It was a big ending to a big period to a big game to a big series for the Allen Americans as they beat Rapid City last night 5-4 before a crowd of 4237 at The Monument. Allen was led by recently acquired Gavin Gould who scored two goals, 81 seconds apart, late in the third period for an Americans come from behind victory. Here are some random thoughts and stats on this game:
- Gavin Gould, playing his third game for Allen since being traded by Greenville, scored the Americans first hat trick of the season. Gould now has seven points (3G, 4A) in three games.
- Spencer Asuchak had a four point night (1G, 3A) and now leads the Americans with 15 points (5G, 10A). His 15 points is tied for seventh in scoring in the ECHL.
- Allen won the game last night by winning the third period. After being outshot in eight straight periods plus an overtime period by the Rush by a total of 117-70, the Americans came up big when it counted last night. Allen outshot Rapid City 10-7 in the third period and outscored the Rush 2-1.
- Allen won on special teams scoring a power play goal (Gould) and a shorthanded goal (Asuchak) while being perfect on the penalty kill (0-4).
- Goals scorers for Allen were Jackson Leppard (4), Spencer Asuchak (5) and Gavin Gould (2,3,4), Players with multiple assists were Asuchak with three, Chad Costello and Nolan Kneen with two. It was a very successful return to the lineup for Kneen who had a goal an three assists in the three games, his first game action since last March.
- Here is the game recap issued by the Allen Americans: https://allenamericans.com/media/game-recap-americans-rally-to-beat-rapid-city/
- Here is the game recap from the Rapid City Rush: https://www.rapidcityrush.com/en/news/2021/11/rapid-city-edged-by-allen-5-4-in-front-of-season-high-crowd
- Hats off to Jack Combs who improved his record as a bench coach to 2-1 under some trying conditions. Combs wasn't even scheduled to make the trip to Rapid City as he was staying in Allen to skate and workout while recuperating from an injury from an uncalled slash that put him on injured reserve. When coach Martinson was diagnosed with COVID last Monday, Combs was drafted as the bench coach and along with player/assistant Chad Costello handled the team on the road trip. To say it was a tough assignment for Combs is an understatement. Playing with 13 skaters in your first game behind the bench with two defensemen playing forward is a nightmare even for an experienced coach, It wasn't pretty but Allen came away with a shootout win. The Americans lost game two of the series after a great start but fell apart in the third period to lose 6-1. I know Jack caught some grief for pulling the goalie late in the game with the Americans trailing by four goals. In talking to Steve Martinson after he had a chance to talk to Jack, what Combs was trying to do by pulling the goalie was instill confidence in the team, not score meaningless points. Combs said the key to the success of the series was a win on Saturday and the team came through with a win. Capturing four of a possible six points on the road while playing shorthanded in all three games for the first series win of the season is a job well done.
- Martinson also noted, "Antoine Bibeau helped out on the bench last night running the defense. Having only been here a couple of games he could have just as easily sat in the stands with a sore knee. It shows the type of character he has. He just wants to help the team and will do anything he can to help out."
- Allen now prepares for its typical Thanksgiving road trip series as they head to Idaho for three games against the Steelheads next week (Wednesday, Friday, Saturday). It remains to be seen who goes to Idaho but it is possible Allen will have extra players available for a change. Coach Martinson tested negative yesterday so expects to be back at the rink when practice resumes on Monday. The three players on the Commissioner's Exempt List (Roy, Troock, Marotte) could return. Jack Combs is now eligible to come off injured reserve. The status of Antoine Bibeau and JD Dudek, who were injured in Rapid City, is uncertain but neither injury is considered serious. After a difficult week for the Americans, things are looking better.
OTHER COMMENTS
- Last season Allen had two hat tricks but the first wasn't scored until March 12 when Jesse Mychan had a hat trick against Utah. Les Lancaster had the only other hat trick on May 17 against Kansas City.
- Tulsa and Idaho lost last night which tightens the Mountain Division standings along with the Allen win. The Mountain Division has the lowest points percentage of any first place team (Tulsa - .650) and the highest points percentage of any last place team (Allen & Rapid City - .417). It means it won't take long for Allen to climb the standings if they continue to win.
- The only Mountain Division teams in action today are Kansas City and Utah. The Mavericks are at the Grizzlies for game three of their series. They split the first two games.
- Toledo is the highest scoring team in the ECHL with 55 goals in 12 games an average of 4.58 goals per game. That is close to a goal per game more than any other team in the league. The Walleye have the top two point scorers in the ECHL and #1, Matt Berry, has been on quite a streak. In his last three games, all Toledo wins, Berry has 10 points (3G, 7A).
- Odd stat of the day from the Mountain Division. Good team with a bad stat, Tulsa has the best points percentage in the division but the #26 ranked power play in the ECHL at just 10.8%. Bad team with a good stat, Rapid City has the worst points percentage (tied) in the division but the #4 ranked power play in the ECHL at 22.5%.
DID YOU KNOW: From my ECHL Stats post today. Who’s hot and Who’s not, best and worst ECHL records based on last 10 games played:
We will take the points!
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