If you like offense you enjoyed the Allen Americans 8-5 win over Wichita last night before a big Star Wars crowd of 5663 at the Allen Event Center. It was the third time this season Allen has been involved in a game with 13 goals. The only game with more than 13 goals was the Allen 10-4 loss to Utah in the third game of the season.
- Last night was the 23rd time this season Allen has scored five or more goals in a game and the third time the Americans have scored eight goals.
- If you like defense it was another disappointing effort by the Americans who gave up five goals to a team that is ranked #24 in the ECHL in winning percentage. It was the 14th time this season Allen has allowed five or more goals in a game.
- The bottom line is Allen came away from Star Wars night with two big points. Combined with a Utah 1-0 loss at home to Rapid City, the Americans have increased their Mountain Division lead to nine points with 16 games remaining in the season.
- Allen dominated the first period by out shooting Wichita 19-7 but once again gave up the first goal of the game. It was the eighth time in 10 games against the Thunder this season Allen has surrendered the first goal.
- Indicative of the lack of defense by both teams the score was tied 1-1, 2-2, 4-4 and 5-5 before Allen finally took control in the third period. The Americans have scored more third period goals than any team in the ECHL (80) and have allowed only 57. Allen has best third period goal differential of +23.
- After allowing Wichita to tie the score 5-5 midway through the third period the Americans scored three unanswered goals in the last nine minutes of the game to get the win. The eighth goal was an empty net goal scored by Spencer Asuchak who had gone over two months (28 games) without a goal.
- Allen out shot Wichita 52-35 last night. The 52 shots is the second highest shot total all season. There is little doubt about the offensive talent on this team. They scored eight goals last night and the Americans #1, #2, #5, #7 and #9 goals scorers were out of the line up. A team is usually in trouble when they are missing five of their top 10 goal scorers.
- Goal scorers for Allen were Colton Heffley (1), Corey Durocher (9), Jack Sadek (5), Alex Guptill (23), Olivier Archambault (15 & 16), Stepan Falkovsky (14) and Spencer Asuchak (6).
- Here is the game recap issued by the Allen Americans: https://allenamericans.com/americans-down-thunder-on-star-wars-night/
- Here are the eight Allen goals courtesy of Sporfie:
Colton Heffley - his first pro goal in his first pro game on a great pass from Jake Doty
https://sporfie.app.link/2if1jhTBj4
Corey Durocher - another great pass from Doty
https://sporfie.app.link/APT3hNZBj4
Jack Sadek - great pass number three from Doty
https://sporfie.app.link/7Dtjj04Bj4
Alex Guptill - Alex with his 23rd goal of the season
https://sporfie.app.link/CHkAMO8Bj4
Olivier Archambault - first of two goals by Archambault
https://sporfie.app.link/IIhqtAeCj4
- Stepan Falkovsky - An Archambault pass sets up the "Falcon" for his rocket of a slap shot which was the game winner.
https://sporfie.app.link/KCB5AZkCj4
- Olivier Archambault - A great pass by Mitch McLain leads to Archambault's second goal of the game.
https://sporfie.app.link/C8rJJRoCj4
- Spencer Asuchak - This empty net goal was Asuchak's first goal since November 12. Notice he first misses the open net before stuffing the puck in on a second effort.
https://sporfie.app.link/LbwNYAtCj4
- I stopped by coach Martinson's office after the game and he was watching the end of his son's game from New Mexico. While it was nice to get the win he was frustrated how the team can have so many dominating shifts offensively and then give up so many great scoring chances. He singled out Jake Doty, who had the primary assist on the first three Allen goals and his line mates (Heffley and Durocher) for their hard work. He also talked about the penalty kill breakdowns and the need to tighten that up on Sunday.
ALLEN VS TULSA PREVIEW
- There will be no rest for the weary as the Americans hopped on the bus at 10:00 am for the 230 mile trip to Tulsa where they will take on the Oilers this afternoon (4:05 pm). After Tulsa beat the Americans 5-3 on Friday they had Saturday night off while Allen was playing Wichita.
- It is bad enough the Americans have to play their third game in 48 hours while Tulsa was resting on Saturday, to make matters worse Allen will be playing shorthanded. Matt Register, Mitch McLain, and Kyle Bauman are headed back to Iowa today. Brett Pollock is injured, Josh Brittain is sick, Les Lancaster is in Stockton and Jared VanWormer is in Cleveland. It adds up to 14 skaters for the game in Tulsa. With six defensemen and eight forwards look for Cole Fraser to move up front for the game. Incidentally, I was talking to Cole's parents at practice on Thursday and they told be he played forward for most of his youth hockey career.
- Allen's penalty kill struggled last night giving up two goals in three opportunities but over the last six games is 3-20 (85.0%). The Americans power play was 2-4 last night and over the last six games is 5-28 (17.9%). In the two games this week against Tulsa neither team was great on the power play. Allen was 1-7 (14.3%) and Tulsa was 0-7. It is fair to say whoever wins the special teams battle today will most likely win the game.
- Another key today against Tulsa is keeping the shots on goal down. Tulsa is the #1 ranked team in the ECHL in shots on goal. The Americans have a record of 5-2-0-0 against Tulsa but they have been out shot in six of the seven games including both of the losses to the Oilers.
OTHER COMMENTS
- Once again the Americans overcame the big crowd (5663), specialty jersey curse with the win last night. The live auction of the Star Wars jerseys saw some active bidding and the highest auction prices in a long time. The lowest price was $550 and two jerseys hit $1000. Stepan Falkovsky's jersey went for $1100 and Spencer Asuchak's went for $1000.
- Les Lancaster, Jared VanWormer and Turner Ottenbreit were all healthy scratches last night. Lancaster he has sat out both games since he was loaned to Stockton. It is great when players get loaned to AHL teams but it is tough when they don't get to play especially when the Americans will be playing short two skaters today.
DID YOU KNOW: Six ECHL teams have scored more than 190 goals this season. All six are currently in a playoff position:
230 - Allen Americans*
207 - Newfoundland Growlers*
202 - Florida Everblades
199 - Brampton Beast
192 - South Carolina Stingrays*
192 - Fort Wayne Komets
*Lead their division in points & winning percentage
Yes. They tweeted about it. Also mentioned it on the Wichita broadcast.
ReplyDeleteSpencer should be skating a little lighter today since he got that 20# monkey off his back!
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