The boxscore shows Allen lost a close game to Kansas City last night by a score of 3-1 before a crowd of 2929 at the CUTX Event Center. The game wasn't decided until the Mavericks scored an empty net, shorthanded goal with 96 seconds remaining. The final score doesn't come close to painting a picture of what took place in the game.
- In many games in the ECHL the referee is not a big factor. That was clearly not the case last night as the referee was front and center the entire game calling the first penalty 39 seconds into the the game and the last penalty with five seconds remaining in the game. Here is a recap of a game where the impact of the referee made sure the game wasn't decided by the players on the ice. When you have close to two periods worth of penalty minutes where one or both teams are shorthanded, it is not great hockey game for fans of either team.
- There were 16 power play opportunities, eight by each team.
- 16 power plays were the most combined power plays all season. Previous high was 12.
- 18 minor penalties (12 different types)
- 3 major penalties (2 fighting, 1 slashing)
- 2 misconduct penalties (continuing altercation)
- 1 game misconduct penalty (slashing)
- 1 penalty shot
- 1 goal disallowed
- With all of the penalties, both teams had trouble capitalizing, with each going 1-8 (12.5%) on the power play. However, just one of the four goals in the game was scored even strength and that was by Kansas City.
- Putting the penalties aside, Allen's stats show why they lost:
- Allen gave up the first goal of the game. The team that scored first won all three games in this series.
- Allen was outshot 32-27. The Americans record when being outshot is 10-17-4-1. When they outshoot opponents Allen's record is 9-1-1-0.
- Allen trailed 1-0 after the first period. The Americans record when trailing after the first period at home is 2-7-0-0.
- Allen trailed 2-0 after the second period. The Americans record when trailing after the second period stands at 3-15-2-0.
- It was an uphill battle for Allen all night. The Americans had a power play 39 seconds after the opening puck drop but didn't get a single shot on goal. They gave up the first goal of the game late in the first period, which has happened several times recently. Last night it was a power play goal with 22 second remaining.
- Kansas City scored the only goal of the second period and again it came in the last minute. With 50 seconds remaining the Mavericks scored an even strength goal to make the score 2-0 at the second intermission.
- Allen came out strong in the third period. After managing only five shots in the first period and eight in the second period and being out shot 22-13, the Americans had a 14-10 shot advantage in the last period. Allen finally got on the scoreboard midway through the third period when Chad Costello scored on the power play to cut the score to 2-1.
- It looked like Allen tied the score with another power play goal with five minutes remaining in the game but the referee disallowed the goal. If you watch the replay, it looks like the Mavericks goalie initiates contact with Spencer Asuchak, who is outside the crease, and goes to the ice. The puck trickles behind him and Jackson Leppard puts it in the net. You can look for yourself and decide if this was goalie interference.
- https://sporfie.app.link/888cOlpLAnb
- Allen had a final chance to tie the game on yet another power play with 2:06 left. With 1:38 left in the game Allen pulled the goalie for a 6-on-4 power play. Kansas City scored an empty net goal almost immediately to make the final score 3-1. A disappointing loss to end the three games at home against Kansas City. The teams now travel to Kansas City for two more games (Tuesday and Wednesday).
- Chad Costello scored his 19th goal of the season and his 400th regular season point in an Allen jersey. Chad increased his ECHL points lead to four and now has 50 points (19G, 31A). I am sure he would have traded that milestone point last night for a win. Here are the game highlights. https://youtu.be/m1h9xRYXhP4
- Here is the game recap from the Allen Americans: https://allenamericans.com/media/game-recap/penalties-cost-americans-final-game-of-the-homestand/
- The three games in Allen were very close. One was 4-3 in overtime and the other two were 2-1 games plus an empty net goal in each. The cumulative totals for the three games show how close they were:
- Goals - Allen 8, Kansas City 7
- Shots - Allen 91, Kansas City 94
- Power Play - Allen 1-14, Kansas City 2-16
- PIMS - Allen 23 infractions/71 minutes, Kansas City 21 infractions/56 minutes
- .641 - Utah
- .587 - Idaho
- .568 - Tulsa
- .532 - Rapid City
- .512 - Allen
- .500 - Kansas City
- .478 - Wichita
DID YOU KNOW:
I don't know who the ref was, but after the first couple calls, it was clear from his body language and facial expression that he was going to dig in and fully intended to assert his dominance over the game. By the end, he had his face all squinched up, his bottom lip stuck out, and I thought he might cry like a spoiled child who wasn't getting his way. How dare those cretinous fans chant, "Ref you suck" at him!
ReplyDeleteBye, Felicia...
Well, that was a crappy game for both teams. Seemed like most of the game was played in penalty kill. I don't know the rule of goalie interference but find it hard to believe that is interference. If it is not interference after ECHL post game review then the ref should have a consequence. Mistakes made in review should not happen.
ReplyDeleteRef was Alec Rounds - former goalie that led his college team to an 0-17 record (#neverhasbeen) that took every opportunity to make himself the focus of the game instead of the professional players on the ice. As a former goalie, I'm sure everything looks like goalie interference to him... hence the bogus call on Costello that led to KC 1st goal and disallowed goal.
ReplyDeleteI forgot about the Castello interference call. Happened right in front of me. Seemed like a bad call.
DeleteFrom my vantage point it was a good goal and I felt quite confident that after the review it would be called a goal. I was completely and totally shocked when the goal was called off. I looked at sporfie and confirmed what I seen in real time, a good goal. It is clear and obvious that Asuchak was NEVER in the paint, NEVER touched Chechelev. However, I did see Chechelev come out of the paint and did try to shove Asuchak. For the ref to make the call he did is the most egregious calls I've seen this season. The League should take some action against Rounds as this is clear and obvious TERRIBLE, BAD CALL. The ECHL referee development coaches and league officials should be made to watch the video and provide a statement as to how this was allowed to occur. An apology to the team and fans, from the League, is in order here.
ReplyDelete