Allen extended its losing streak to four straight last night with a 3-2 home loss to the Rapid City Rush before a big Wednesday night crowd of 3834 at the CUTX Event Center. The Americans have lost eight of their last nine games and it won't get any easier this weekend when Allen plays three games against the #2 team in the ECHL in points percentage (.692), the Newfoundland Growlers. Newfoundland played in Wichita last night and beat the Thunder 3-0 with a 42-19 shot advantage.
- Last night was similar to many of the games during the Americans losing streak. Allen was outshot 17-4 in the first period, however did much better in the second and third, outshooting Rapid City 15-9 and 15-11. Allen trailed after the first period (1-0) and second period (2-1). If you combine Allen's record when leading after the first and second period it is 12-2-2-1 but when trailing the Americans record is 3-20-3-0.
- The game turned on yet another shorthanded goal, the 15th allowed by Allen this season. Even worse, it came in the last minute of the second period to give the Rush a 3-1 lead. Another game when Allen was -1 on the power play, going 0-4 and giving up a shorty.
- If you want to look on the bright side, Allen outshot the Rush 30-20 over the last two periods, scored the only goal of the third period to close the gap to 3-2 and had some good chances to tie the score. Allen didn't take a single minor penalty in the game and has now gone seven straight games without allowing a power play goal.
- Goal scorers for Allen were Tyler Poulsen (5) and Branden Troock (12). Chad Costello assisted on Poulsen's goal to extend his streak to five games with at least a point. Over the five game streak, Costello has 11 points (4G, 7A). He is #2 in the ECHL in points with 42, three off the lead. Here are the video highlights: https://youtu.be/7hEf9FPUuFU
- Here is the game recap from the Allen Americans: https://allenamericans.com/media/game-recap-americans-rally-falls-short-2/
- Here is the game recap from Rapid City: https://www.rapidcityrush.com/en/news/2022/1/chabot-kelley-help-rush-past-americans-3-2
COACH'S CORNER WITH STEVE MARTINSON
"On the first goal we just got out muscled. On the second goal they just threw the puck at the net and it ended up with a goal. We need to do more of that, we haven't been doing enough to get the puck to the net."
"We had plenty of chances where we didn't get the puck in the net. When our top guys have to goalie down, the puck has to be in the net."
"To play good defense you have to care and take pride in more than scoring."
"Eric Roy is day to day so we will have to see if he is available this weekend"
"Gavin Gould is having a MRI today and that will dictate how long he will be out."
"I expect Chad Butcher to miss the next two weekends with his injury."
OTHER COMMENTS
- The number of shorthanded goals allowed (15) by the Americans is a serious failing and unique to this team, specifically the power play units. Allen has allowed 15 shorthanded goals and the season is only 47% completed. At the current pace Allen would allow 36 shorthanded goals by season's end. How out of whack are these numbers? The Americans have already set their single season record for allowing shorthanded goals. Here are the number of shorthanded goals allowed in each season since Allen joined the ECHL. The number in parenthesis is the team that led the ECHL in shorthanded goals allowed, with the number allowed:
- 15: 2021-22 (after 34 games)
- 3: 2020-21 (17- Rapid City)
- 3: 2019-20 (16 - Jacksonville)
- 5: 2018-19 (20 - Greenville)
- 10: 2017-18 (15 - Jacksonville)
- 13: 2016-17 (14 - Utah)
- 10: 2015-16 (15 - Orlando & Greenville)
- 8: 2014-15 (16 - Wheeling)
- With Allen's loss to Rapid City the Americans have dropped below the .500 mark in points percentage. Just nine of 27 ECHL teams have points percentages below .500. Allen is now in sixth place in the Mountain Division. Here are the standings after last night's action:
- .650 - Utah
- .586 - Tulsa
- .566 - Idaho
- .563 - Rapid City
- .487 - Kansas City
- .485 - Allen
- .397 - Wichita
- Allen now must get ready for a difficult three game series against Newfoundland. The Growlers have just returned to play after a long layoff. They have played four games in a swing through the Mountain Division and split them. Will Allen get the team that lost to Kansas City 4-2 and Tulsa 5-1 or the team that beat Kansas City 9-4 and Wichita last night 3-0 while outshooting the Thunder 42-19.
DID YOU KNOW: The last time an Allen rookie goalie was at the top of the league stats was in 2012-13 when Aaron Dell led the Americans to their first championship. Dell led all CHL rookies goalies in GAA (.2.30) and was #2 in save percentage (.916). Here are the ECHL rookie leaders in wins this season:
You can’t score if you don’t shoot! You are all chasing the puck and not spreading the ice. A player has no one on other side of the ice to pass to when that happens, which is all the time!
ReplyDeleteSorry - I wish I was as positive as Kevin Loeffler and could find the good things about this year/team - I can't - it's horrible and downright disgusting. We have an owner and a GM that don't care how clownish we look. The affiliation gets worse and worse each year. NOTHING positive with any relationship we have with AHL/NHL organizations. Sorry for coach - he deserves much better. Get use to this - it's the future of the Team.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the coach is part of the problem.
DeleteKevin here.
DeleteI don't know how teams who lose constantly survive. This is such a shock for me. Every few years we have a bad team, but this year makes me feel bad for the fans in the cities that are like this every year. Why do they keep going to the games. I expect Allen to bounce back, they always have, but man the fans for those teams that lose all the time have it rough.
This year, the Worst part for me is the games have actually been boring when I have been in attendance. Boring, how is that possible?
I know Marty and the players aren't happy with this season. As fans, we certainly aren't happy with this season, but we have been fortunate and have had so many successful seasons that I expect us to bounce back.
There isn't much that can be done for this season. Have to get through it.
The Covid cancelled year, that might have been one of the best ECHL teams I have ever seen. To me, that was going to be another championship team, so dominating. That is not that far back.
I feel my fellow fan's pain for this year but I believe we will bounce back next year.
Go Red.
JSM44444 - you are very correct, the coach is part of this problem. His inability to put a power play unit on the ice that can score is a huge issue. He's forcing it by putting "scorers" on the on the PP that can't score together and can play defense either. Costello, Spencer and Coombs are a disaster on the PP. Costello has been on the ice for 11 of the SH goals and Spencer 8 of them. The defensemen out there on the PP are no better with Roy being on the ice for 6 shorties and Beaulieu being on ice for 5. Marty keeps talking about changing up the PP but the same results continue. Meanwhile we've gone what - 8 straight games without a PP goal???
DeleteKevin - thank you for responding. You are the fan I wish I could be but I get so frustrated. Obviously the affiliation status doesn't help us but there has got to be a way to bring this much talent together in a way that works. I was a STH from year 1 until I moved back up to Chicago days after the 2016 Kelly Cup win. I actually delayed my move to stay and watch the series! I have been to ever game in the area since then and actually came down in 2017 and got engaged on the ice between periods of a game. Hunter was my original ticket guy. But I now see a team that is being set up to fail. This Organization has given me so many great memories in their short existence and I know I need to be more patient.
ReplyDelete