The Americans lost their fourth straight game last night, losing in Kansas City 3-2 in a shootout before a crowd of 3644 at Cable Dahmer Arena.
- Allen fans are used to seeing the team give up early leads like it did last night. After all the Americans have lost seven of 12 games when they scored first.
- Allen fans are used to seeing the Americans be outshot like they were last night (40-27). After all, Allen has been out shot in 22 of 29 games this season. The Americans have won six of seven games when outshooting opponents but have lost 15 of 22 games when being outshot.
- Allen fans are used to seeing the team give up shorthanded goals like it did last night. After all, the Americans lead the league with 12 shorthanded goals allowed.
- Allen fans are used to seeing the team struggle on the power play like it did last night going 0-8. After all, the Americans are ranked #22 in road penalty kill percentage at 15.0%.
- Allen fans are used to seeing the team lose in games going extra time like it did last night. After all, the Americans have lost five of six games this season that have gone extra time, the worst record in the league.
- What fans aren't used to is seeing all of the above happen in the same game and the Americans still had a chance to win. The biggest disappointment was the power play. To have eight opportunities to put the game away and go 0-8 is something that is unprecedented from my memory. To make matters worse the power play unit gave up a shorthanded goal late in the third period that forced the game to overtime. I doubt in team history the Allen power play has ever had eight opportunities and ended up -1.
- Despite being outshot 14-6 in the first period, Allen took a 1-0 lead on Jack Combs ninth goal of the season. Allen took a 2-0 lead early in the second period on Branden Troock's 10th goal of the season. Kansas City cut the lead to 2-1 later in the period but the Americans 2-1 lead at the second intermission looked like it would hold up. Allen was undefeated on the road when leading after the second period prior to last night.
- The Americans had three power play chances in the third period to extend the lead to 3-1 and put the game out of reach but instead let the Mavericks back in the game allowing a shorthanded goal with less than five minutes remaining.
- Both teams had good scoring chances in the overtime with Kansas City holding the edge in shots (6-3). In the shootout, Allen's first two shooters (Gould & Combs) missed while both Kansas City shooters scored to end the game.
- Hayden Lavigne was great in goal stopping 37 of 39 shots for a save percentage of .949. Coincidentally the exact same save percentage Antoine Bibeau had in a losing cause in Tulsa on Friday night. The primary reason Allen came away from the last two games with a point is the team is getting outstanding goalie play.
- Here is the game recap published by the Allen Americans: https://allenamericans.com/media/americans-blow-third-period-lead-drop-3-2-decision-in-a-shootout/
- Here are the video highlights: https://youtu.be/Rp0JcGsj1wg
- Allen's lack of scoring has now extended to four games matching the four game losing streak. Allen has scored one or two goals in the last four games averaging a meager 1.5 goals per game. In the five game winning streak that preceded this losing streak the Americans averaged 4.6 goals per game.
ALLEN VS TULSA PREVIEW
- When I checked in with coach Martinson this morning he was working on changes to the power play. he said the lineup in Tulsa will be the same as last night with the exception of Antoine Bibeau, who will be in goal. Chad Butcher is injured so will be the one player sitting out.
- Allen has been outshot 211-129 over the last five games. Surprisingly the one Americans win in the last five games came when they were out shot 48-24. If Allen expects to win this afternoon they have to reduce the shot gap. They can't expect the goalies to have a .950 save percentage every game and overcome Allen allowing 40+ shots.
- Special teams must improve for Allen to win in Tulsa. The Americans have one power play goal in their last four games and were 0-8 last night. The Americans penalty kill allowed two goals to Tulsa twice in this five game series that ends today. Winning the special teams battle is imperative.
- Obviously the Americans will be exhausted today playing in their fourth game in five days. While Allen traveled back and forth from Tulsa to Kansas City, the Oilers had Saturday off. I have seen so many times when the tired team with no legs left surprises the well rested team. Look for a big effort from Allen today.
OTHER COMMENTS
- With the loss last night, Allen has fallen to fourth place in the Mountain Division standings. Idaho beat Utah and Rapid City beat Wichita so the standings have tightened. Here is the latest:
- .629 - Utah
- .591 - Idaho
- .565 - Tulsa
- .542 - Rapid City
- .534 - Allen
- .515 - Kansas City
- .400 - Wichita
The standings are so tight, if Allen beats Tulsa today in regulation the Americans will move from fifth in the standings to third, jumping idle Rapid City and the Oilers.
- Former Allen forward Josh Lammon, who plays in Great Britain for the Cardiff Devils (Wales), injured his shoulder last week. According to the Cardiff press release Josh is, "Expected to have surgery later this month with a potential return to action 6-8 weeks later." Lots of hedge words in that statement. Hope for a complete and speedy recovery for Josh.
- Defenseman Nolan Kneen played in his first AHL game last night and played well. Nolan had the primary assist on a goal in the first period to give Charlotte a 3-2 lead before the game got out hand and the Checkers won 8-3. Kneen was +2 in the game. Charlotte plays again this afternoon (1:00 pm EST).
- You see this quote all of the time and it rings true now more than ever with the Americans struggling to score goals. "If you are not scoring goals, what are you doing? Are you able to play away from the puck, are you able to win puck battles?
- I was putting together some ECHL records that will never be broken for ECHL Stats and decided to do a few for the Allen Americans. Here are the Allen Americans records that I think will never be broken. Any you would add to the list or any you disagree with?
- 4: Most Consecutive Championships by a Coach - Steve Martinson (2013-16)
- 3: Most Consecutive 100 Point Seasons - Chad Costello (2014-17)
- 125: Most Single Season Points - Chad Costello (2014-15)
- 89: Most Single Season Assists - Chad Costello ((2016-17)
- 29: Most Single Season Fights - Derek Mathers (2016-17)
When Spencer Asuchak hangs up his skates he will likely have an unbeatable number of games played. His current number (442) is 195 more games played than anyone else in franchise history.
When Steve Martinson is finished in Allen he will have an unbeatable number of championships. He is at four and counting.
DID YOU KNOW: ECHL single season records that will never be broken:
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