Allen Loses in Overtime, Game Recap, Video Highlights, Coaches Comments, Rematch Preview and More

The Allen Americans lost to the Wichita Thunder 3-2 in overtime last night before a crowd of 4385 at the Allen Event Center (AEC). It was the second of three games in less than 48 hours between these teams. After last night's game ended (9:55 pm) both teams showered, packed and jumped on their respective buses and took the six hour drive to Wichita where they arrived around 5:00 am this morning. Puck drop for the game this afternoon will be 4:05 pm. Welcome to AA hockey.


- The Americans had to overcome some adversity to get one point last night. They could have used some of the extra goals from their 7-3 win over the Thunder on Friday night. Maybe it was the ever present "specialty jersey curse" but it took Allen until the 2:17 mark of the third period to score their first goal on "Teddy Bear Toss" night.


- Just like on Friday night, the Americans got off to a slow start, giving up the first goal and being out shot in the first period (14-11).


- Over the first two periods Allen had 27 shots but could not get the puck behind Thunder goalie, Evan Weninger, who started the season with Allen and was traded to Wichita at the end of October.


- Trailing 2-0 after the second period, the Americans finally got on the scoreboard early in the third period on a power play goal by Jared VanWormer, his fifth of the season. Here is the goal:




- When Allen tied the score 2-2 midway through the third period on Olivier Archambault's seventh goal of the season it looked like another comeback victory was in the works. Here is Archambault's goal:


 



 - Allen out shot Wichita 13-6 in the third period but could not get the go ahead goal. The Americans came close to ending the game two minutes into the overtime period when Alex Breton rang a shot off the post. It was so close the referee went to the video replay before ruling the puck did not go in the net. Here is that replay:





- Here is the game recap issued by the Wichita Thunder: https://www.wichitathunder.com/news/press-release/safin-nets-ot-winner.html


- Here are the complete video highlights with all of the goals and a bunch of great saves by both goalies:

- Here is Steve Martinson's post game interview:

- With coach Martinson having to get ready to leave for Wichita right after the game, assistant coach Jason Deitsch, who does not go on most road trips (he is a McKinney fireman) addressed the season ticket holders after the game. Here is what Jason had to say:

"Obviously this was not the outcome we were looking for, we still have work to do to get better."

"The positive tonight is we came back in the third period to earn one point. Now the team has to get on the bus and be better tomorrow."

"I don't think Wichita did anything different tonight. Too many times we tried to force a really good play rather than making the easy play."

"This game is a simple game and the teams that win play simple hockey. We too often try to make the fancy play and if the puck gets through it is a great play but the puck isn't getting through. We have to get back to making the simple play."

"We have a couple of guys that hit a lot but I still think we need to play with more grit. We don't need to take more penalties but we need to be more physical and have more guys finishing checks."


REMATCH PREVIEW

- It will be two tired teams that take the ice this afternoon in Wichita. Will over skill will carry the day and the team that wants it more will most likely prevail. Allen has played well in Wichita since the teams joined the ECHL. Over the last five seasons the Americans record in Wichita is 18-6-1-2.


- If you look at home and away special team percentages you get a much different picture than looking at overall percentages. Allen's road power play percentage is 11.8% (2-17) while Wichita's home power play percentage is 18.2% (6-33). Allen's road penalty kill percentage is 93.8% (1-16) compared to Wichita's home penalty kill percentage of 80.1% (7-35).


- After five straight games without a power play goal the Americans have had one power play goal in both games against Wichita. Allen is 2-10 (20%) on the power play this weekend. Hopefully they can keep that streak going today.


- It is imperative Allen gets off to a better start this afternoon. They have fallen behind 2-0 in the first two games and still earned three of four points. They won't get away with that today, playing the third game in 48 hours and being on the road.


- I haven't confirmed this but the plan was Tyler Sheehy would not play today because of the injury he sustained on Friday and Regan Nagy will be back in the lineup.


OTHER COMMENTS

- Allen has now played one third (12 games) of their home schedule for the season and have averaged 3801 in attendance per game. The Americans will spend most of the remaining games in 2019 on the road. They have 17 games left before the New Year with 13 of them on the road.


- Allen and Tulsa have played the most home games (12) and at the other end of the spectrum are Toledo and South Carolina who have only played five home games thus far. 


- Allen, Rapid City and South Carolina are tied at the top of the ECHL standings with 26 points but have very different winning percentages because of total games played. Here is the comparison:

.867 - South Carolina
.765 - Allen
.684 - Rapid City


- Allen's average penalty minutes per game has once again fallen below 10 minutes. Three teams are averaging less then 10 PIMS per game:

8.69 - Indy Fuel
9.75 - Wheeling Nailers
9.76 - Allen Americans



DID YOU KNOW: How unique are Allen's penalty minute numbers this season. Here are the average penalty minutes per game for each season since Allen joined the ECHL:

2019-20:   9.76
2018-19:   22.10
2017-18:   19.60
2016-17:   19.89
2015-16:   16.51
2014-15:   22.83