Before I talk hockey I want to explain more fully to all of you who asked what I was doing at the game last night after talking in the blog yesterday about going on a hunting trip. I should have clarified I was going on a day hunt.
- You may remember last season after predicting at Thanksgiving the Americans would not make the playoffs I figuratively and literally ate crow in the form of crow chili. It is a long story you can read about in detail with photos at http://allenamericansblog.blogspot.com/2023/05/the-story-of-eating-crow-promise.html. To make the long story short I found a crow hunting expert, yes they do exist, who graciously took assistant coach Aaron Gens and myself crow hunting to get some crows for my crow chili. Bob Irving is part of a group called The Crow Patrol who help pecan ranchers who are inundated with crows who destroy their pecan crop. Bob got such a call this week from a rancher in Ranger, TX and invited me to join him on a crow hunt. We had a successful hunt and most importantly the Rancher was very pleased we could help him out.
- Things went from bad to worse for the Allen Americans yesterday. When the dust settled the Americans had lost the game to Kansas City 5-3 and added two more players to the long injured reserve list which has now reached six players. Grant Hebert and Mikael Robidoux will be the newest addition to the list: Here is the list with the date placed on IR:
- Ty Farmer - October 18
- Dalton Skelly - October 18
- Ryan Gagnon - October 21
- Liam Finlay - October 30
- Grant Hebert - November 11 (will be effective date when added to IR
- Mikael Robidoux - November 11 (will be effective date when added to IR)
- Donovan Sebrango - not on IR but played one game for Allen (10/20), returned to Belleville for treatment and has not played since.
- It didn't take long for Allen to dig themselves into a hole last night as Kansas City scored two goals in the first eight minutes of the game and took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. How big a hole was Allen in after the first period? All ECHL teams with a first period lead thus far this season have a record of 64-12-3-1 which is a points percentage of .825.
- Allen was able to cut the lead to 2-1 early in the second period on a Kris Myllari power play goal but less than two minutes later the Mavericks struck back to take a 3-1 lead which was the score at the second intermission. A fourth goal by the Mavericks just 23 seconds into the third period gave Kansas City what proved to be an insurmountable 4-1 lead. Allen scored two goals to cut the lead to 4-3 on goals by Justin Allen (he netted his first professional goal in his first game with the Americans) and Matt Marcinew who scored his fifth goal of the season. Kansas City scored an empty net power play goal with 40 seconds remaining in the game to make the final score 5-3.
- The loss last night kept a couple of streaks alive that are the crux of Allen's problems. Allen has allowed five or more goals in all of its five losses. The Americans have allowed 40 or more shots in all eight of their games. Allen is ranked last in the ECHL in shots allowed per game at 45.13 (next highest is 37.57 and #1 is 25.90). Allen is also ranked last in goals allowed per game at 5.00 (next highest is 4.78 and #1 is 2.14).
- Here are the video highlights: https://echl.com/videos/kansas-city-mavericks-vs-allen-americans-nov-10-2023
COACHES COMMENTS
"I thought we played good in the third period and did some good things. We got off to a a very slow start that cost us."....Aaron Gens
"In the third period we started to manage the puck better, had more offensive zone possession and used our defensemen more.".....Gens
"In the first and seconds periods I didn't think we had much jam and were a little bit slow footed. We have to step it up and have a better start Saturday night.".....Gens
"I didn't like our start as a team and thought the guys were a little hesitant and lacked confidence with the puck.".....Chad Costello
"When we started handling the puck and making passes and working together as a group we started drawing penalties and scoring goals. I think we can learn from that.".....Costello
"That was probably the most painful game I have ever been through. I had to stand on one leg the entire game so I am pretty exhausted.".....Costello
"I am going to continue to believe in these guys. The addition of Justin Allen will help. I thought he played incredible in his first game and scored his first pro goal.".....Costello
"We have to run our team different than other teams in the league because we don't get much AHL help, so we have to build from within. We have to have all the right puzzle pieces which is different from teams that have 8, 9 or ten AHL/NHL contracted players.".....Costello
"It is not ideal with so many players injured, but we will give it everything we have.".....Costello
"Some of our players are wearing net guards. I would personally like to see all of then wearing them. We bought them for all of the players, but at this point it is an individual choice whether they wear them.".....Costello
"We just acquired Solag Bakich form Reading. He is a big, strong, athletic forward who is good defensively and drives the net. When we watch him on video he knows exactly what he is as a player. He is a Dallas native so will be playing in front of his family. He is excited and thrilled to be joining the team. He is a power forward who had 12 points in 10 games in Reading last year after finishing his collegiate career at Notre Dame. He also had playoff experience last season in Reading. I can't wait to get him to Allen.".....Costello
- Colton Hargrove and Matt Marcinew lead Allen is scoring with identical stats, 10 points, five goals and five assists. Kris Myllari leads the team in assists (6) and is third in points (7).
GAME TWO ALLEN VS KANSAS CITY PREVIEW
- Allen enters the game tonight with a depleted lineup so you might see a different style of play by the Americans. The average number of goals scored by both teams in Allen's eight games this season is 8.38. I think tonight you may see fewer than 8.38 goals and the eight game streak of allowing 40+ shots may also end. Stay tuned.
- Allen needs to be ready to play tonight and score the first goal of the game. Kansas City hasn't lost a game this season when they have a lead after the first period (4-0) or second period (5-0). The Americans can't afford to play catch up hockey against the Mavericks.
- Both teams had two power play goals last night, but one of the Kansas City power play goals was an empty net. Allen is 3-8 (37.5%) on the power play in the two games against the Mavericks. The power play could be a difference maker for the Americans tonight.
- Allen will have two referees for nine home games this season. There were two last night and there will be the same to for the game tonight.
OTHER COMMENTS
- A few ECHL teams are starting to separate themselves from the pack. There are six teams with point percentages at .800 or above. The next highest is .667.
- 1.000 - Atlanta
- .900 - Toledo
- .889 - Trois Riviéres
- .875 - Idaho
- .857 - Greenville
- .800 - Kansas City
- Here is the ECHL preview of all 11 games on the schedule tonight: https://echl.com/news/2023/11/echl-today-nov-11
DID YOU KNOW; The top five ECHL leaders in rookie points come from just two teams, Kansas City and Newfoundland. Each player’s overall rank in points is in parenthesis:
15 (7G, 8A) - Grant Cruikshank, Newfoundland (2nd)
15 (3G, 12A) - Max Andreev, Kansas City (2nd)
14 (5G, 9A) - Jackson Berezowski, Newfoundland (3rd)
13
(6G, 7A) - Cade Borchardt, Kansas City (7th)
12 (5G, 7A) - Tate Singleton, Newfoundland (11th)
- Newfoundland’s top six points leaders are rookies.
- Kansas City’s top three points leaders are rookies.
In addition Iowa, South Carolina, Trois Rivières and Worcester have rookies as their leading point scorer.
