Allen Loses Preseason Game, Rematch Tonight, Some Future and Past Facts and More

 

It was an inauspicious start last night as the Allen Americans prepare for the 2023-24 hockey season. In the first of two preseason games against the Tulsa Oilers the Americans lost 4-1. The game was a "home" game for Allen but was played at the NYTEX Sports Centre, where 991 spectators saw the Oilers outshoot the Americans 43-16 and outscore Allen 3-0 over the first two periods. Tulsa took a 4-0 lead in the third period before the Americans scored a power play goal late in the game to avoid a shutout and make the final score. 4-1. It was a very different outcome than Allen's first preseason game a year ago against Tulsa when the Americans beat the Oilers 5-1. 

- Preseason games are intended to get ready for the regular season and it is important to not read too much into the results. There are six or seven players that will be on Allen's opening day roster that did not play last night. With that said, giving up 43 shots in the first two periods and being outshot 51-24 for the game has to be a concern for coach Costello, who watched the game from a suite above the action. 

- Allen will travel to Tulsa today for the second and last preseason game. The game starts at 7:05 pm CDT but will not be broadcast. You can expect a different mix of players in the game tonight.

- There were a couple of bright spots in the game last night. Allen had one of the best special teams in the league last season with the #4 power play (23.9%) and #5 penalty kill (82.5%). The Americans lone goal against Tulsa was on the power play and the Americans killed all six Tulsa power play opportunities.    

- The other bright spot was the play of rookie goalie, Leevi Merilainen, the third-round draft choice of the Ottawa Senators in 2020. The 21-year-old played four games with Belleville last season, won them all, had a 2.06 GAA and .933 save percentage. He played the first two periods against Tulsa last night, faced 43 shots and made 40 saves for a save percentage of .930. 

- One big unanswered question is how much help Allen will get from Ottawa/Belleville. 20 ECHL teams already have five or more NHL/AHL players assigned. Allen is at the bottom of the list with just two goalies assigned. I know coach Costello expects to get some skaters assigned and barring injuries in Ottawa/Belleville this weekend, Allen could see some skaters assigned before the season opener in Idaho on Friday (October 20).

- The Newfoundland Growlers won't start training camp until next week, just named a head coach and were the only ECHL team that didn't have any NHL/AHL players assigned. You knew it was a matter of time and it all changed yesterday when the Toronto Marlies assigned 11 players to Newfoundland. The Growlers now have more assigned players than any team in the ECHL with more to come. 

- The top four ECHL players in points last season will be elsewhere when the season opens next week:

• 105 points - Hank Crone, Allen, signed an AHL deal with the Chicago Wolves.
• 95 points - Jack Combs, Allen, retired and is coaching at Lindenwood University.
• 87 points - Alex Ierullo, Greenville, signed with a team in Asiago, Italy.
• 87 points - Zach O'Brien, Newfoundland, signed with a team in Bratislava, Slovakia.

DID YOU KNOW: The ECHL is about to begin its 36th season and the Allen Americans will be celebrating its 15th season as a franchise. If Allen wins the Kelly Cup this season it will be the fifth championship for the Americans. Allen won four straight championships, two CHL championships in 2013 and 2014 followed by two ECHL championships in 2015 and 2016. If Allen can win the Kelly Cup this season it would join four teams with three ECHL championships and the Americans would reach three championships in just eight years. Here are the four teams with three ECHL championships. Included is each team's total years in the ECHL and its championship years:

• Alaska - 11 years (2006. 2011, 2014)
• Hampton Roads - 11 years (1991, 1992, 1998)
• Florida - 23 years (2012, 2022, 2023)
• South Carolina - 27 years (1997, 2001, 2009)