crap about them when they are just doing their best. Incredibly sad to see and all the negativity and rudeness. No wonder other teams laugh at us. Be FANS and SUPPORT. You can be frustrated without being insulting to the guys, they do see this stuff.
DeleteBut there are a few of you that complain no matter what, never satisfied or happy and always find something to whine about.
If yall can’t see Hargrove is one of the best if not the best all around player in the ECHL then idk what to tell yall
DeleteMy wife doesn’t comment on this page, but we do see all the negative comments. Everyone is struggling offensively this year. We’ll figure it out and start scoring again. We don’t need negativity on top of what we’re already dealing with.
DeleteIt’s honestly surprising how some fans seem to develop personal grudges against certain players. You can’t help but wonder what would happen if those same people had to say that stuff face-to-face instead of hiding behind a screen.
DeleteSome folks posting facts, others upset, who really cares.
DeleteWe're playing like crap.
We'll fix it.
Colton aint posting on the blog.
Get a good night sleep kiddos.
Cut the boys some slack, give them some time to get in going! They do need and appreciate everyone's support!!! Remember, the fans are not playing the games!
DeleteAny word on the AHL/ECHL CBA yet?
ReplyDeleteA good read here:
Deletehttps://www.reddit.com/r/hockey/comments/1owk067/seravalli_important_message_echl_teams_have_a/
More money needs to flow down from NHL. Not sure I agree with all arguments from the PHPA. Salary cap for sure needs to increase, although should be stepped up immediately, and increased annually thereafter for CPI/inflation.
DeleteWhat are the issues/difference's of opinion with the ECHL players/PHPA vs ECHL league management for a new CBA to be agreed upon? The issues should have been resolved long before the season got underway.
DeleteDo the Americans have a team rep involved in the discussions?
ReplyDeleteWhen you hire Marty, expectations are high.
ReplyDeleteIn fairness, we need more than 12 games to get this train going.
Marty is frustrated, hence the lines changing.
Players reported out of shape.
This isn’t all on Marty.
Go Red!
Players need time.
DeleteThe whole come together 10 days before the season is a joke.
2 mediocre pre season games is a joke.
We have time. We will win. Expect a streak that will move us to the top.
Blaming anyone at this stage is poor on us.
This isn't a BJ Adams scenario here.
Let's all be patient.
Tis the season.
👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻
Delete100%
Believe in Martinson.
Proven winner over decades (not just Allen).
Part of the problem is the ECHL does not have a long enough training camp period for the players to get use to other players and a system to work in. Most of the players from one year to another are all new. Another problem is little or no support from our so called affiliates...and then there is the CBA BS
DeleteDitto!
DeleteAgree that 10 days and barely any preseason is a joke. But explain why other teams/players are ready by game one yet Allen fails at that aspect. Regardless of coach, it appears to be a trend in Allen where as a team, it takes two months to get rolling on same page.
ReplyDeleteContracted players make a big difference Bucko. How many do we have each year?
DeleteWe need to look for a strong affiliation now for next season....this year there was not enough time to get something concrete done! We had to settle for what we could get on short notice.
DeleteEveryone has their own beliefs or assumptions. I’ll use the last opponent (Idaho) as an example as what’s different with Allen and others the past few years.
ReplyDeleteThe head coach for the Idaho Steelheads is Everett Sheen. He is also the Director of Hockey Operations for the team. Sheen has been the head coach since he was hired in July 2019.
The Idaho Steelheads are affiliated with the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League (AHL). This partnership is one of the longest-running continuous affiliations in the ECHL
Several players have been with the Idaho Steelheads for multiple seasons, including A.J. White, Wade Murphy, Keaton Mastrodonato, Jade Miller, and Ty Pelton-Byce. Other key returning players from previous seasons include Will Merchant, Joe Gatenby, Jake Murray, and Patrick Kudla.
Remember when The almighty Dallas Stars stubbed the Americans for an affiliation agreement back in the day! The attempt was made but The Stars management did not like the idea.
ReplyDelete