Game one of six of Allen's upcoming games against Tulsa resulted in a shootout win for the Americans. Game two is tonight at the CUTX Event Center. There were a lot of positives for Allen on Wednesday so what do the Americans have to do tonight to get another victory? Here are the stats that will improve the odds.
- Score First: Allen scored first in the win on Wednesday. In the three losses in Idaho last week the Americans gave up the first goal in all three games. Allen has scored first in 21 of 45 games (47%) this season and has a record of 14-5-1-1 (.714) when scoring first. When the Americans allow the first goal their record is 5-18-1-0 (.229). You combine Allen's stats when scoring first with the fact that Tulsa has a record of 14-3-3-0 (.775) when scoring first and you can see the importance of the first goal tonight.
- Playing with the lead is always critical. Here are the records for both teams when leading after the first and second period. Though it worked on Wednesday the American do not want to be playing from behind tonight:
- Allen
- 9-0-1-1 when leading after the first period
- 14-2-1-1 when leading after the second period
- Tulsa
- 11-2-0-0 when leading after the first period
- 14-0-2-1 when leading after the second period
- Wednesday the Americans had the most shots (41) and allowed the fewest shots(34) of any of the seven head to head games against Tulsa this season.. This was a big accomplishment when you consider in the overall ECHL stats, Tulsa is ranked #2 (36.82) in average shots per game and Allen is last (#28) in average shots allowed (40.20). The win on Wednesday was the first game all season Allen outshot an opponent and won the game. The Americans don't need to outshoot Tulsa tonight to win but they have to keep the shots close.
- Allen allowed three goals in the win on Wednesday. The Americans have allowed three or fewer goals in two of the seven games against Tulsa and won them both. Allowing three or fewer goals has been the key to winning for Allen given its offensive firepower. The Americans are ranked #8 in the league in average goals scored per game (3.44). Here is the Allen record when the team allows three or fewer and four or more goals.
- 13-2-1-0 (.844) - Record when allowing three or fewer goals.
- 6-21-1-1 (.241) - Record when allowing four or more goals.
It is a bit of an oversimplification, but if Allen allows three or fewer goals tonight they will win, if they allow four or more they will lose.
- Special teams are always a key to winning and both teams have done well in the seven head to head games. Allen was 1-3 on Wednesday and is 7-21 (33.3%) in the seven games against Tulsa. The Oilers were 1-2 on Wednesday and is 7-23 (30.4%) in the seven games against Allen. Overall this season Tulsa is ranked #27 (15.7%) and Allen is ranked #8 (22.3%) in power play percentage. On the penalty kill both teams have almost identical percentages, Allen at 78.8% and Tulsa at 78.3%. In every game in the series with Tulsa the team that won the special teams battle won the game. Allen has the edge on special teams. They need to show that tonight.
- Goalie play will be another key tonight. Marco Costantini has made six straight starts for Allen since being signed two weeks ago and I expect he will be in goal again tonight. Five of Marco's six starts have been against Kansas City and Idaho. He has compiled a record of 2-2-1-1 with a 3.31 GAA and .901 save percentage. Tulsa will likely start Gage Alexander, who stopped 37 of 40 shots on Wednesday for a .925 save percentage. His season record is 3-4-1-0 with a 3.95 GAA and .882 save percentage.
- Hard to predict the game tonight will go to overtime but the odds are compelling. Four of the seven games (57%) Allen and Tulsa have played this season have gone to overtime. Allen has won three of the four. Here are the overall season long overtime/shootout stats:
- Allen - 2-2 in overtime, 1-1 in shootouts
- Tulsa - 4-4 in overtime, 1-1 in shootouts
- The referee tonight will be #25 David Lilly. He was the referee on Wednesday and let the guys play for the most part. He let a lot go in the pushing and shoving after the whistle. He called just five minor penalties on Wednesday, two on Allen and three on Tulsa. Would expect there will be more penalties tonight.
OTHER COMMENTS
Here is the game preview from the Allen Americans: https://allenamericans.com/news/2024/02/friday-night-ice-in-allen-as-the-americans-host-tulsa-at-710-pm-cst
- I haven't heard a report on Hank Crone's lower body injury but based on the trouble he had putting any weight on his leg as he left the ice, he will not be playing this weekend. The next step will be to see if he goes on in injured reserve which would sideline him for a minimum of 14 days.
- Here are five former Allen players that are tearing up leagues in Europe.
- Steve Owre: 55 points (29G, 26A) in 44 games
- League: ICEHL
- Team: Pioneers Vorarlberg
- Country: Austria
- Allen years: 2020-21
- Alex Lavoie: 50 points (14G, 36A) in 37 games
- League: Ligue Magnus
- Team: Gernoble
- Country: France
- Allen years: 2012-14 & 2020-21
- Olivier Archambault: 50 points (13G, 37A) in 37 games
- League: Extraliga
- Team: HK Spisska Nove Ves
- Country: Slovakia
- Allen years: 2017-18 & 2019-20
- Dante Salituro: 46 points (20G, 26A) in 38 games
- League: Germany3
- Team: HC Hannover Indians
- Country: Germany
- Allen years: 2018-19
- Josh Winquist: 45 points (17G, 28A) in 36 games
- League: Metal Ligaen
- Team: Esbjerg Energy
- Country Denmark
- Allen years: 2021-22
Now that was a good solid ass whooping last night. Every mustache in the building was pissed off and ready to go. I haven’t seen energy in that building like that in a couple of years. It was awesome. I almost want to renew my season tickets. It’s amazing how a little bit of thought into the production of how the boys come on the ice really ramps up the crowd and gets them into it immediately. Hooray for new ownership
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