Given the number of times the Allen Americans have played four games in five days or three games in three days in this crazy season they have a light week coming up with three games in four days in Rapid City. The Americans will play tonight, Friday and Saturday with all games starting at 8:05 pm CDT.
- There was a lot of roster movement yesterday starting with the loan of defenseman Will Lochead to the Cleveland Monsters (AHL). Allen was already short defenseman which was made worse when Les Lancaster was injured on Sunday. Steve Martinson has always supported players being loaned to the AHL even though in this case it meant Allen was down to four healthy defensemen. Martinson has been trying to add defensemen but the need became critical with Lochead loaned to Cleveland. Martinson traded Conner Bleackley, the rights to Kayle Doetzel and future considerations for rookie defenseman Darian Skeoch.
- In a separate transaction, rookie forward Brett Neumann was assigned to Allen by the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL).
- When I talked to coach Martinson this morning he was unsure if Les Lancaster would play tonight. It will be a game time decision. Defenseman Darian Skeoch will not arrive in Rapid City until late tonight so will not play. Brett Neumann is with the team and will be in the lineup. What this all means is you could see a forward playing defense tonight. Frank Marotte is expected to get the start in goal.
- Martinson has also come to terms with another defenseman who should arrive in Allen around the 25th. He is described as a punishing physical defender with some offensive skill who was the captain of his team in the past. Martinson is also expecting another player being added to the roster this week. Stay tuned.
- There has been a lot of roster changes so here is an
update. Rookies are marked with an asterisk. The current Allen
roster includes three goalies, eight defensemen and 14 forwards. If you look at players on the trip to Rapid City there are two goalies, six defensemen and 12 forwards. Dyson Stevenson and Kameron Kielly are the forwards not with the team.
Goalies
#31 - Frank Marotte*
#34 - Jake Paterson
#39 - Justin Kapelmaster* (injured)
Defensemen
#5 - Phil Beaulieu*
#14 - Les Lancaster
#20 - Ben Carroll*
#21 - Dominic Cormier*
#25 - Nolan Kneen* (injured reserve)
#43 - Matt Register
#47 - Will Lochead (loaned to AHL)
#?? - Darian Skeoch*
Forwards
#8 - Steve Owre*
#11 - Kameron Kielly*
#15 - Corey Mackin
#17 - Colby McAuley
#19 - Chad Butcher
#26 - Spencer Asuchak
#27 - Sam Laberge
#28 - Tim Doherty*
#29 - Josh Maser*
#40 - Josh Lammon
#44 - Zane Franklin*
#71 - Dyson Stevenson (injured reserve)
#77 - Scott Conway
#?? - Brett Neumann*
- The game tonight will be the ninth of 16 times Allen plays Rapid City this season. In the eight games these teams have played Allen's record is 5-3. The record in Allen is 3-2 and in Rapid City the Americans record is 2-1. Over the last five seasons Allen's record in Rapid City is 11-4-0-0.
- Allen has an edge in almost every statistical category but the most important thing to remember is Rapid City beat the Americans twice in Allen by scores of 6-4 and 5-2, just two weeks ago.
- Allen has the edge over Rapid City in average goals scored per game (3.4 vs 2.9), average goals allowed (2.8 vs 3.2), average shots for (32.4 vs 30.9) and average shots allowed (32.5 vs 33.9). Allen's goal differential (goals for minus goals against) is +26 and Rapid City's goal differential is -14.
- Head to head totals in the eight games these teams have played show Allen leading in goals 29-24 and shots 276-232. Head to head the power play advantage also goes to Allen. The Americans are 4-31 (12.9%) against Rapid City which isn't great but Rapid City has just one power play goal against Allen all season. The Rush scored a power play goal in game one on December 18 and haven't scored again. They haven't scored a power play goal against Allen in the last seven games and are 1-29 (3.4%) in the eight games these teams have played.
- Even though these teams just played three games against each other at the end of March the Americans are a much different team. Allen has added more speed, skill and puck carrying ability with the addition of Chad Butcher, Steve Owre and Brett Neumann. Jake Paterson is also back after a stint on the IR. Allen enters this series on a four game winning streak and a six game point streak.
- Allen has scored first in 61% of its games which is the best percentage in the ECHL. Rapid City has scored first in 43% of its games the second worst percentage in the league. Allen's record when scoring first is 21-5-1-0 which converts to a point percentage of .796. Rapid City's record when scoring first is 14-4-2-0 which converts to a point percentage of .750. A good start tonight is key for both teams.
- Shorthanded goals aren't a factor very often but it should be noted Rapid City has given up more shorthanded goals (10) than any other team in the league. Allen is ranked #3 allowing just three shorthanded goal. The Americans have scored six shorthanded goals this season with four of them coming against Rapid City.
OTHER COMMENTS
- Here is the Allen Americans press release on the roster changes yesterday: https://allenamericans.com/news/general/americans-trade-for-defenseman-darian-skeoch-from-indy/
- Corey Mackin was selected as the ECHL Player of the Week yesterday. Here is the ECHL press release on Corey's selection: https://www.echl.com/en/news/2021/4/allen-mackin-named-inglasco-echl-player-of-the-week
- There are five games on tap in the ECHL tonight. In addition to Allen at Rapid City the only other Western Conference teams in action are Kansas City at Utah. Here is the ECHL Today with a preview on all of the games: https://www.echl.com/en/news/2021/4/echl-today-april-14
DID YOU KNOW: Looked at shutouts for ECHL Stats this morning. A couple of Allen Americans on the all time list:
Darian Skeoch arrived in Allen this morning on his way to Rapid.
ReplyDeleteWhile you try and read these articles from a "team" perspective, there is always one constant in every post... Coach Martinson.
https://thesinbin.net/echl-headlines-week-19/
This article on Coach is yet another reason to believe there's a very high probability he will not be back after this season. I hear the rumblings, at the rink and in all places social media.
Why is it that the owner won't sit down with Martinson and hammer out a new deal, something that should have been done months ago by the way. Meetings turn in to "let's talk tomorrow" and then they don't happen. Is this because he's not all there or does he think Coach is going to wait for him to do something? Some of us know he's already talking to other teams so don't tell me the owner and the others upstairs don't know this. So what's the holdup? If they don't care if they lose Martinson just wait till he's gone and season ticket renewal comes around. Oh, wait, it already has...
The two people driving the organization upstairs don't know anything about hockey. The idea coach is going to sit on his hands waiting for them to contact him is ludicrous. He's reached out and nothing is being done, so what does that tell you...
Well said, Bruce. As a fan, I hear rumors that Jack was asking too much for the team. He's obviously not made his fortune without business smarts, and he can't seriously believe that losing Martinson will enhance the value of the team.
DeleteI am concerned that Martinson might not be happy with the changes in the front office (outside of the owner Jack G). The rumor mill is swirling with stories about various folks who aren't happy with the new management team. I hope that this isn't the case. I would hate to lose Marty because of something 'political' going on in the organization...
Delete