Individual and Team Stats Show Allen's Depth, ECHL Players Head to NHL Training Camps and More

 

I keep writing about the depth of the Allen Americans team and decided to look at the individual and team stats to see how they look just five games into the 2020-21 season. Here goes:

 

INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS AND TEAM STATS

Below are the team leaders in various statistical categories with the league rank in parentheses:

Points:
  6 - Jesse Mychan (5th)
 5 - Corey Mackin (9th)
 5 - Tyler Sheehy (9th)


Goals:
 5 - Jesse Mychan (1st)
 4 - Jake McGrew (3rd)
 2 - Joe Garreffa, Nolan Kneen, Zane Franklin (10th) 


Assists:
 4 - Spencer Asuchak, Kameron Kielly, Corey Mackin, Matt Register, Tyler Sheehy (2nd)


Plus/Minus:
+8 - Turner Ottenbreit, Matt Register (2nd)
+6 - Jake McGrew (4th)
 

Penalty Minutes:
21 - Les Lancaster (3rd)
16 - Zane Franklin (7th)
11 - Cole Fraser (15th) 
 

Shots On Goal:
 23 - Jesse Mychan (1st)
 21 - Jake McGrew (2nd) 
 17 - Matt Register (8th) 


Points by Defensemen
 4 - Matt Register (3rd)
 3 - Nolan Kneen, Les Lancaster, Turner Ottenbreit (4th) 


Goals by Defensemen
 2 - Nolan Kneen (2nd)
 1 - Les Lancaster (3rd)


Assists by Defensemen
 4 - Matt Register (1st)
 3 - Turner Ottenbreit (3rd)
 2 - Les Lancaster (8th)


Save Percentage
.966 - Zach Sawchenko (2nd)
.903 - C.J. Motte (14th)




- If you can draw any conclusion from the individual stats above it would be how balanced scoring has been by the Americans this season.


-  Here is how the Americans rank among the 13 teams currently playing in the ECHL in some critical statistical categories:

Goal differential:  #2 (+10)
Average PIMS per game:  #5 (13.40)
Power play:  #8 (11.1%)
Penalty kill:  #11 (81.3%)
Ave. goals scored:  #2 (4.00)
Ave. goals against:  #2 (2.00)
Ave. shots for per game:  #2 (35.80)
Ave. shots against per game:  #12 (32.89)
Shooting percentage:  #3 (11.2%)
Team save percentage:  #2 (.944)


- Two stats that standout are average goals scored and allowed. A sign of a good team is one that plays well at both ends of the ice. To be ranked #2 in both categories and averaging 2.00 more goals scored than allowed is outstanding. For comparison last season the differential was +0.83. When Allen won the Kelly Cup in 2014-15 and led the league with an average of 4.06 goals per game they allowed 2.82 goals per game for a differential +1.24. It is only five games into the season and  unrealistic to expect the Americans to maintain the +2.00 goal differential but they are off to a great start.  

 

- It is clear the area in need of the most room for improvement is special teams. If you combine the power play percentage and penalty kill percentage anything above 105% is considered excellent and anything below 100% is needs improvement. Allen's combined percentage is just 92.4%.

- The other standout stat above is the team save percentage of .944 which is #2 in the league. Only Wichita, who has played only two games thus far, is higher at .960. Should be fun watching the goalie play when Allen takes on Wichita Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

 

OTHER COMMENTS

 - Kayle Doetzel, who recently re-signed with the Americans, will be in the lineup this weekend against Wichita. Kayle adds experience to a blue line group that has three rookies and two second year players. Doetzel, a stay at home defenseman, brings toughness in front of the net and locker room leadership to the team. He has more AHL experience (68 games) than Matt Register (41), Turner Ottenbreit (34) and Les Lancaster (9).

 

- The Wichita Thunder announced yesterday the arena capacity for the games against Allen this weekend (January 1,2) has been increased to 15% of capacity. Matt Harding from Team Sin Bin reported that takes maximum attendance from 1400 to 2000.

 

 

- NHL training camps are about to start with a maximum of 36 skaters and unlimited number of goalies attending camp. With a 4-6 player taxi squad in addition to 23 players on the roster it creates more opportunity at the NHL level. The exodus from the ECHL has started. Here are the players assigned to ECHL teams that are heading to NHL training camps.

- Nashville recalled five NHL contracted forwards from Florida

Patrick Harper (was leading ECHL with nine points (5G, 4A) in five games

Tanner Jeannot

Cole Smith

Josh Wilkins

Thomas Novak

 

- Boston recalled goalie Callum Booth from Jacksonville 

 

- Washington recalled goalie Zach Fucale from South Carolina 

 

- Calgary was loaned goalie Garret Sparks by Orlando

 

 

 

DID YOU KNOW:  It is fascinating to look at the Allen Americans history and compare average goals scored per game. Would you be surprised to know the most prolific goal scoring team in Allen history lost in the third round of the playoffs and the teams with two of the lowest average goals per game in franchise history won the championship? Here are the average goals per game for each team in Allen history with their playoff results in parentheses:

2009-10:   3.28 (lost in finals)
2010-11:   4.20 (lost in third round)
2011-12:   3.21 (lost in first round)
2012-13:   3.18 (won championship)
2013-14:   3.77 (won championship)
2014-15:   4.05 (won championship
2015-16:   3.08 (won championship)
2016-17:   4.08 (lost in second round)
2017-18:   3.26 (lost in first round)
2018-19:   2.89 (missed playoffs)

2019-20:   3.98 (season canceled)

2020-21:   4.00 (thru 5 games)