Justin Kapelmaster led the Allen Americans to back to back shutouts against the Tulsa Oilers stopping 29 shots last night on the way to a 2-0 win. It was the first back to back shutout performance by a goalie since November, 2016 when Riley Gill had back to back 1-0 wins.
- It was a close game for sure but the Americans met every key to winning a game. Allen scored the first goal although it wasn't until early in the second period. The Americans out shot Tulsa which is a rarity. Since the beginning of last season the Americans have out shot Tulsa in just three of 17 games. Last night it was by a slim 29-28 margin. Tulsa has led the ECHL in average shots per game the last four seasons but the Americans have held them under their average in all three games in this series.
- Special teams played a key role in the victory as Allen scored the first and game winning goal at the end of a five minute major penalty assessed for an illegal check to the head. Frank DiChiara was down on the ice after the hit but returned after the first intermission.
- Allen's power play goal was scored by Les Lancaster, his ninth of the season. Lancaster has two more goals than any other defenseman in the league. The Americans second goal was an empty net goal scored by Spencer Asuchak, his sixth of the season but third in the last four games. Here are the video highlights from the Allen Americans YouTube Channel:
- Here is the game recap from the Allen Americans with player quotes: https://allenamericans.com/media/game-recap/americans-blank-tulsa-again/
- Allen kept its scoring first streak against Tulsa alive last night and has scored the first goal in all seven games against the Oilers this season. The Americans record is now 5-1-1-0 against the Oilers.
- The teams will be back at it this afternoon (4:05 pm CDT) for their fourth game in five days. Allen will be looking to capture seven points in the series with another win today while the Oilers will be trying to get back on the winning track. Tulsa had won five straight games before being shutout the last two nights.
- There will be a lot of tired legs when Allen and Tulsa take the ice this afternoon. This game could go either way when it comes to penalties. The game last night saw more penalties (14) and penalty minutes (52) than any game between these teams the last two seasons. The game last night included a match penalty to Tulsa for targeting the head of Frank DiChiara. Allen took three penalties after the game was over so it seems like some unfinished business on the part of both teams. The question is whether things will escalate this afternoon or will the tired legs and sore bodies make for a lower key game. Allen will be playing shorthanded again which is also a factor. The referee scheduled today, Alex Normandin, worked the game last night.
- I had a chance to check in with coach Martinson this morning and here are his comments:
"Even though it is three games in three days if a goalie has back to back shutouts he deserves the start. As long as Kapelmaster feels okay this morning he will be in goal."
"The team is playing good team defense and when a mistake happens the players are covering for each other."
"All through the lineup players are back checking and the work ethic had been outstanding."
"Everyone is finishing their checks and the physical play is helping."
OTHER COMMENTS
- It doesn't seem mathematically possible but after the ECHL games last night only one team in the league (Wheeling) is below .500 in points percentage.
- Three teams had attendance over 3000 last night which helped raise the ECHL season average to 2174 ranging from 3251 (Jacksonville) to 1000 (Wheeling). Here are the three teams that drew over 3000:
3872 - Rapid City
3509 - South Carolina
3210 - Tulsa
- The Western Conference standings have been getting tighter and tighter with all seven teams having a realistic chance of making the playoffs. The points percentage difference between #1 ranked Fort Wayne (.719) and #7 ranked Rapid City (.500) is just .219 percentage points. Just a week ago the difference was .349 percentage points.
- Allen has two of the top four scoring defensemen in the ECHL:
27 points (1G, 26A) - Samuel Jardine, Greenville
25 points (9G, 15A) - Les Lancaster, Allen
25 points (3G, 22A) - Mark Auk, Orlando
22 points (2G, 22A) - Matt Register, Allen
DID YOU KNOW: Since the Americans joined the ECHL in 2014-15 they have had back to back shutouts just three times. However, it had never been accomplished by the same goalie against the same team until Justin Kapelmaster's shutouts against Tulsa the last two nights. The other two back to back shutouts happened in the 2016-17 seasons. Here are the details:
November 29 & 30, 2016 - Riley Gill made 27 saves in a game in Tulsa that had no goals scored in regulation time. Greger Hanson scored the overtime goal to give Allen the 1-0 win. The next night Allen was in Missouri (KC now) and Gill had a 24 save shutout. Joel Chouinard scored his first goal of the season midway through the third period and it was the only goal of the game as Gill came away with back to back 1-0 shutouts.
December 28 & 29, 2016 - Allen shutout Wichita back to back on the road. Riley Gill had a 42 save shutout on the 28th as the Americans won 5-0. The next night Jamie Murray got the start and had a 27 save shutout as Allen won 9-0.
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