Allen vs Utah Preview, Today's Lineup, Keys to the Game, Mix of Players for ECHL Top Teams and More

 

The second half of the six-game home-and-home series with Utah starts this morning (10:30 am CST). Allen was 2-1-0-0 in the three games in Utah, and the loss came on a Grizzlies goal with 88 seconds remaining in the game. The Americans played great in game one, playing a physical game, outshooting Utah 30-24 and coming away with a 4-2 win. Allen also won game two, but the physical play was diminished, and the Americans were outshot 34-15. Allen was outplayed in the third game, outshot 45-22, and managed to score only two goals in a 3-2 loss.

 

- Here are the cumulative stats in the first three games of the series:

• Allen scored more goals, 9-8.
• Utah took more shots, 103-67
• Allen took more penalties, 12-10.
• Utah had more power plays, 11-8.
• Allen had the better power play, 25% (2-8) vs 9.1% (1-11).
• Allen scored first in two of the three games.  

 

- If you look at the stats above, Allen had good starts, won the special teams battle, and allowed an average of 2.67 goals per game. If the Americans score three or more goals, they will have an excellent chance to win the game this morning and the series. Three goals have been the magic number all season. Remember, Allen's record when it scores three or more goals is 6-0-1-0. When the Americans score less than three goals, their record is 0-7-2-0.

 

- Here are the keys to the game from the series preview last week in Utah. They all still apply:

• Speed through the neutral zone.
• Win the special teams battle.
• Keep the physicality at a high level.
• Pucks and bodies to the net.
• Balanced scoring. 

 

- I asked Coach Martinson about his three keys to the game, and he was very concise:

• Physicality
• Forecheck
• Offensive zone pressure  

 

- ROSTER 

• Marco Costantini is out, listed as day-to-day with a minor injury. 
• David Tendeck will get the start in goal. He has played in five games this season (2 in Florida, 3 in Allen). His cumulative stats are 2.34 GAA, and a .939 save percentage.
•  Landry Laird has been signed as the EBUG, behind Tendeck.

 

- Here is the lineup for this morning's game: 

Forwards

11 Caron - 91 Gildon - 67 Crone 

26 Asuchak - 18 Blaisdell - 19 Maxwell

29 Watts- 7 Hargrove - 9 Katic

28 Murray - 92 McAuley - 77 Morrison 

 

Defense

21 Decker - 2 Warmuth 

86 Anania - 23 Sedley 

22 Costantini - 6 Simmons-Fischer

 

32 Tendeck

1 Laird (EBUG)

 

 

- Look for veteran leadership to come to the fore in this series. Allen's experienced players, those the team is counting on being a big part of the offense, all had goals in Utah (Asuchak, Crone, Hargrove, McAuley, Watts). Adding more veteran scoring to what Gildon and Blaisdell have been doing, and it could be a breakout series for the Americans.

 

- The player to watch for Utah is #23 Reed Lebster, He scored the winning goal for Utah on Saturday with 88 seconds remaining in the game. He leads the Grizzlies with nine goals and has scored the game-winning goal in three of Utah's last four wins.    

 

- Here is the game day preview issued by the Allen Americans  with lots of stats and information: https://allenamericans.com/news/2025/12/game-day-morning-americans-host-utah-at-1030-am

 

OTHER COMMENTS

- There are seven games on the ECHL schedule today, with two morning start School Day games. In addition to Utah at Allen, Bloomington visits Toledo in a morning game. Here is the ECHL Today with all of the previews: https://echl.com/news/2025/12/echl-today-dec-3

 

- Danny Katic's 1.33 points per game average is #3 in the ECHL. Of the players who have been in the league all season (15+ games), the leader is Sloan Stanick of Tahoe. Sloan leads the league in points (26) and goals (13). His points per game average after 20 games played is 1.30.

 

DID YOU KNOW: The ECHL Stats post today is about the mix of players on the roster of the best teams by points percentage. Allen's points percentage is .469, and here its numbers:

• 1 - AHL contracted player
• 6 -Rookies
• 5 - Veterans

 

Three ECHL teams stand above the rest with points percentages of .750 or more. The three teams have different mixes of NHL/AHL contracted players, rookies, and veterans on their roster. Which is best built for the playoffs?

 

.806 - Wheeling

12 - NHL/AHL contracted (0 NHL, 12 AHL)

15 - Rookies

0 - Veterans

 

.750 - Atlanta

4 - NHL/AHL (1 NHL, 3 AHL)

10 - Rookies

1 - Veteran

 

.750 - Fort Wayne

8 - NHL/AHL contracted (5 NHL, 3 AHL)

5 - Rookies

4 - Veterans