It is game day for the Allen Americans as they will take the ice tonight in Wichita for their first game since December 17th. The game tonight is critical for both teams. Allen beat Wichita three straight times (December 9, 10, 12) and it looked like the Americans had turned things around after not winning back to back games all season. Then they lost to an undermanned Orlando team 6-2 at home in their last outing. A win tonight will not only get Allen back on the winning track it will get the Americans to a .500 points percentage which could have them in a playoff spot by the end of the night.
- The game tonight is important for Wichita as it tries to stop the bleeding after losing 10 straight games. The Thunder have been hit with injuries and call ups in what has become a frenetic season. After beating Allen 7-0 in the Americans season opener, Wichita lost five of the next six games. The Thunder then went on a tear winning eight of nine games. Since then they have lost 10 straight.
- With all of the ups and downs by both teams, the season series favors Allen who has won five of eight games. The Americans have won three of the four games played in Wichita.
- A big plus for the Americans will be having Antoine Bibeau back in goal. Between an injury in his last game played for the Americans (November 19) and bouncing back and forth to Charlotte, Bibeau has played in only three games for the Americans all season. In the game he was injured he played only 24 minutes. He is 2-0 in his two decisions and leads the team in GAA (2.77) and save percentage (.920). While 2-0 doesn't sound like much it represents 25% of Allen's eight wins this season. I would expect you will see Bibeau in goal in three of the four games this week.
- Defenseman Darian Skeoch is not with the team and is headed for the injure reserved. Darian was injured in a game against Wichita on December 10. Dawson Butt also stayed home as he will serve a one game suspension he was given for elbowing in Allen's loss to Orlando on December 17. Also not on the trip are Ben Owen and JD Dudek.
- Jared Bethune has been practicing at defense and will be the sixth defenseman for the Americans tonight with Skeoch and Owen out of the lineup.
- Special teams will be key in this game and it is anyone's guess who will come out on top since the stats are very close. Overall power play percentages are 18.9% (Allen) and 18.7% (Wichita). Allen's road power play percentage is 21.4% and Wichita's home power play percentage is 20.0%. In Allen's recent three game sweep of Wichita the Americans were 2-6 on the power play and the Thunder was 2-8. Beware the shorthanded goal in this game as Allen leads the ECHL with 10 shorthanded goals allowed. Wichita is tied for the second most shorthanded goals allowed but has only given up five shorties.
- In talking to coach Martinson it is clear he will be making power play time more competitive going forward. When you consider the Allen power play has scored 14 goals but given up 10 shorthanded goals, more ice time will be given to players that play both ends of the ice.
- Neither team does well in generating shots on goal. Allen is ranked #26 (27.80) and Wichita is ranked #22 (29.88). In shots allowed per game Allen is ranked #20 (34.10) and Wichita is ranked #25 (35.19).
- Allen has the edge in average goals scored ranked #11 (3.25) compared to Wichita ranked #20 (2.88). In average goals allowed per game Wichita has the edge ranked #16 (3.23) while Allen is ranked #27 (4.30).
- The bottom line is these are two teams that need a win to get back in the playoff conversation. After the game tonight Allen takes on the Mountain Division's best team (Idaho) in a three games in three days series at home. Wichita will play Kansas City five straight times after tonight and is desperate to end the longest winless streak in the ECHL this season.
- Jack Combs is the points leader in head to heads games with Wichita. Jack has 10 points (3G, 7A) in six games. Branden Troock has nine points (1G, 8A) and Eric Roy has seven points (1G, 6A). In the recent three game sweep against Wichita, Allen was led by Luke Henman who had six points (4G, 2A).
- Wichita will be missing two of its top four scorers in the head to head games against Allen. Matteo Gennaro is now with Bakersfield (AHL) and Jay Dickman is now with Stockton (AHL).
- The referee scheduled for the game tonight is Alec Rounds (#9). Rounds was a goalie in youth hockey and played Division III college hockey at Finlandia University. In 2017 Rounds was one of 1000 applicants for four spots as an EBUG for the NHL Los Angeles Kings. Only 30 made the cut and from that four were selected including Rounds. The four split EBUG duties for the 2017-18 Kings season. Rounds is a referee in the AHL and ECHL.
OTHER COMMENTS
- There are nine games on tap in the ECHL tonight. If Allen wins in Wichita and Utah wins in Rapid City the Americans will have sole possession of the fourth playoff spot in the Mountain Division. Here is the ECHL Today with a brief preview of the games tonight: https://www.echl.com/en/news/2021/12/echl-today-dec-29
- Over the last five seasons, Allen's record when playing in Wichita is 14-8-2-2.
- Chad Costello is slowly climbing up the leader board. Chad has nine points in the last six games and now leads the Americans with 22 points (9G, 13A).
DID YOU KNOW: Allen hasn't been hit by loans/call ups to the AHL since the NHL taxi squads were implemented but it is just a matter of time. Charlotte last played on December 19 and won't play again until January 8. AHL teams other than Allen's affiliate will also come knocking. Here is what has happened in the last two days.
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