- The game ended on the third Allen breakaway of the overtime with 1:20 remaining. Greger Hanson made a great play, first stripping the puck from a Tulsa player who was circling in the neutral zone during a line change. Greger then skated up the left side and scored from his favorite spot in the left face off circle. The game winner was Hanson's team leading 10th goal of the season. You can check out the game winning goal and a few of the many great saves below:
- When you have a 1-0 OT game it is a given both goalies were great. Riley Gill made 26 saves to record his 18th ECHL career shutout (12 regular season 6 playoff). For his effort Gill was named the #1 star of the game. Tulsa goalie, Colin Stevens, had 29 saves and was named the #3 star of the game.
- Three on three overtime was intended to create exciting hockey and avoid shootouts and it certainly lived up to its billing last night. Both teams had great scoring chances. Riley Gill made two point blank saves at the 2:00 mark before Hansen's game winner. The Americans had three breakaways in the overtime. Spencer Asuchak missed the net on a breakaway 30 seconds into overtime. Tulsa goalie Stevens made a great save on a Bryan Moore breakaway with 1:53 remaining before Hanson scored with 1:40 left in overtime.
- One thing Allen has done exceptionally well this season is win games that go beyond regulation. They are one of only two teams (Toledo the other) that have not lost an overtime or shootout game. The Americans are now 4-0 in overtime and 1-0 in shootouts.
- One of the keys to victory in the preview for this game was who could execute on the power play. Allen, ranked #26 (7.4%) and Tulsa, ranked #25 (8.9%) are two of the worst power play units in the ECHL. They both had numerous power play opportunities last night but could not convert. Allen even had a full two minute five on three and didn't come close to scoring. Both teams went 0-4 and neither team has scored a power play goal in the three head to head games they have played this season. They are a combined 0-24.
POST GAME QUOTES
Here are some post game quotes courtesy of the Tulsa World, Allen Americans and coach Martinson:
"Riley Gill was solid in goal and the defense did a great job in front of him. It is time for us to start a streak.".....Allen coach Steve Martinson
"It is three on three, so there is a lot of open ice and Allen has some skilled players that can make plays. Three on three is exciting but that is what you will see, breakaways, odd man rushes, that is what you will see.".....Tulsa goalie Colin Stevens
"Someone had to end it, I'm just happy it was us. We played a solid road game tonight and Riley deserved the win."..... Greger Hanson
"The only negative in the game was the power play as we continue to struggle. I guess we need to work on our breakaways too.".....Martinson
"We had chances and gave up two breakaways when a guy was getting held. The other time it was a turnover. We had three in a row to the net and don't pass the puck. They (Allen) are too good of a team to let hang around like that.".....Tulsa coach Jason Christie
"I thought the officiating was terrible tonight, especially the first five-on-three. We have not seen that in a long time.".....Christie
OTHER COMMENTS
- With the win in Tulsa, the Americans improved their record to 9-11 and moved up in the Mountain Division standings from a tie for last place to all alone in fourth place. However, Allen has played more games (20) than any other team in the division. Here are the Mountain Division standings with games played in parentheses:
24 points - Colorado (19)
24 points - Idaho (18)
23 points - Alaska (16)
18 points - Allen (20)
17 points - Missouri (17)
17 points - Rapid City (19)
16 points - Utah (19)
- Chad Costello is third in the league in points (25) and Hanson is 11th (21 points). Greger is sixth in the league in goals (10). He had 10 shots on goal last night which vaulted him to #1 in the league with 88.
ALLEN VS MISSOURI GAME PREVIEW
- The game today will be the fourth between Allen and Missouri this season. They will play a total of 13 times. The first two games were played in Allen on October 15 &16. Allen handily won both games. Riley Gill won the opening night game 6-3 as the teams recorded a total of 86 shots on goal. The next night Jamie Murray stopped 35 Missouri shots on the way to a 4-0 shutout. The third meeting was in Missouri (November 15) with the Mavericks winning 5-3 while being out shot by Allen 38-25.
- In the three head to head match ups Allen has outscored Missouri 13-8 and out shot them 117-107. Allen was 2-13 on the power play, Missouri was 1-17.
- Both teams have struggled to win on a consistent basis though Missouri has been playing better recently winning six of their last 10 games. Tonight will be the first home game for the Mavericks since they beat Allen 5-3 on November 15. Missouri's last five games have been on the road.
- Here is how Allen and Missouri match up:
ALLEN MISSOURI
Team Record: 9-11-0-0 (18 points) 8-8-0-1 (17 points)
Division Ranking: 4th Mountain 5th Mountain
Conference Ranking: 8th Western 10th Western
League Ranking: 15th 19th
Last Game: 1-2 Win (Tulsa) 2-1 Win (Indy)
Goals For: 60 54
Goals Against: 66 61
Power Play: 7.4% (6/81) 12.9% (11/85)
Penalty Kill: 82.0% (16/89) 88.3% (7/60)
Most PIM Mathers (98) Elbrecht (34)
Leading Scorers: Costello (6-19-25) Fox (5-8-13)
Hanson (10-11-21) Carzo (6-7-13)
- Here is how Allen and Missouri rank in the ECHL in some statistical categories:
Penalty Minutes Per Game: Allen 2nd (18.75) - Missouri 16th (13.18)
Goals Scored Per Game: Allen 19th (3.00) - Missouri 15th (3.18)
Goals Allowed Per Game: Allen 17th (3.30) - Missouri 24th (3.59)
Shots For Per Game: Allen 9th (33.25) - Missouri 14th (31.88)
Shots Against Per Game: Allen 20th (33.80) - Missouri 23rd (34.82)
Power Play Percentage: Allen 26th (7.4%) - Missouri 19th (12.9%)
Penalty Kill Percentage: Allen 19th (82.0%) - Missouri 5th (88.3%)
- A couple of things stand out when you look at the stats. Both of these teams have really struggled on their power play. Allen has just six power play goals all season (6-81) and won last night in Tulsa despite going 0-4 on the power play. The Mavericks have 11 power play goals all season (11/85) but are just 1-17 against Allen.
- It sounds like a broken record but the Americans have to get the power play turned around to win consistently. They will have their work cut out for them tonight against one of the better penalty killing units in the league. Missouri is ranked #5 at 88.3%. It will probably take a power play goal by Allen to come away with a victory.
- Missouri seems to struggle against teams that play a physical style so look for Allen to finish their checks and emphasize physical play. Derek Mathers should be back in the line up after serving a two game suspension. Mathers has more major penalties (12) than the entire Missouri team (10).
The referee scheduled for the game is Stephen Reneau (#17) and the linesmen are Russ Coll (#40) and Tony Pizzutelli (#85). Reneau was also the referee last night in Tulsa.
DID YOU KNOW: The 1-0 score last night was just the fifth such score in franchise history but the first 1-0 overtime game. Three of the five 1-0 scores have taken place in 2016. In addition to last night, Allen lost to Colorado 1-0 at home on January 8, 2016 and won 1-0 in Wichita on February 26, 2016. The first two 1-0 games were a little more historic. The very first game in franchise history was a 1-0 win in Arizona on October 16, 2009. The second 1-0 game was a playoff loss to the Brahmas in Allen on April 7, 2012.
Allen's record is 9-11, not 8-11 as you stated above
ReplyDeleteThanks Madison, any time you see an error in my blog please let me know either here are send me a message on Facebook. Thanks again, Barry
ReplyDelete