Allen vs Utah Preview, Full ECHL Schedule Tonight, 25+ ECHL Goal Scorers and More

 

The Allen Americans started the month of February playing three games in Utah and now they are ending the month of February playing three games in Utah. After sweeping the Grizzlies at the beginning of the month, the start to the current three game series didn't go very well for the Americans. After travel troubles delayed the start of the game on Wednesday (9:30 pm CST), Allen fell to Utah 5-3. After a day off yesterday and time to refresh, game two of the series tonight couldn't be more important. The winner of the game tonight will take over the fourth and final playoff spot in the Mountain Division while the loser will be on the outside looking in. 

 

- The game tonight will be the eighth of 12 times Allen plays Utah this season. The Americans record in the first seven games is 4-2-1-0. The teams played three games in Allen back in November, the Americans lost in overtime (3-2), lost in regulation (4-2) and won the final game (4-2). Allen and Utah didn't see each other again for almost three months until the two series in Utah in February. That makes Allen's record at home against Utah 1-1-1-0 and on the road 3-1-0-0. 

 

- If all goes as planned during pregame skate this morning, Allen fans will see recently acquired Stefan Fournier in the lineup tonight and he will be wearing #44.  Here is what coach Costello shared with me about Fournier, "We are very excited to bring Stefan to Allen. He brings size, toughness and he can score. He also brings a veteran presence that will help in the locker room. We have high expectations for the remainder of the season and so does Stefan. We think it will be a great fit."

 

-  Here are the cumulative stats in the four February games between Allen and Utah.

• Goals: Allen 21 - Utah 9
• Shots: Allen 130 - Utah 119
• Power Play %: Allen 34.6% (9-26) - Utah 9.1% (2-22)
• Penalties: Allen 39 infractions (99 PIMS) - Utah 45 infractions (141 PIMS)

 

- Good starts are essential. The team that scored first has won all four games. Playing with the lead is also critical. The team with a lead after the first and second period has won all four games. 

 

- Allen made some mistakes early in the game on Wednesday and it cost them. They will have to avoid those tonight. What has been working for the Americans is power play. All three Allen goals on Wednesday came on the power play. The Americans have eight power play goals in the last three games against Utah while allowing only two power play goals. 

 

- Allen didn't have an even strength goal on Wednesday. It is hard to win just on special team goals. If Allen can get some even strength goals and contributions from other than the "Four Sure Gang" the Americans will be hard to beat.  

 

- No surprise Allen's top four scorers against Utah are:

• Hank Crone - seven games, 11 points (5G, 6A)
• Jack Combs - seven games, 11 points (3G, 8A)
• Liam Finlay - five games, 9 points (5G, 4A)
• Colton Hargrove - seven games, 9 points (5G, 4A)

 

- It is hard to predict what kind of game will transpire tonight. In the last four meetings between Allen and Utah, penalty minutes have varied between 22 and 150. It is worth noting they are still #1 (Utah 949 PIMS) and #2 (Allen 933 PIMS) in the ECHL in penalty minutes. With Stefan Fournier added to the mix you never know what will happen. What is certain is both teams will have power play opportunities. In the last four games between these teams, Allen has averaged six per game and Utah has averaged five per game. 

 

- Chase Perry will get the start in goal tonight. In his two starts against Utah at the beginning of February, Perry stopped 34 of 35 shots (.971) in a 4-1 win and 23 of 24 shots (.958) in a 8-1 win. 

 

OTHER COMMENTS

 - There is a full schedule in the ECHL tonight with all 28 teams in action. The Mountain Division teams games in addition to Allen at Utah include Kansas City at Florida, Wichita at Cincinnati, Rapid City at Tulsa and Maine at Idaho. As many as five Mountain Division teams could win or lose tonight because three teams are playing outside the division. Here is the ECHL Today with the previews: https://www.echl.com/en/news/2023/2/echl-today-feb-24   

 

- Here are the streaks that could be kept alive tonight:

• Jack Combs has scored in 15 straight games (24 points). That is the longest current streak in the league.
• Hank Crone has scored in 13 straight road games (21 points). That is every road game he has played in since December 23. It is the longest road point streak in the ECHL this season.
• Colton Hargrove has scored in 12 straight road games (21 points) dating back to January 3.
• Not a streak but an amazing stat. Hargrove's goal last night extends his goal per game average of scoring a goal per game all the way back to December 31. He now has 24 goals in the last 24 games.

 

- Happy birthday to Allen assistant coach Aaron Gens, who turns 36 today. It has been a few years since Gens last played, so here is a reminder of some of his accomplishments with the Allen Americans:

• Two-time Kelly Cup champion (2015 & 2016).
• ECHL most points by a defenseman (2014-15, 56 points).
• ECHL most assists be a defenseman (2014-15, 48 assists).
• His 48 assists in 2014-15 are the most by a defenseman in Allen franchise history.
• His 56 points in 2014-15 is #2 all-time in Allen franchise history by a defenseman. 

 

DID YOU KNOW: The Allen Americans have an ECHL high of four players with 25 or more goals this season: Hank Crone (28), Jack Combs (28), Colton Hargrove (28) and Liam Finlay (25). The other 27 ECHL teams combined have just two, Brandon Hawkins, Toledo (25) and Eric Neiley, Atlanta (25).