Reading Sweeps Allen, Game Recap, Steve Martinson's Comments, Road Trip Recap, Fan Feedback & More

The rivalry between the two Jack Gulati owned teams turned out to be not much of a rivalry after all. The first ever series between Allen and Reading turned into a three game sweep by the Royals with a 5-2 win before a Sunday afternoon crowd of 2236 at Santander Arena.


- There were four keys to the game and the Americans failed on all four:

1. Get off to a good start. For the 22nd time in 30 games this season Allen allowed the first goal. The Americans record in those 22 games is 2-19-0-1. To their credit the Americans did come back last night after giving up the first goal and actually took a 2-1 lead midway through the second period. From that point Reading scored four unanswered goals.

2. Stay out of the penalty box. Allen had 30 penalty minutes compared to eight for Reading. More importantly was a disparity in power play opportunities. The Americans were 0-2 on the power play, Reading was 2-6.

3. Play better defense - Once again Allen gave up five goals. In the three games against Reading the Americans allowed 14 goals (4.67 per game). 

4. Score even strength - Both Allen goals came even strength but they could only manage two. Over the three games against the Royals the Americans managed just seven goals (2.33 per game) and scored only three goals even strength.


- Goal scorers for Allen were Spencer Asuchak (9) and Adam Miller (7). Zach Pochiro assisted on Miller's goal to keep his point streak alive. Zach has at least one point in seven straight games with a total of 10 points (6G, 4A).


- Here is the game recap issued by the Allen Americans:  https://allenamericans.com/americans-cant-hold-the-lead-as-reading-completes-weekend-sweep/


- Here is the game recap issued by the Reading Royals: https://royalshockey.com/en/news/2018/9/royals-sweep-3-in-3-with-americans-to-win-sixth-straight-5-2


- I had a chance to check in with Steve Martinson as the team was busing to Philadelphia for an early morning flight back to DFW. I heard Tommy Daniels say on the broadcast last night it was going to be an early start (3:00 am) and the team will arrive home around 10:30 am. Coach Martinson had this to say about the game, "Another game we could have won. It hurt to be down to four defensemen after playing four games in five days. Gunn's hit was legal but we talked about being safe on hits going into the third period. Then Clarke had to give his really important opinion again and took a misconduct penalty. The defense got tired and their forwards were faster and we struggled. We also didn't do much five-on-five on offense."


ROAD TRIP RECAP

Allen ended their six game road trip without a win and had the same problems in all six games. To start with they gave up the first goal in all six games. Here are some other stats that make the point:


- Allen didn't score more than three goals in any of the six games. Their opponents scored four or more goals in five of the six games. Allen was outscored in the six games 27-13. That is an average of 2.17 goals scored and 4.50 goals allowed.


- Allen was outshot in all six games. The total was 205-174. 


- Allen never had more power play opportunities than their opponents on this six game road trip. The Americans had 25 power play chances while the opponents had 41. Allen scored five power play goals (three in one game) while their opponents scored 10 power play goals. Allen was 5-25 (20%) on the power play, their opponents were 10-41 (24.4%).


- In the six road games Allen had 45 penalties for 159 penalty minutes. Their opponents took 31 penalties for a total of 70 penalty minutes.


- With stats like those above you can see why it is tough to win a game. Unfortunately the stats during this six game road trip are reflective of  the same problems Allen has encountered the entire season. The question is can they turn this around.


OTHER COMMENTS


- With the loss last night in Reading the Americans extended their losing streak to seven games. It is hard to believe in the last 51 days Allen has had the two longest losing streaks ever. An eight game losing streak from October 28-November 16 and now a seven game losing streak from December 5- December 16. The current seven game losing streak could get longer as the Americans play three games this week (Wednesday, Friday, Saturday) against the Cincinnati Cyclones who have the best record in the ECHL with 39 points and a winning percentage of .750.


- Each day I come across a different stat that drives home to me just how bad this season has become for the Allen Americans. I didn't notice this one until this morning. Allen has scored 48 goals on the road and allowed 79 for a goal differential of -31. There are 11 ECHL teams that have allowed fewer goals all season (home and away) than Allen has allowed on the road.


- Allen's chances of getting out of last place in the Mountain Division are fading fast because sixth place Wichita is 6-3-0-1 in the last 10 games while the Americans have lost seven straight. Wichita is currently in sixth place but they are closer to first place (seven points) than seventh place (13 points).


- The last four Kelly Cups have been won by tough physical teams that were at the top of the penalty minutes list. With Colorado in the AHL and Allen out of contention could this be the season the Kelly Cup champion is not a high penalty/physical team. Here are the top five teams in the ECHL (winning percentage) with their rank in penalty minutes:

Cincinnati - #13
Toledo - #22
Newfoundland - #23
Florida - #15
Utah - #10


- Yesterday I wrote about how difficult it must be to read the blog each day when there is little good news to report, even for those that are big supporters of the Allen Americans. Everyone was prepared for a down season but nobody saw this season coming. I heard from many Allen fans after the blog post yesterday but this one from Mike captures the spirit of the Allen fans that I know and what this year is all about. Here is Mike's comment to me, "If you are committed enough to keep blogging through this "amazing" collapse, then I'm committed enough to keep reading them. Call me a masochist, but I kind of feel obligated to see this season through, to keep watching on the off chance that this team manages to steal a win. It feels like a karmic debt I owe for the four back-to-back championships to which we were treated."



 - Here is part of an email I received from another fan (and friend), Howard, who was more concerned about the players and coach than winning and losing. "Barry, thanks for your continuing effort on the blog. Just read today's entry and am glad to report that I am one of the 700 who read it every day. As the season has progressed (I am one of the realists who, like you, gave up on making the playoffs long ago) my concern has now turned toward the team. Not being an athlete, I cannot imagine how difficult this must be for the coach and players. I cannot relate how they play with any sense of enjoyment but being professionals I am sure they do. How will this season impact them? Will they doubt their abilities next season? Will they decide to hang up the skates? Are they looking for new opportunities to leave Allen in the dust? Will other players pass up Allen next year as a way to further their careers? Most of all I worry about coach Martinson. He has obviously faced adversity before but I am sure this season is exceptionally hard on him. I guess the same questions I have for the players apply to him. Oddly, in one way, knowing that the playoffs are out of the picture there is less stress in following the team. I believe it will afford us the chance to watch individuals and focus on their play and not focus so much on the outcome of the game. But don't get me wrong, winning would be nice."            


DID YOU KNOW: With all of the losing including seven in a row, eight of the last nine, 12 of the last 14 and 20 of the last 23 there is a silver lining. The Allen Americans are 2-2-0-0 at home in the last month.