Allen Loses 6-3, Game Recap, Video Highlights, Steve Martinson's Post Game Comments, Rubber Match Preview and More

The Allen Americans lost to the Idaho Steelheads 6-3 last night before a Friday night crowd of 4015 at the Allen Event Center. The game was closer than the final score because of two empty net goals late in the game by the Steelheads.


- The Americans missed all of the keys to the game. They gave up the first goal of the game and the second goal of the game just 12 seconds a part midway through the first period. Allen was out shot in every period for a game total of 35-24. The Americans couldn't stay out of the penalty box and spent almost a third of the game killing penalties. Allen was called for 11 infractions which led to eight Idaho power plays. The Steelheads were called for just six penalties which led to three Allen power plays.


- Despite the bad first period when Allen got down 2-0 and despite taking so many stick penalties the Americans had a chance to win the game. Zach Pochiro scored early in the second period on a power play goal but 17 seconds later Idaho answered back to take a 3-1 lead. Then it was Allen's turn as they scored two goals (Riley Bourbonnais shorthanded & Alex Ranger) in 51 seconds to tie the score 3-3. The summary was four goals in 158 seconds from the 1:06 mark to the 3:44 mark of the second period.


- Idaho took the lead for good at the 12:13 mark of the second period scoring a power play goal on yet another stick penalty by the Americans. Allen had 28 minutes to get the tying goal but came up short. Idaho closed out the scoring with two empty net goals (18:42 & 19:59) to make the final score 6-3 and snap Allen's three game home winning streak and hand the Americans just their second loss in regulation in the last month.


- Goal scorers for Allen were Zach Pochiro (26), Riley Bourbonnais (12) and Alex Ranger (5). All three goals came in 158 seconds early in the second period.


- Here is the game recap issued by the Idaho Steelheads: https://www.idahosteelheads.com/en/articles/steelheads-stand-strong-in-6-3-win-over-americans


- Here are the Sporfie highlights of the Allen goals:

Zach Pochiro - This is a play Allen fans have seen a lot this season. The Americans are on the power play, Asuchak wins the faceoff and the  play ends with the patented Pochiro one timer. This was Zach's 11th power play goal and his 26th goal of the season, both tops in the ECHL.

  



Riley Bourbonnais - Riley's second shorthanded goal of the season, he beats the goalie under his stick side arm.




 
Alex Ranger -- Notice how Ranger is all by himself in the offensive zone with the other four Allen players outside the blue line making a shift change. There was some controversy as to whether the puck went in the net but the referee called it a good goal immediately.







- Here are the video highlights which includes, the goals, close calls, big hits and a skirmish:

 



STEVE MARTINSON'S POST GAME COMMENTS

"We made a couple of weak plays to start the game and dug ourselves a 2-0 hole. The second goal was kind of crazy. We passed the puck "D" to "D" right to Idaho and I not sure what we were doing when the puck went up in the air."

"On their third goal our defenseman is up at the top of the circle and we didn't defend the front of the net very well, it was the same guys making mistakes."

"We had a lack of discipline with all of the penalties, especially the ones in our offensive zone. It is obvious individual stuff is more important to some players than what it takes to win."

"I was disappointed in our offensive production tonight. There are times when we just need to get the puck in and go to work. We struggle to play that way consistently but when we do we are successful."

"We took another step backward tonight and we have to go out and play a smarter game tomorrow night."

"I am coaching to win until the last game of the season, my focus is the rest of this season, not next season. I want to win every game and I want a team that plays hard. If guys aren't buying into that I will move them."

"I am not going to be all doom and gloom because we have been playing better. But we don't have any room to play the way we did tonight given where we are in the standings."



ALLEN VS IDAHO GAME PREVIEW


- Tonight is the last game of the season against Idaho and Allen has a chance to go 2-1 in the three games this week and also finish the six games against Idaho with a record of 2-1-2-0.


- The keys to victory remain the same and Allen needs to do the opposite of what they did last night. The Americans have to get off to a better start. Last night Idaho scored first and took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. The Steelheads are 17-4-1-1 when they scored first and 12-1-1-1 when they have a first period lead.


- It is imperative the Americans avoid stick penalties and stay out of the penalty box. They can't give up eight power plays like they did last night and expect to win. It will be the same officiating crew tonight as last night so players should know what to expect. Allen has had the better power play unit in the head to head games against Idaho (27.8% vs 11.5%)  but when you give up eight power plays and only have three of your own that advantage is offset.


- The most shots Allen has managed in their five games against Idaho is 30. The shots on goal have been 30, 29, 26, 23, 24. That is an average of 26 shots per game. Idaho is averaging 36 shots per game against Allen. In their two wins Allen kept the shots close (30-30 & 28-23) but in the three loses they were out shot by 16, 16 and 11 shots. Bottom line is Allen needs to keep the shots close if they expect to win tonight.


- I am sure it sounds like a broken record to the players as often as coach Martinson brings it up but avoiding costly turnovers and getting the puck in deep has been the key to success recently. Trying to make plays in the neutral zone and turning the puck over, rather than getting it in deep, is the type of individual play Martinson talks about when players care more about themselves than the team.   


- If you didn't like the officiating crew last night you won't like them tonight because it will be the same group. The referee tonight is Steven Rouillard (#3) and the linesmen will be Jordan Solomon (#78) and Aaron Schacht (#31).



OTHER COMMENTS

- Since Riley Bourbonnais arrived in Allen just before Christmas he has quietly become the most efficient and effective player on the team. Riley has 18 points (8G, 10A) in 19 games. He has played in all situations and is an excellent defensive player and penalty killer. Bourbonnais leads the Americans  in plus/minus with a +8. The only other player on the team in plus territory is Alex Ranger at +1. At the other end of the spectrum are eight players who have a plus/minus of between -10 and -30.


- Garrett Clarke was traded to Fort Wayne yesterday for future considerations. I often get asked what future considerations mean. The answer is it can mean whatever the two teams involved agree to. Most often trades are for a player and/or cash. The futures could involve a specific player to be named later, it could be choosing from a list of players at a later date or it could be an agreement to try and agree on a player at the deadline and if there is no agreement the deal becomes a cash transaction. It can be any combination and is only limited by what the teams agree to. I have even seen future considerations be I will do a favor for you in the future with no more specificity than that.


- The Mountain Division winners last night were Tulsa, Utah, Idaho and Kansas City who happen to be the top four teams in the division. The losers were Allen, Wichita and Rapid City who are the bottom three teams in the division. Here are the current Mountain Division standings based on winning percentage with games remaining in parentheses.

.659 - Utah 28 games remaining)
.656 - Idaho (27 games)
.604 - Tulsa (24 games)
.560 - Kansas City (30 games)
.489 - Wichita (27 games)
.427 - Rapid City (24 games)
.356 - Allen (23 games)


- Here is another way to look at Allen making the playoffs. If fourth place Kansas City plays their remaining 30 games at their current pace (.560) they will end up with 80 points. If Allen goes undefeated in their 23 remaining games they will have 81 points. If Kansas City goes 10-20 over their last 30 games Allen will have to have a record of 16-8 to catch the Mavericks.



DID YOU KNOW: It is rare for the Kelly Cup champion to have a regular season winning percentage below .650. It has only happened once in the last five years. Here are the six ECHL teams that have winning percentages above .650. It is highly likely the 2019 Kelly Cup champion will come from the this list.

.744 - Florida
.738 - Cincinnati
.698 - Newfoundland
.670 - Toledo
.659 - Utah
.656 - Idaho