With the Christmas break, a couple of postponed games and a light schedule the Allen Americans have played just nine games in the last 40 days going back to the end of November. That all changes starting tonight as the Americans will play 13 games in the 25 days remaining in January. Tonight Allen plays Tulsa for the first time this season. The teams last played back on May 9, 2021 in Allen with the Americans winning 5-3. To give you an idea of how much change there has been in the Allen lineup since the last game with Tulsa, the box score from last May shows the Americans with five goals and seven assists for a total of 12 points. The goal scorers were Mackin (2), Lancaster, Conway and Ruopp. The assists went to Laberge (2), Register, Lammon, Mackin, Ruopp and the one assist that went to a player that will play tonight, Spencer Asuchak. Welcome to turnover in the ECHL.
- Last season Allen's record against Tulsa was 9-3-1-0 but if you look at the last five years the teams have been pretty even. The overall record favors the Americans slightly (25-20-4-0) with a home record of 12-9-3-0 and a record of 13-11-1-0 in Tulsa.
- These teams have a similar record this season. Allen is #3 in the Mountain Division with a .563 points percentage with Tulsa #4 at .558. If you look at their ECHL points percentage rank Allen is #15 and Tulsa is #16.
- The next 10 days will be critical if Allen wants to put some distance between itself and Tulsa as they will play the Oilers five times with three of the five on the road. Here is what is in store for the Americans against Tulsa. Tonight (1/7) at home, at Tulsa (1/8), at home (1/12), at Tulsa (1/14) and at Tulsa (1/16). The only other game Allen plays in this 10 day period is at Kansas City (1/15). The 10 day travel plan goes Allen to Tulsa to Allen to Tulsa to Kansas City to Tulsa to Allen with six games in 10 days. Whew!
- A statistical comparison shows Allen with the better average goals scored (3.4 vs 3.1) but Tulsa with a big advanatge in average goals allowed (2.9 vs 4.0). Like so many stats, the Americans have made big strides recently. Over the last eight games Allen has scored 4.13 goals per game and allowed 3.13.
- Tulsa is always near the top of the ECHL in average shots per game, they are currently #4 (33.42). Allen is ranked #24 (28.42). Tulsa's shooting percentage is 9.3% compared to Allen's 11.9%. If you look at the last eight games the Americans are scoring on 13.0% of their shots.
- Neither of these teams have been great on special teams. Allen has the better power play (18.5% vs 14.1%) and Tulsa the better penalty kill (82.8% vs 78.1%). Allen has allowed 10 shorthanded goals and scored four. Tulsa has allowed three shorthanded goals and scored two.
- If you look at penalty minute stats Allen is one of the most penalized teams in the ECHL ranked #6 averaging 16.25 PIMS per game. Tulsa is one of the least penalized teams ranked #26 averaging 9.54 PIMS per game. The stats are misleading when it comes to power play time. Allen has taken 115 minor penalties and Tulsa has taken 114. The big difference between these teams is in five minute major penalties which are mostly for fighting. Allen has 22 major penalties while Tulsa has just two. Don't expect a lot of fisticuffs in this series with Tulsa. Allen's goal according to Steve Martinson is to be physical and finish checks, if that leads to a fight the Americans are ready.
- The challenge Tulsa presents for Allen is the Oilers are a team that works hard which means they a very good at backchecking and forechecking.
- If any of the games in this five game series goes extra time the advantage goes to Tulsa. Allen has lost all three overtime games and won its only shootout. Tulsa has won both of its overtime games but lost its only shootout.
- Antoine Bibeau gets the start for Allen and will try to maintain his undefeated record. He is 5-0 with a .927 save percentage. Goalie Hayden Lavigne has been loaned to Manitoba (AHL) for two games. Manitoba plays the Texas Stars in Austin tonight and tomorrow night. The Americans will most likely be using an EBUG until Lavigne returns on Sunday.
- JD Dudek will be in the lineup for Allen for the first time since being injured on November. Dudek has played in just one game since being acquired by Allen.
