Allen beat Idaho 6-2 last night and in the process handed the Steelheads their worst defeat since the 2021-22 season. The last time Idaho lost a game by four goals was April 9, 2022. The last time the Steelheads lost a game by more than four goals was January 14, 2017. A Friday night crowd of 3027 at the CUTX Event Center watched the Americans extend their home winning streak to three games. It was the third straight game Allen has allowed just two goals. Allowing two goals last night was particularly impressive since Idaho is the #1 scoring team in the ECHL averaging 4.71 goals per game.
- It didn't look good for Allen early when Idaho got on the scoreboard at the 6:17 mark of the first period with a power play goal. Idaho's record was 14-1-0-1 (.906) coming into the game when scoring first. Allen bounced back with a power play goal of its own at the 14:10 mark of the first period. Hank Crone scored his fourth power play goal to go along with 11 power play assists. The game was tied 1-1 after the first period and that presented another statistical challenge for Allen, which they overcame with the win. Prior to last night Allen was 0-7 when tied after the first period while Idaho was 8-0 when tied after the first period.
- Allen blew the game open in the second period outscoring Idaho 3-0 despite being outshot 17-11. Kris Myllari scored his seventh goal of the season (tops among ECHL defensemen) and Easton Brodzinski scored his eighth and ninth goals of the season. Brodzinski has scored his nine goals in the last nine games and is now second on the Americans in goals. Colby McAuley leads the team with 15 goals but missed the game with an injury. He is listed as day to day but is unlikely to play tonight.
- Allen took a 4-1 lead into the second intermission and the stats turned in the Americans favor. Allen's record with a second period lead is now a lofty 8-1-0-0. Idaho's record when trailing after the second period is now 2-6-0-1.
- It was great to see Allen continue to push in the third period. The Americans added two goals, less than a minute apart, midway through the period to make the score 6-1. Solag Bakich scored his fourth goal of the season and Colin Jacobs, playing his first game for the Americans, lit the lamp. Allen gave up a meaningless goal to make the final score 6-2. I say meaningless but it would have been nice for goalie Leevi Meriläinen to have only one goal against. He was the difference maker in the game stopping 41 of 43 shots for a .953 save percentage.
- Here are the game recaps and video highlights:
- Allen Americans game recap: https://allenamericans.com/news/2023/12/game-recap-americans-hand-idaho-6-2-loss
- Idaho Steelheads game recap: https://idahosteelheads.com/news/2023/12/demetrios-koumontzis-nets-first-pro-goal-in-loss-at-allen
- Video highlights: https://echl.com/videos/idaho-steelheads-vs-allen-americans-dec-29-2023
- Both teams went 1-2 on the power play as both coaches accomplished one of their stated keys for the game, staying out of the penalty box. Both teams went 50% on the power play and improved their percentage slightly while retaining the #1 (Idaho - 31.7%) and #3 (Allen 27.2%) positions in the ECHL power play rankings. If you look at home vs road percentages Allen is #1 in the league at home (31.0%) and Idaho is #1 on the road (42.1%). Needless to say both teams will have staying out of the penalty box as a key to the game tonight.
- It may not sound all that big but Allen's three game win streak is the longest win streak of the season for the Americans. Only four ECHL teams currently have longer win streaks than Allen:
- 7-0-0-1: Toledo
- 5-0-0-0: Orlando
- 4-0-0-0: Worcester
- 4-0-0-0: Kansas City
- 3-0-0-0: Allen
- Allen has caught Idaho at a good time as the Steelheads have some key players injured, loaned to the AHL, called up to the AHL or left for Europe. Both goalies last night were playing in their first game for the Steelheads having just been signed. They had a combined four games played this season before arriving in Boise. Idaho will get no sympathy from Allen who has suffered by far the ECHL's most players on injured reserve this season. The Americans been at the bottom of the list for NHL/AHL contracted player assigned for much of the season.
- The Americans will have their hands full trying to extend the home win streak to four games tonight. Idaho has not lost back to back games to a team since the 2021-22 season. Mark Sinclair will get the start in goal for the Americans. In his last outing he had 41 saves and a .953 save percentage in a win over Rapid City. Other than the change in goalie the lineup tonight is likely to be the same. If the Americans can repeat the effort from last night they will have a good chance of another win, but it won't be easy.
