It is a schedule only the scheduling gods and/or the scheduling computer can appreciate. A month of the Allen Americans playing only Tulsa and Wichita. The Americans played Tulsa three times last week (won two), took a respite on Wednesday night to beat Wichita and now will play Tulsa three more times. Even more strange is the sequence of the upcoming three games against Tulsa. Allen drives to Tulsa today (leaves at noon), plays the Oilers tonight, drives back to Allen after the game and plays Tulsa at home tomorrow. Then the Americans take 12 days off before playing Tulsa again at home on March 1. You hear about three games in three nights against the same team quite often, but how about three games in 15 days against the same team. Welcome to the ECHL schedule.
- All that is on the minds of the Allen Americans is the game tonight. The team will be trying to erase the memory of the 6-1 whipping they took at the hands of the Oilers last Saturday. In that game Allen set season highs for power plays allowed (10), power play goals allowed (4), second period shots allowed (23) and total shots allowed (52, tied).
- Allen has a winning record against Tulsa (5-3-1-0) and could tie Tulsa for third place in the division if they sweep the next three games against the Oilers. A tall task for Allen and it all starts tonight in Tulsa. Allen has won three of its last four games while Tulsa has lost three of its last four games.
- Here is a little different look at comparative stats. How Allen and Tulsa rank in the ECHL.
- Goals scored average
- Allen #7 (3.44)
- Tulsa #11 (3.28)
- Goals allowed average
- Allen #27 (4.08)
- Tulsa #11 (3.07)
- Power play percentage
- Allen #8 (22.0%)
- Tulsa #20 (17.8%)
- Penalty kill percentage
- Allen #20 (77.9%)
- Tulsa #15 (78.8%)
- Penalty minutes per game
- Allen #2 (18.42)
- Tulsa #21 (11.67)
- Special teams as always will play an important role in the game tonight. In the three game series last week in Allen the Americans were 2-11 (18.2%) on the power play and Tulsa was 6-14 (42.9%). Staying out of the penalty box will be a key to winning tonight.
- Team defense and team discipline broke down in game three against Tulsa last week but Allen held the Oilers to three goals in the first two games of the series and won them both. Here is the Allen record when the team allows three or fewer and four or more goals. A key to success tonight is holding Tulsa to three or fewer goals.
- 15-2-1-0 (.861) - Record when allowing three or fewer goals.
- 6-22-1-1 (.233) - Record when allowing four or more goals.
- Johnny Walker, Solag Bakich, Dalton Skelly and Chase Perry did not make the trip to Tulsa. Easton Brodzinski is back after serving his one game suspension. Since Walker has two games left of his three game suspension, he has to be carried on the active roster. Allen will play with 16 skaters and two goalies tonight. I haven't heard who will get the start in goal but assume Sinclair will start tonight since Constantini started on Wednesday.
- The referee scheduled tonight is #21 Evan Reddick. He was one of the two referees that worked the Allen vs Wichita game on Wednesday. Yesterday it was announced Reddick was one of five recipients of an ECHL scholarship to finish his graduate degree.
OTHER COMMENTS
- Here are game previews from both teams:
- Allen Americans: https://allenamericans.com/news/2024/02/the-first-game-of-a-back-to-back-against-tulsa-starts-tonight-in-oklahoma
- Tulsa Oilers: https://tulsaoilers.com/news/2024/02/game-preview-feb-16-vs-allen-americans
- If you are scoreboard watching tonight all seven Mountain Division teams will be in action. Wheeling has won 12 straight games and if they win in Utah tonight will make the top 10 winning streaks all time (see below):
- Allen at Tulsa
- Kansas City at Wichita
- Idaho at Rapid City
- Wheeling at Utah
- All deadlines for players going to and coming back from Europe have now passed. There were several transactions this week. The main source for recruiting players will now shift to players finishing their junior and college careers. These amateurs can play a big role down the stretch and into the playoffs.
- Here is the ECHL Today with previews on all 12 games on the schedule tonight: https://echl.com/news/2024/02/echl-today-feb-16
I don’t understand why Sinclair would play tonight or tomorrow night. I mean keep Constantini in the net. Hes got the last 3 wins
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