Allen Wins Again, Game Recap, Video Highlights, January 4, 2024 and 2023 Compared, Allen Offense and Defense Both Improved and More

 

 The Allen Americans continued their great play on home ice beating the Tulsa Oilers last night by  a score of 5-2. Allen has won five of its last six games, all at home and are back in the playoff hunt. The Americans are now two points out of fourth place and three points from third place in the Mountain Division.

 

- The first period was close and it looked like it would end with no scoring until a late period goal gave Tulsa a 1-0 lead. Late period goals always create momentum and the Tulsa goal was scored with 30 seconds remaining. Tulsa's 1-0 lead after the first period was also a reminder Allen was 8-0-1-0 when leading after the 1st period, 2-12-1-0 when trailing after the first period.

 

- Allen took Tulsa's momentum away quickly early in the second period. Two goals just 32 seconds apart by Blake Murray at the 2:44 mark and Easton Brodzinski (3:16) gave the Americans a 2-1 lead. Midway through the period Tulsa tied the score 2-2 with a power play goal. It looked like Allen was going to kill off a tripping penalty but the Oilers scored with three seconds left in the penalty. The second period ended with a 2-2 tied score.

 

- Allen took control with three unanswered goals in the third period. Kris Myllari scored the game winner on the power play at 2:12 followed by Easton Brodzinski's second of the game at the 6:41 mark. Bennett MacArthur made the score 5-2 with a goal at 13:23 and the Americans cruised to victory.   

- The win was even more impressive when you consider the flu bug has struck the Allen locker room. Three players were so sick they were not available for the game last night and several others were not at 100% but played. It helped last night that Colby McAuley and Mikael Robidoux returned from injury. It is expected the only players that will not travel to Wichita today are the guys on injured reserve. Allen has a bunch of players not feeling well so hopefully it doesn't spread further from the six hour bus ride to Wichita. Three games in three days is always a war in Wichita.

 

- The goal scorers last night were Blake Murray (10), Easten Brodzinski (10,11), Kris Myllari (8) and Bennett MacArthur (4). Colby McAuley chipped in with three assists and Murray had two assists to go along with his goal. Here are the video highlights: https://echl.com/videos/tulsa-oilers-vs-allen-americans-jan-3-2024  

- Here are the game recaps issued by both teams:

• Allen Americans: https://allenamericans.com/news/2024/01/americans-continue-hot-play-at-home-with-5-2-win-over-tulsa
• Tulsa Oilers: https://tulsaoilers.com/news/2024/01/third-period-gives-americans-victory-over-oilers

 

- Allen's recent success has them ahead of schedule compared to the Americans turnaround last season. Here is a comparison of the Mountain Division standings on January 4 in 2024 and 2023:

•  January 4, 2024
• .758 - Kansas City
• .726 - Idaho
• .500 - Rapid City
• .483 - Tulsa
• .435 - Allen
• .400 - Wichita
• .393 - Utah
   

• January 4, 2023
• .879 - Idaho
• .633 - Wichita
• .536 - Kansas City
• .484 - Rapid City
• .444 - Tulsa
• .393 - Utah
• .375 - Allen

 

- It is hard to overstate the impact that Hank Crone and Blake Murray have had on the Allen offense since they were assigned to the Americans. Here are some stats:

• Crone has played 20 games in Allen and has a point in 18 of them. He had a seven game point streak when he first arrived and is currently on an 11 game point streak.
• Murray has played in 10 games and has points in nine of them.
  
• In 20 games Crone has 31 points (10G, 21A) for a points per game average of 1.55.
• In 10 games Murray has 18 points (8G, 10A) for a points per game average of 1.80.
• Crone has the longest current point streak in the ECHL (11 games).
• Murray has the longest current assist streak in the ECHL (7 games).
• In the last 10 games Crone has six multi point games and a total of 19 points (7G, 12A)
• In the last 10 games Murray has five multi point games and a total of 18 points (8G, 10A)
   

  

- Over his last 12 games Easton Brodzinski has four multi goal games. His total goals over the last 12 games is 11, an average of .92 goals per game. His average goals per game in his first 14 games of the season was .00. That is what you call a turnaround. First 14 games no goals, last 12 games 11 goals. 

 

 

 

- Allen has plenty of offensive firepower as mentioned above. The big difference recently has been defensively. Since the middle of December Allen has allowed two or fewer goals in five of nine games. If you throw out the 10-5 loss to Rapid City, Allen has given up an average of 2.62 goals per game since the middle of December. With the offense averaging 4.22 goals per game over the last nine games you can see why the results have been positive. FYI, the season long averages have the Americans ranked #7 is goals scored (3.48) and #28 in goals allowed (4.32). 

 

 

- On a personal note my blog editor/proofreader (aka wife Nancy) and I are taking a small ship cruise to Portugal (Madeira archipelago), the Canary Islands, Morocco and down the western coast of Africa to Senegal. You may see some posts on social media, depending on internet availability, but the blog will not return until the end of the month.  

 

 

 

DID YOU KNOW: Anatomy of the ECHL Western Conference standings:

 

- The Western Conference has the only three teams in the ECHL with point percentages above .700:

.786 - Toledo

.758 - Kansas City

.726 - Idaho 

 

- Just two other teams in the Western Conference have winning records:

.571 - Wheeling

.565 - Fort Wayne 

 

- None of the other nine teams in the Western Conference has a winning record. All at .500 or below:

.500 - Rapid City

.500 - Cincinnati

.500 - Indy

.483 - Kalamazoo

.483 - Tulsa

.435 - Allen

.435 - Iowa

.400 - Wichita

.393 - Utah