The Allen Americans will have a final practice today before the team heads to Cincinnati early Wednesday morning for a critical series with the Cyclones. The teams will play Thursday and Saturday at 6:35 pm Allen time and 2:00 pm on Sunday.
COACH'S CORNER WITH STEVE MARTINSON
"I put Zach Hall and Chad Butcher on the injured reserve (IR) yesterday so they will miss the Cincinnati series, but will likely be available when we return home to play Idaho on March 4 & 5."
"It is possible Ben Carroll will go on the trip but I won't know until later today."
"With the addition of Branden Troock and Josh Winquist at practice yesterday, we worked on power play and also worked on our breakouts. Both of them looked good in practice."
"We will spend some additional time today working on our penalty kill."
OTHER COMMENTS
- Allen's point percentage is currently .511 and could be as high as .540 with three wins in Cincinnati or as low as .480 if the Americans lose all three games in regulation. The Mountain Division tightened up last night between the four teams at the bottom of the division who are fighting for a playoff spot. How tight is it? Kansas City is in last place, one win below .500. Allen and Wichita are one win above .500. Tulsa is currently in fourth place, three wins above .500. Anyone of these teams could be in fourth place or last place by the end of the week. Tulsa is at home for three games against Rapid City. Kansas City is at home for three games against Utah. Wichita is on the road for one game stops in Iowa, Toledo and Indy. If any of these teams can earn six points this week they will really help their cause.
- If you have been following the Charlotte Checker recently, you have noticed the players that have spent time in Allen have been sitting out a lot. Ryan Lohin has played once since January 20. Antoine Bibeau hasn't played since February 2 and Nolan Kneen has been a healthy scratch in three of the last five games. You would think at some point, they would send these players to Allen for a few games just to get them some playing time. This weekend the Checkers are on the road for single games against Providence, Springfield and Bridgeport.
- I was looking over the ECHL Daily Stats Report this morning and it struck me the vast difference between the #1 and #27 teams in many categories. Here are a few examples:
- Road Record: #1 Toledo (18-6-0-1), #27 South Carolina (6-17-2-0)
- Goals Allowed: #1 Jacksonville (108), #27 Kansas City (168)
- Penalty Minutes: #1 Kansas City (1088), #27 Reading (374)
- Overtime Points Percentage: #1 Kalamazoo (1.000 - 3-0), #27 Fort Wayne (.143 - 1-6)
- Scoring 1st, Points Percentage: #1 Orlando (.875 - 17-2-1-0) #27 Norfolk (.528 - 9-8-1-0)
- Road Power Play Percentage: #1 Worcester (26.9%), #27 Norfolk (9.5%)
- Road Penalty Kill Percentage: #1 Florida (88.4%), #27 Kalamazoo (69.9%)
- Shorthanded Goals Scored: #1 Utah (18), #27 Adirondack (1)
- Shorthanded Goals Allowed: #1 Worcester (2), #27 Allen (17)
- 3rd Period Goal Differential: #1 Fort Wayne (+27), #27 Norfolk (-21)
- Overall Points Percentage: #1 Toledo (.744), #27 South Carolina (.394)
- Average Attendance: #1 Toledo (7452), #27 Newfoundland (1454)
- It was sad to read that Vladimir Nikiforov passed away last Thursday at the age of 34, leaving behind a 10 year old son. No cause of death was released. Nikiforov was the type of player that always stood out when he visited Allen. His diminutive stature (5'6") and quickness always made you take notice. I first remember him when he played for the Quad City Mallards in the old CHL days. He last played in Allen in 2017-18 when he was with the Tulsa Oilers. Nikiforov had eight goals that season but three of them came in Allen. One of them was an overtime game winner.
- Vladimir Nikiforov is best known for a play in 2009 when he was with the Utah Grizzlies. He was awarded two penalty shots on the same play. He was hooked from behind on a breakaway and then the goalie deliberately dislodged to goal off its moorings. The referee awarded Nikiforov two penalty shots, he missed both of them.
- The ECHL Stats post today (see below) is about plus/minus leaders this season. Here are the Allen Americans plus/minus leaders:
- +20: Kris Myllari
- +11: Jack Combs
- +5: Branden Troock
- +5: Darian Skeoch
Allen's all-time plus/minus leaders in a single ECHL season are:
- +47: Joel Chouinard (2016-17)
- +43: Chad Costello (2014-15)
- +35: Greger Hanson (2014-15)
- +31: Gary Steffes (2014-15)
That is sad about Vladimir.
ReplyDeleteI hope some of the Checker players can be sent down to Allen. I would rather play than sit in the stands.
Thanks Barry