One of the worst scenarios an ECHL teams faces during the season is a schedule that calls for four games in five days with travel and an early start time in game four. Welcome to the Allen Americans week. It starts tonight at home against Tulsa followed by three games in Wichita on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
- The game tonight is between two teams headed in opposite directions recently. Allen has won four of its last five games including a series win against Idaho. Tulsa is in the midst of a six game losing streak which is the longest in the league. The Oilers just lost three straight to Utah, the last place team in the division.
- The game tonight will be the fifth of 16 times Allen will play Tulsa this season. 29% of Allen's remaining games are against Tulsa and it will get even worse in February. From February 7 to the end of the season (April 14) Allen will play 36% of its games (10 of 28) against Tulsa. Here are the stats from the first four games between these teams:
- Allen's record against Tulsa is 2-1-1-0.
- Three of the four games went to overtime. (Allen's only overtime games this season).
- Allen won two of the three overtime games.
- Allen allowed 6,4,5 and 5 goals in the four games.
- Total goals favor Tulsa 20-17.
- Allen was outshot in all four games by a total of 185-121.
- Allen's power play was 1-3, 0-2, 3-5, 0-2 in the four games, (4-12, 33.3%).
- Tulsa's power play was 0-3, 2-6, 0-1, 1-3 in the four games, (3-13, 23.1%).
- If you look at season long stats they look very familiar to almost every team Allen plays:
- Allen scores more goals on average than Tulsa: 3.4 vs 3.2.
- Allen allows more goals on average than Tulsa: 4.4 vs 3.2.
- Allen takes fewer shots per game than Tulsa: 28.9 vs 35.3.
- Allen allows more shots per game than Tulsa: 42.0 vs 28.8.
- Special teams will likely play a deciding role in the game tonight. The team that won the special teams battle has won the previous four games between Allen and Tulsa. Allen has a better power play percentage (24.8%) than Tulsa (17.8%) and a better penalty kill (78.0% vs 76.8%).
- Here is the lineup for tonight. Good news is Colby McAuley is back after missing the Idaho series and Mikael Robidoux returns for the first time since November 10. The bad news is a couple of players (Hank Crone & Brandon Puricelli) are under the weather and will not play.
- Keys to the game for Allen:
- Play physical and finish checks.
- Don't worry about shots on goal. Tulsa throws everything at the net. Keep them on the outside.
- Take advantage of Allen's better power play.
- Don't get stuck in the defensive zone, head up ice quickly and with speed.
- Limit Tulsa to fewer than four goals.
- Don't play from behind. Allen is 8-0-1-0 when leading after the 1st period, 2-12-1-0 when trailing.
- Players to watch for Tulsa are #15 Eddie Matsushima who has nine points (4G, 5A) in four games against Allen. Former Americans player Tyler Poulsen has torched his former team with four goals in four games. Colby McAuley is Allen's leading goal scorer against Tulsa with four goals.
- Some stats leaders from the ECHL daily report. Blake Murray has an assist in six straight games for the longest current assist streak in the league. Hank Crone has points in 11 straight games for the longest points streak. Colby McAuley is tied for the ECHL lead in power play goals with eight. Kris Myllari is the ECHL leader in power play assists (15) and tied for the lead in power play points (18).
OTHER COMMENTS
- The ECHL just announced the players selected for the All-Star game that will take place on January 15. Congrats to Allen defensemen and team captain, Kris Myllari who has been selected to represent the Allen Americans at the All-Star game. Unfortunately, the ECHL schedules games on All-Star day and Allen is one of six teams that play on the 15th. The Americans will play Tulsa at home. I have seen some players opt out of the All-Star game because they feel being their for their team is more important. I think putting players in a position where they have to choose between going to the All-Star game or playing a key game for their team isn't right. Shut down the league for a day or two. C'MON MAN!
- Here is the ECHL press release with the complete All-Star team and all the details about the game and festivities: https://echl.com/news/2024/01/roster-announced-for-2024-warriorechl-all-star-classic
- There have been 21 penalty shots in the ECHL thus far this season and the goalies have gotten the best of the shooters. Just three penalty shots have resulted in goals for a 4.8% success. The goalies have stopped the last 13 penalty shots including the last one which was on December 29 and took place in overtime.
- There have been 161 misconduct penalties (10 minute) handed out this season and four teams account for 46 of them.
- 18 - Norfolk
- 10 - Allen
- 9 - Kalamazoo
- 9 - Wheeling
- It is a light schedule around the ECHL tonight with only 12 teams in action. The only other Mountain Division playing besides Tulsa at Allen is Idaho. The Steelheads are at home to start a three game series against Reading. Here are the previews: https://echl.com/news/2024/01/echl-today-jan-3
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