Allen Swept, Game Recap, Video Highlights, Costello Comments, Week Ahead, Failure Quotes, Best Defensive Teams and More

 

The Allen Americans finished their three game seines in Idaho last night the same way it started, with a lopsided loss to the Steelheads. Allen gave up 45 shots and lost 5-2 before another sellout crowd of 5197 at the Idaho Central Arena. 

- I could repost the blog from Friday night and it would be very close to the loss last night. 

• The score was tied after the first period  (1-1) even though Allen was out shot badly (19-7).
• Idaho scored four unanswered goals in the second period with three of them coming in just over two minutes and the final two just 18 seconds apart.
• Allen scored a late goal (18.16) to make the final score 5-2.

- The final stats for the three games series tell you just how poorly the Americans  played:

• 1.67 - Average goals scored
• 5.33 - Average goals allowed
• 31.7 - Average shots taken
• 50.7 - Average shots allowed
• 0 - 2nd period goals scored
• 9 - 2nd period goals allowed
• 55 - Penalty minutes taken (Allen)
  
• 37 - Penalty minutes taken (Idaho)

- Goal scorers for Allen were Chad Butcher (1) and Colton Hargrove (6). Kris Myllari assisted on Hargrove's power play goal. Kris leads the ECHL in power play assists (8) and power play points (10). Hargrove is tied for second in the league in power play points (8).  Here are the video highlights with all of the goals:  https://echl.com/videos/allen-americans-vs-idaho-steelheads-nov-18-2023

- Here are the game recaps from both teams:

• Allen Americans: https://allenamericans.com/news/2023/11/americans-swept-by-idaho
• Idaho Steelheads: https://idahosteelheads.com/news/2023/11/steelheads-sweep-americans-winning-series-finale-5-2

 

- The Americans headed home with a very early flight this morning and will not have much time to regroup before they hit the road again. Next week the Americans play in Wichita on Wednesday and Tulsa on Friday and Saturday. It is hard to overstate the importance of getting points next week given Allen's record compared to the other division teams fighting for playoff spots.   

 

- I asked coach Costello to share his thoughts going forward after the trip to Idaho. "After playing the best teams in the league it is clear we need to improve because were are not where we need to be. Players, roster and coaches all need to improve and we will. We also need to get healthy as soon as possible. We are very fortunate to learn this so early in the season. Now we have the time and opportunity to fix it. It's just time to go to work and play better hockey." 

 

- I think it  is safe to say you can expect more roster changes for the Allen Americans this week, both additions and deletions. Stay tuned.

 

OTHER COMMENTS

 - Had someone ask me if Allen's goals and shots stats are worse this season than last season. Here are the stats comparing the full season in 2022-23 to the stats this far this season. In all categories they are worse thus far this season:

• Goals Scored
• 2.69: 2023-24
• 3.61: 2022-23

• Goals Allowed
• 4.85: 2023-24
• 3.65: 2022-23

• Shots For
• 28.00: 2023-24
• 31.18: 2022-23

• Shot Allowed
• 45.85: 2023-24
• 36.40: 2022-23

 

- Two ECHL teams are averaging over 20 penalty minutes per game and they happen to be the two worst teams in the league by points percentage. Maine is #1 in average penalty minutes (20.50) and #27 in points percentage (.300). Allen is #2 in penalty minutes (20.23) and #28 in points percentage (.231). Allen is tied for the league lead in minor penalties (79), 10 minute misconduct penalties (5) and game misconduct penalties (3). Allen has taken 263 penalty minutes, their opponents just 139 PIMS.   

 

 

 

- Don't look now but the ECHL team on the rise is Iowa. The Heartlanders are the hottest team in the league with a six game win streak. Allen owns the league's longest losing streak at 0-6. No other team has lost more than four straight games. 

- With a six game losing streak and getting swept by Idaho while being outscored 16-5, I thought it was time for some quotes related to losing and failure:

"Is is hard to beat a person that never gives up".....Babe Ruth

"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity".....Albert Einstein

 "When you have exhausted all possibilities remember this: You haven't".....Thomas Edison

"Believe you can and you are halfway there"....Theodore Roosevelt

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm".....Winston Churchill

"I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying".....Micheal Jordan

 

 -  Idaho has the best record (9-1-0-0) in the ECHL over the last 10 games. Three teams have a record of 8-2-0-0, Trois Riviéres, Greenville and Kansas City. Atlanta is the team in a tail spin. The Gladiators were the last undefeated team in the league winning their first eight games, but have now lost three straight.

 

 -  There are seven afternoon games in the ECHL today. Here are the previews:  https://echl.com/news/2023/11/echl-today-nov-19

 

DID YOU KNOW: Stick taps to the ECHL defenses last night. There were 11 games and winning teams allowed a total of 23 goals, averaging 2.09 goals per game. There was one shutout, two one goal games and five two goal games. The average of 2.09 goals allowed per game last night is better than any individual team defense in the league. Here is a list of the best team defenses in the ECHL. Just six teams allow fewer than 3.00 goals per game and they are all top teams in playoff positions. Points percentage is in parenthesis:

 

2.54 - KC (.846)

2.55 - ATL (.727)

2.58 - TR (.833)

2.69 - FLA (.577)

2.69 - GVL (.846)

2.75 - NOR (.583)