- Allen will be playing with five defensemen (Roy, Beaulieu, Myllari, Carroll, Owen) and 11 forwards.
- Tulsa's top goalie, Daniel Mannella was just activated from the Commissioner's Exempt List yesterday so assume he will be back in goal for the Oilers. Mannella, a rookie, has a record of 9-2-0-1 with a GAA of 2.16 and a .924 save percentage.
- Tulsa players to watch in this series include #20 Dylan Sadowy who is tied for the ECHL lead in goals with 16 and #28 Jack Doremus who was just selected as the ECHL Rookie of the Month for December. Doremus had 17 points (9G, 8A) in 12 games last month
- Allen's top two lines have been on fire recently and scoring can come from anyone. The Americans have five players with 20+ points compared to Tulsa's two. Only Florida with six 20+ point scorers has more than Allen and the Everblades have played 30 games compared to Allen's 24.
OTHER COMMENTS
- If you have been following ECHL transactions you can tell a lot of teams are shorthanded because of COVID and loans/recalls to the AHL. A couple of notable transactions yesterday include Florida signing former Dallas Stars defensemen, Trevor Daley. Daley hasn't played since 2019-20, has 1058 NHL games played, two Stanley Cups and career earnings north of $36,000,000. Daley is not looking for a comeback, he is just helping out Florida for a game or two because they have been hit by a COVID breakout. Another familiar name that was picked up by the Kansas City Mavericks off the waiver wire from Maine is former Allen defenseman Garrett Clarke. Clarke is still the Allen all time leader in penalty minutes at 487. Asuchak is only 20 PIMS behind Garrett so look for Spencer to take over the top spot in the next month based on his average of 1.75 PIM per game. Like Florida, the Mavericks have also had a COVID breakout.
- Allen's goal differential on the season is still -13 but in the last eight games it is +8. The Americans goal differential with Bibeau in goal is +10.
- There are 12 games on the ECHL schedule tonight with all seven Mountain Division teams in action. There will be some movement in the points percentages as most of these games are between teams close to each other in the standings. Here are the games with points percentage in parenthesis:
Tulsa (.558) at Allen (.563)
Wichita (.414) at Kansas City (.482)
Iowa (.379) at Rapid City (.500)
Utah (.661) at Idaho (.569)
- Today's ECHL Stats post (see below) lists players with the best goals per game average (minimum of 10 goals scored). Here is the goals per game average for Allen players without regard to the number of goals scored:
1.33 - Luke Henman (4 goals, 3 games)
1.00 - Ryan Lohin (6 goals, 6 games)
.50 - Jack Combs (7 goals, 14 games)
.44 - Branden Troock (8 goals, 18 games)
.42 - Chad Costello (10 goals, 24 games)
DID YOU KNOW: 55 ECHL players have scored 10 or more goals this season. Here are the best ECHL goals scorers based on average goals per game (minimum 10 goals scored):
Good stuff. thanks
ReplyDeleteI saw that Pochiro is back with Ft Wayne. Do you have any info about his delayed return? We’re still hoping we see him back in Allen!
ReplyDeleteKpurvis308,
DeleteI don’t know the details but Pochiro had retired and then changed his mind and signed with Fort Wayne. Quite a few retired players have returned to ECHL teams mostly because teams are shorthanded because COVID and NHL taxi squads have a lot of ECHL players moving up to AHL teams. Barry
Looked at season ticket renewals for next year. ARE YOU KIDDING ME??
ReplyDeleteYou can't fill the arena with the prices that have been charged this year and the past. Attendance is lagging behind from years past and you want to charge more?
I don't know what school of business the leadership of the Americans attended, but this is just getting out of hand. It is not affordable for a family to attend the games any more.
I can get tickets to the Stars games for less than the Americans. Sure, I pay $10 for parking and have a little hassle getting to the games, but I'd rather make it an event a few times a year than to continue to pay the upscale prices the Americans are charging.