Tulsa flipped the script on Allen last night before a disappointed crowd of 2021 at the Allen Event Center (AEC) who watched as the Americans lost to the Oilers 4-2. On Friday night in Tulsa the Americans defied the odds with three third period goals to pull out a come from behind victory. Last night Tulsa defied the odds with three third period goals to pull out a come from behind victory. Here are a few of the odds Tulsa was able to overcome in its win last night:
Allen scored first: The Americans record when they score first was 26-7-1-0.
Allen led 1-0 after the first period: Allen's record with a first period lead was 18-0-2-1. Last night was the first time this season, after 58 games played, the Americans lost a game in regulation time when leading after the first period.
Allen led 2-1 after the second period: The Americans record when leading after the second period was 23-1-1-0.
Tulsa trailed 2-1 after the second period: The Oilers record when trailing after the second period was 2-19-1-2.
- Any way you cut it the third period was a disaster for the Americans. Maybe they ran out of gas after spending so much time on the bus after it broke down on the way home from Tulsa after the game on Friday. Allen was out shot in the third period 17-11 and outscored 3-0. It all came apart quickly as Tulsa scored the goal to tie the game at the 14:24 mark of the third period, scored the game winner two minutes later (16:36) and put the game away with an empty net goal at the 18:10 mark. To add insult to injury the Americans had a rare 6-on-3 power play for the final 41 seconds of the game but could not score.
- Goal scorers for Allen were Les Lancaster (18) and Brett Neumann (4). Here are the video highlights from the Allen Americans YouTube channel:
- Here is the game recap from the Allen Americans: https://allenamericans.com/news/general/oilers-third-period-rally-ends-americans-winning-streak/
- It was a tough way to have the Americans six game win streak come to an end. While Allen had the lead with less than six minutes remaining in the game they didn't play that well in the first two periods. The Americans gave up 30 shots in the first two periods and if it wasn't for the outstanding play of goalie Jake Paterson there is no way Allen leads 2-1 after the second period. You can't expect to win giving up 47 shots like the Americans did last night.
- Both teams had one power play goal but the Americans were just 1-6 after going 3-3 on Friday night. They sure could have used another power play goal. Allen has struggled recently scoring when playing 5-on-5. The Americans have scored a total of 13 goals in the last four games with just three scored 5-on-5. The other ten goals were scored on the power play (8) or 3-on-3 in overtime (2).
COACH'S CORNER
"It was another game where poor defending cost us. We gave up way too many quality scoring chances."
"Even when we had the 2-1 lead it was like we had our finger in the dike hoping it would hold."
"We wasted a win for Paterson who saved our ass time and time again. Jake deserved better."
"On the game winning goal we made a low percentage pass that would not have given us the advantage even if had been successful. We passed the puck and it is intercepted by the fastest skater on their team and it was in the back of our net on a breakaway."
"The best thing about losing the way we did last night is we don't have to wait very long to do something about it."
"I hope our poor play last night had something to do with spending all night on the bus after it broke down. We have no excuse if we play like that again this afternoon."
"With Frank Marotte out with an injury, Jake Paterson will start the game this afternoon and we will have an EBUG again."
"Based on my last conversation with Cleveland, Justin Kapelmaster will be returning to Allen later today."
"Collin Shirley will be back in the lineup this afternoon and any other changes will have to wait until I get to the rink and check everyone's status."
OTHER COMMENTS
- Allen has the shortest turnaround time in the league from Saturday to Sunday
because of the early puck drop on Sundays (2:05 pm). It computes to
playing two complete games in less than 22 hours.
- It was a mixed bag in the Western Conference last night with Fort Wayne and Allen losing while Wichita and Utah were winning. Utah finished its sweep of Rapid City winning four straight at home against the Rush to move back into the fourth and final playoff spot. Here are the current conference standings with games remaining, home (H) and away (A) in parenthesis:
.684 - Fort Wayne (12: 7H, 5A)
.667 - Wichita (12: 6H, 6A)
.647 - Allen (14: 5H, 9A)
.551 - Utah (13: 7H, 6A)
.517 - Rapid City (12: 7H, 5A)
.508 - Tulsa: (12: 6H, 6A)
.483 - Kansas City: (14: 9H, 5A)
- One thing to note in the info above is Allen's remaining schedule. After spending most of the season playing many fewer home games than the other teams in the conference the Americans have now caught up and have the fewest remaining home games. After the game this afternoon Allen will have just four home games remaining (fewest in the conference) and nine road games remaining (most in the conference).
- Just one of the AHL divisions (Pacific) opted for a playoff this season. All seven teams in the division qualify for the playoffs. The bottom four teams will play a single elimination play-in with the winner joining the top three teams for two best of three semifinal series. The winners play a best of three series for the Pacific Division championship (John D. Chick trophy) which has been awarded since 1961-62. The play-in games start May 18 and the playoffs will conclude no later than May 29. That is a fast playoff considering all seven teams qualify.
DID YOU KNOW: I am always surprised by the low number of ECHL teams that have a positive goal differential this season. Here is the latest:
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