COACH'S COMMENTS
- Chad Costello met with the season ticket holders after the game and brought Easton Brodzinski (2 goals) along to share his thoughts on the game. Here is what they had to say:
"We played a very solid 60 minutes tonight against a very good team. Idaho is very hard to beat so we did something special tonight but we can't get too ahead of ourselves or we won't be playing the right way. We have to stick to the process and make sure everyone recognizes what they are doing and why we are having more success.".....Costello
"To me the team is buying in as a group, they are cheering for each other and you can probably feel the camaraderie all the way up in the stands.".....Costello
"We played together tonight, we have had some games in the past where it has been more individual efforts. We are coming together as a team and being able to put a full 60 minutes together with each and every guy contributing is pretty special. Having the crowd behind us every night hyping us up is appreciated. We will try and fix our home record over the next couple of games and get back after it.".....Brodzinski
"As a fan I was watching a Sidekicks soccer game recently and was doing the same stuff you probably do at our hockey games, saying things like try harder, shoot the puck, you guys suck, etc. So I get it for sure. However, as a coaching staff we have a process we are sticking to and we think it will work and we believe in our approach 100% no matter what anybody says. When we watch the video and if our approach isn't working that is when we make small adjustments to what we have to do. The players are catching on right now to what we are trying to do as a team with extra effort and buying into the defense. We want to defend and then attack with skill and speed. That is what you saw tonight and I thought we could have even more of it. We can't ride that roller coaster I rode when I was watching the Sidekicks, that is crazy, so I feel for you as fans. As coaches we have to remain patient, positive and persistent in getting the players to do this at a higher rate. That is what we have been doing recently in our three game home win streak.".....Costello
"Colin Jacobs is a good faceoff guy as you saw tonight and he takes pride in his faceoff ability. Faceoffs are important and anytime you are above 50% that is good. Over the last four or five games we have been over 60%.".....Costello
"Gavin Gould is an unreal player. I think he has assisted on my last five goals. It is nice to be out there with him. He is very shifty and he can get you the puck because he sees the ice so well. He wants to pass as he is a pass first type of player and when you are on the ice you have to be ready for his pass. He is definitely a great addition to this team and we are lucky to have him here."..... Brodzinski
"I tell the players all the time their careers are so short so don't waste time being grumpy at the rink, let me do that. Marty was even better at that than me. I say to the players before every single game to go out and enjoy it and have fun.".....Costello
"I think as players we are buying in more. Each and every guy wants to do better for the guy sitting next to him. That is one of the biggest things, we are finally starting to come together as a team and play for one another and focusing more on the defensive side than the offensive side.".....Brodzinski
"We will have some of the injured guys back very soon. Hebert looks game ready, Robidoux looks game ready and Skelly looks game ready. With the break those guys couldn't be on the ice but they will be ready very soon.".....Costello
OTHER COMMENTS
- Hank Crone has played 18 games for Allen since being assigned by the Chicago Wolves in mid November. Hank is rocketing up the ECHL scoring chart having missed the first 10 games of the season. He has already had a seven game point streak and is currently on a nine game point streak. Crone's total for 18 games is 27 points (7G, 20A) and a points per game average of 1.50.
- The ECHL All-Star game is scheduled for January 15 in Savannah. Each ECHL team gets a representative on the All-Star team. Last season Allen's representative was Liam Finlay. I have no idea who the Allen representative will be this season and I don't get a vote, but being a stats guy if I had a vote it would go to Kris Myllari. What Kris has accomplished this season is off the charts. To start with he is wearing the "C" for the team and hasn't missed a game all season. He was voted by his PHPA peers in the off season as the best defensive defensemen in the Western Conference. All Myllari has accomplished this season is to become the best offensive defenseman in the league. Check out these stats for Kris among all ECHL defensemen:
- #1 - Goals (7)
- #1 - Power play points (18)
- #1 - Power play goals (3)
- #1 - Power play assists (15)
- #2 - Points (27)
- #2 - Average points per game (.96), minimum 10 games played
- #4 - Assists (20)
- With the win last night Allen has jumped over the .400 point percentage mark and is gaining ground in the standings. Here is the latest by point percentage with points in parenthesis:
- .768 - Idaho (43)
- .741 - Kansas City (43)
- .537 - Tulsa (29)
- .464 - Rapid City (26)
- .429 - Wichita (24)
- .411 - Allen (23)
- .346 - Utah (18)
- 24 of 28 ECHL teams will be in action tonight including all seven Mountain Division teams. In addition to Idaho at Allen, Kansas City is at Wichita, Tulsa is at Utah and Iowa is at Rapid City. Here is the ECHL Today with previews of all 12 games on the schedule: https://echl.com/news/2023/12/echl-today-dec-30
Thanks, Barry. I appreciate your efforts. Happy New Year to you, the team, the homers, the haters, the trolls and those who feed them. I’m taking lessons learned with me and leaving the rest of 2023 in the bin. Here’s to better everything in 2024!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Homer - now go stand in line to pay $60 to see the only World Series Trophy will ever stop in Dallas again
Delete$60 to get a picture with that??? What is wrong with you idiots? Why would you do that to fans? What a joke of a town - Karma = the ass kicking you're getting tonight!
ReplyDelete