The Fort Wayne scored on its first, second and sixth shots of the game last night and it seemed over before it started. The final result was a 6-1 Allen loss, on a specialty jersey night, a Saturday night, before a crowd of 3714 at the CUTX Event Center. Yes, the Saturday night specialty jersey curse is alive and well.
- Fort Wayne had a 3-0 lead before many fans had settled into their seats, scoring 46 seconds into the game, then again 17 seconds later and a third time at the 5:50 mark. Allen was clearly not ready for what the Komets threw at them to start the game.
- Fort Wayne increased its lead to 4-0 in the second period before Allen scored its lone goal of the game. Jack Combs scored his league leading 26th goal of the season. It was a power play goal assisted by Colton Hargrove who extended his league leading point streak to 21 games (32 points - 212G, 12A). Combs now has the second longest current ECHL point streak at 11 games.
- Fort Wayne took a 4-1 lead into the second intermission. Overcoming a three goal deficit in the third period to win a game is a tall task against any team but even more so against the Komets. Fort Wayne has one of the best records in the ECHL when leading after the second period, a lofty 19-0-1-0.
- The third period was all down hill for the Americans. It started at the 2:18 mark when things went awry after Allen's Robidoux was given three minor penalties (tripping, roughing and cross-checking) as well as a misconduct penalty. Watching the play live it looked like there were cross checks by both teams and the tripping penalty was against the Komets. I am sure the Allen bench thought the penalties would be even so when Chad Costello heard it would be a four minute power play for Fort Wayne he let the referee know what he thought which resulted in his ejection. Whenever a coach gets ejected from a game it is reviewed by the league office, so it remains to be seen what other action is taken.
- When the dust settled there were 23 penalties in the third period alone, 14 against Allen. For the entire game Allen was assessed 20 penalties and Fort Wayne was assessed 15 penalties. Maybe the most amazing stat from the game is there were a total of 35 penalties, but not a single fighting major. Some PIMS stats from the ECHL Daily Report:
- Allen's 90 penalty minutes is the third highest all season.
- Allen's 15 minor penalties is third highest all season.
- Mikael Robidoux's 30 penalty minutes is third highest all season
- Combined 150 penalty minutes is this highest all season
- Allen leads the ECHL in total penalty minutes (895)
- Allen leads the ECHL in average PIMS per game (19.46).
- It was a disappointing ending to a series that started so positive on Thursday night when Allen beat Fort Wayne 7-3 and scored three power play goals. In the final two games of the series Allen gave up 14 goals, 92 shots, went 1-9 on the power play and was outscored in the first periods 5-1.
- After a rough two games it is now time for Allen to take today off to refresh, reflect and refocus. Allen will need to rebound next week against the top team in the South Division. The Florida Everblades come to town for games on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
- Here is the game recap from the Allen Americans: https://allenamericans.com/media/game-recap-komets-take-the-final-game-of-the-series-6-1/
- Here are the video highlights with all of the goals: https://www.echl.com/en/video/2023/2/fort-wayne-komets-vs-allen-americans---feb-11-2023-2jxqMQZD
OTHER COMMENTS
- It was a strange group of games in the ECHL last night. There were four shutouts and six winning teams scored 6+ goals. Wheeling scored 10 goals in beating Norfolk 10-2. The 10 goals was highest total in the ECHL all season and the eight goal margin of victory was also the highest all season.
- The Mountain Division winners last night were Kansas City, Idaho and Rapid City (in overtime against Wichita). Looking at streaks, the teams moving forward are Kansas City (4-0-0-0), Idaho (3-0-0-0) and Rapid City (2-0-0-0). The teams falling back are Utah (0-4-1-0), Tulsa (0-3-0-0), Wichita (0-2-1-0) and Allen (0-2-0-0). Here are the division standings by points with games remaining home (H) and away (A)
- 74 points - Idaho, 13 (H), 13 (A)
- 54 points - Wichita, 9 (H), 16 (A)
- 49 points - Kansas City, 12 (H), 15 (A)
- 45 points - Allen, 16 (H), 10 (A)
- 45 points - Rapid City, 15 (H), 11 (A)
- 40 points - Utah, 16 (H), 11 (A)
- 38 points - Tulsa, 10 (H), 17 (A)
- It sure doesn't take very long for momentum to change in the ECHL. Allen was riding high after the Utah trip and the first game against Fort Wayne. The Americans had a four game win streak, were averaging 6.25 goals per game, and were full of confidence. Two games later Allen is on a two game losing streak having allowed an average of 7.00 goals per game. Allen gave up 50 shots last night. Welcome to the ebb and flow of ECHL hockey. The Allen Americans need to flow and ebb back in the other direction next week.
What is the reasoning on leaving Keepers in when they are struggling, Friday Perry didn’t have it, and as usual Peressini didn’t have it Saturday
ReplyDeleteI am always astounded when people point to goalies as the problem child on a team. Both Peres and Perry have had a heck of a series.
ReplyDeleteThere is more than one player on the ice. The goalie defends the goal.Those other players are there to make sure he doesn’t have to.
Puck control, hesitancy and a wobble in our passing game plus lack of sufficient officiating left our goalies having to defend the crease.
Boot up and lace up your skates if you think you know better. Let’s start on the warm up… yeah.
I agree. This is a team sport and not 100% always the goalies fault. So tired of all the goalie bashing.
ReplyDeleteBlaming the goalies is an easy way to inform everyone you know nothing about hockey without actually informing everyone you know nothing about hockey
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely deplorable hockey game last night! Referees, coaches, players, and fans showed their worst behavior.
ReplyDeleteAs a Season Ticket Member for many years, I have not enjoyed this season of Allen Americans hockey. The game experience for me is like watching a very bad remake of the movie “Slap Shot”, with a big letdown at the end. Thanks to the season ticket lounge for offering free popcorn, so that I can enjoy a good snack while watching an otherwise bad movie.
Kudos to you, Barry, for your restraint to posting stats and facts with mostly positive commentary throughout your blog. Your few negative comments may have stated the obvious, but seem to serve as a deserving wake-up kick in the hockey pants. Also, thanks for removing those “Anonymous” absurdly negative comments that are very offensive or hateful, which serves no purpose. Blog on, Barry!
Ha ha. Pot meet kettle. Your first paragraph is nothing but negative. Then your second one is bashing people for being negative. I pretty much agree with everything you said in the first paragraph. Your hypocrisy lost me in the second.
DeleteHypercritical Personality:
DeleteA person who has a habit of looking at others with a magnifying glass to detect all of their mistakes, but does not realize that he or she should look into a mirror before criticizing others.
Reasons a person might intentionally be critical of others:
* low self-esteem
* insecurity
* sense of superiority
* history of receiving criticisms in childhood
Please, feel free to check all that apply!
I think our team looked more tired than theirs. That leads to poor passing, poor poor decisions and losing all the one-on-one little battles. I’m not saying they’re out of shape, I’m just saying that the ice time caught up with them. We’ve got to get third and fourth line to give more ice time early in the series. -Bobby 226
ReplyDeleteFor those who saw the games, did they look better under Gens than Castello? Last night was more of the same mistakes. At some point they have to learn and not make those mistakes.
ReplyDeleteNice breakdown. I wish there was more really specific hockey talk like that. I don’t know where we would get that for the Americans. Maybe you could be on the broadcast and talk “acrossed” the radio waves. Point well taken that Fort Wayne absolutely adjusted to our big tendencies. Hopefully Allen switches it up because other teams are going to pull film on what they did. I’m sure they will switch it up. Should be fun on Wednesday. -Bobby 226
ReplyDelete