Another Critical Week for the Americans, Kolten Olynek Profile, Bibeau Assigned to Charlotte, ECHL on Record Pace for Players Used and More

Not sure when I will get this posted. It is 4:30 am and the power has been off since 9:30 pm last night with no end in sight. I just took a walk around the neighborhood and the roads and sidewalks are not very slippery at all, the sleet is very gritty. I will type away here in the dark and hopefully the power returns before all of my devices need charging. UPDATE: It is 8:10 am and power is on and I am back in business as soon as the internet service returns. 

Before I talk about the game last night I want to add my congratulations to Chad Costello for being named the ECHL Player of Month for January. The award just adds to his historic career that will end with his selection to the ECHL Hall of Fame if ever stops playing hockey. Here are just a few of Chad's ECHL accomplishments:

• 4 - Times ECHL Player of the Month (twice in 2014-15)
• 3 - Times ECHL MVP
• 3 - Times ECHL Scoring Champion
• 2 - Times Kelly Cup Champion
• 1 - Time Kelly Cup Playoff MVP
• 1 - Time ECHL Sportsman of the Year

The outcome was as bad as the weather last night as the Allen Americans lost to the Wichita Thunder by a score of 3-1 before a hearty crowd of just 310 at  the CUTX Event Center. Allen had trouble generating offense even strength or on the power play. Wichita had the only goal of the first period scoring with 89 seconds remaining. The same thing happened in the second period when the Thunder scored the only goal with 36 seconds remaining. Wichita made it three for three in late period goals scoring into an empty net with 51 seconds remaining in the game. 

- Allen's only goal came at the 13:56 mark of the third period on the power play to cut the score to 2-1 and give the faithful some hope, but it wasn't to be as the Americans could not get the equalizer.

- If you look at percentages here are a few that were working against Allen last night:

• Allen gave up the first goal - 75%of the time that will lead to a loss
• Allen trailed 1-0 after the first period - Allen's record when trailing after the first period is 2-8-1-0.
• Allen trailed 2-0 after the second period - Allen's record when trailing after the second period is 2-14-2-0.
• Allen was outshot 33-29. The team with the most shots has won nine of the 10 games between Allen and Wichita this season.
• Allen has scored two or fewer goals 16 times this season including last night. The Americans have lost 15 of the 16.

- It wasn't all bad news for the Americans as the game was close right to the end. Here are couple of other bright spots:

• Allen's penalty kill was perfect going 0-5 in the game. The Americans penalty kill unit has allowed just one power play goal in the last 11 games.
• Hayden Lavigne stopped 30 of 32 shots for a .938 save percentage.
• Allen was 1-5 (20%) on the power play.