Allen vs Wichita Game Preview, Kelly Cup Playoff Format and More

 

The Allen Americans take on the Wichita Thunder tonight at the Allen Event Center (AEC). It will be the fifth time these teams have played this season with the Americans winning three of the first four. The teams will travel to Wichita immediately after the game where they will play for the sixth time on Saturday. After the two games this weekend Allen will not see Wichita again for two months. The ECHL schedule has not been announced for games after April 3. You can expect a heavy dose of games against Wichita when the final schedule is released. If the three games against Wichita that were postponed earlier are rescheduled along with additional games you could see as many as one third of Allen's 30 remaining games between April 3 and the end of the regular season (June 5) be against Wichita.

 

- Here is a look at the game tonight by the numbers. In the last five seasons Allen's record at home against Wichita is 20-7-1-0. This season Allen is 1-1 at the AEC against the Thunder. Allen's home record this season is 5-1 with the only loss to Wichita. Wichita's road record this season is 4-1 with the only loss to Allen.

 

- Record When Scoring First: Allen 10-1-0-0, Wichita 8-1-0-0

 

- Overtime Record: Allen 2-0, Wichita 1-1

 

- Power Play Record: Allen 16.7% (home), Wichita 21.4% (road)

 

- Penalty Kill Record: Allen 79.2% (home), Wichita 81.0% (road)

 

- Average Goals Scored Per Game: Allen ranked #2 (3.71), Wichita ranked #4 (3.36)

 

- Average Goals Allowed Per Game: Allen ranked #1 (2.35), Wichita ranked #2 (2.36)

 

- Both teams play well with the lead. Allen is 8-0 when leading after the first period and 10-0 when leading after the second period. Wichita is 4-0 when leading after the first period and 8-1 when leading after the second period.

 

- The stats clearly show how important it is to score first and play with the lead. If you combine their records Allen and Wichita are 18-2 when scoring first and 30-1 when leading after the first or second period. Definitely a key to the game tonight.

 

- If you look at special teams percentages above the advantage goes to Wichita but if you look at the four head to head games these teams have played it is a different story. Allen has scored a power play goal in all four previous games against Wichita and had two on Wednesday. Wichita has a single power play goal in three of the four games against the Americans. Another stat worth noting is Allen has five power play goals in their last three games going 5-17 (29.4%). 

 

- As much as you think about physical play and fighting when Allen and Wichita meet the facts are they more often than not don't drop the gloves. They have played 16 times since the beginning of last season and 70% of the time there were only minor penalties called in the game. It is clear both Allen and Wichita have plenty of skill and toughness so they have the ability to play any style that is necessary. What has made the Americans so strong this season is they can adapt to whatever style is needed.

 

- Former Allen forward Bryan Moore was just acquired in a trade by the Wichita Thunder with Greenville. Moore was off to a poor start with Greenville. In nine games Bryan had two goals and no assists. Even though he only played in nine games he took 14 minor penalties which leads the league. Moore hasn't reported to Wichita yet.

 

- Look for Jake Paterson in goal for the Americans tonight with one other possible lineup change as well. If you want to watch the game within the game look for how coach Martinson uses his last change at home to get the Lammon line out against Wichita's top line.    

 

OTHER COMMENTS

- I am sure by now most of you have seen the Kelly Cup playoff format that was released by the ECHL yesterday. The top four teams by points percentage from each conference will make the playoffs which means eight of the 14 teams playing will make the playoffs. With eight teams in the playoffs it will take only three rounds to win the Kelly Cup as opposed to four rounds normally. All three rounds of the playoffs will best of five series with the higher seeded team having the option to play the first two or final three games at home. I was hoping the final round would be best of seven but it was not to be.  With fewer rounds and best of five series the Kelly Cup playoffs will be lightning quick from start to finish. It will all happen in less than a month starting on June 7 and ending no later than July 3.

 

- The AHL starts their season tonight but not is all well as the Canadian Division, which was established for this season only because of the pandemic border crossing issues, is not playing. There are five teams in the Canadian Division; Belleville,  Manitoba, Toronto, Laval and Stockton (playing in Calgary). The problem is the province of Ontario is not ready to approve play for its two AHL teams (Belleville & Toronto). Their statement yesterday says, "Our government is monitoring the public health trends very closely and while we are starting to see the bend curve in Ontario, it is too early to speculate on how and when further restrictions will be loosened. At this time the NHL is the only professional sport league in Ontario that is allowed to play in accordance with a return to play plan approved by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health."

 

- The ECHL has now gone six days without a player being added to the Commissioner's Exempt List. Hopefully there will be few COVID related issues the remainder of the season. 

 

- There is a full slate of six games on tap in the ECHL tonight. Here is the ECHL Today with a preview on all of the games: https://www.echl.com/en/news/2021/2/echl-today-feb-5 

 

DID YOU KNOW: The 2021 Kelly Cup finals will be a five game series. It will be the first time in the 33 year history of the ECHL that the championship final has been a five game series. The last time any Kelly Cup playoff series was five games was the first round of the 2012 playoffs.