You couldn't write a script better than what 5385 fans watched in Allen's 1-0 win over Tulsa last night at the CUTX Event Center. Playing the third place Oilers for the sixth time in the last month, the #1 Star of the game was a rookie goalie Allen signed at the end of January when the Americans were down to one healthy goalie. The new #2 star of the game was a player that hadn't played a game since October 29.
- Rookie goalie Marco Constantini stopped all 33 shots he faced last night to win his fifth straight game for the Americans and all five wins have been against Tulsa. The shutout last night was the first for the Americans in over a year (January 28, 2023). Marco's save percentage over his five game win streak is .952.
- The offensive star of the game was Liam Finlay who has been out of the lineup since October 29 with an injury. After missing 46 games Liam was back in the lineup last night and scored the only goal of the game. Finlay led Allen in game winning goals last season (7), but it was special to see Liam score such an important goal in his first game back after missing so much time.
- I would be remiss if I didn't mention the overall team defense last night. Tulsa entered the game ranked #1 in shots for per game (37.8) and Allen was ranked #28 in shots allowed (40.2). The Americans held Tulsa to 33 shots per the box score (26 per analytics software). Before the game last night Tulsa was averaging 43 shots per game. It wasn't just the shots, Allen won 60% of the faceoffs, blocked 20 shots and had 56% of the puck possession.
Here is a game recap from the Tulsa Oilers: https://tulsaoilers.com/news/2024/03/oilers-shutout-by-americans-in-goaltender-duel
- Here are the video highlights with Finlay's goal and some of the great saves by both goalies: https://echl.com/videos/tulsa-oilers-vs-allen-americans-march-1-2024
COACH'S COMMENTS
- I had a chance to talk to coach Costello briefly after the game as everyone was scrambling to get ready to get on the bus for the trip to Wichita. Here is what he had to say:
"It is that time of year where everyone knows where they stand and there are no excuses. The coaches are pushing to get as many points as possible."
"Other than the odd game here or there the games are going to be tight the rest of the season. I think we need to expect one or two goal games going forward."
"Knowing the back story and what Finlay has been through it was special to see him get that goal. This game is so important to these players so to see him smile and be back on the ice was really nice.
"Marco was incredible as usual. He makes all the saves he is supposed to make and some he shouldn't make."
ALLEN VS WICHITA PREVIEW
- Allen left right after the game for the 365 mile bus trip to Wichita where they take on the Thunder tonight (7:05 pm). Wichita played in Kansas City last night and lost to the Mavericks 5-4 in a shootout. Wichita had a 3-1 lead in the game but gave up three unanswered goals to give Kansas City a 4-3 lead in the third period. Wichita scored with less than two minutes remaining to send the game to overtime. At that point it was the best case scenario for Allen, as the game went to a shootout and Kansas City won. The game officially ended at 10:07 pm. Wichita had a 200 mile trip home after the game.
- The injury/illness bug has hit Allen's affiliates again. Leevi Meriläinen has been recalled to Ottawa from Belleville and Mark Sinclair has been recalled from loan to Allen. Chase Perry was just put on injured reserve yesterday but it was retroactive to February 11 so he is eligible to come off IR if he his healthy.
- It looked like Wichita had given up on the season a couple of weeks ago when they were mired in last place in the division and had lost 16 of 20 games. However, since February 17 Wichita has a record of 5-0-0-1. The Thunder six game point streak is currently the longest in the league. Tonight will be a real challenge for Allen.
- Over its six game point streak, Wichita has scored four or five goals in every game. Allen's strength recently has been defense. Allen has allowed an average of 1.5 goals per game over its last for games including a 3-1 win over Wichita.
- Allen is 5-1-0-0 against the Thunder this season and is undefeated in Wichita (4-0-0-0). Here are some other head to head stats:
- Allen has scored first in the last four games these teams have played and won them all. The team that has scored first has won five of the six games between Allen and Wichita this season.
- Allen's road record (12-12-2-1) and Wichita's home record (12-12-2-0) are almost identical.
- Allen's power play is 4-26 (15.4%), Wichita's is 5-14 (35.7%).
- Allen has had fewer penalty minutes than Wichita in all six head to head games.
- The keys tonight will sound familiar. Get off to a good start, win the special teams battle, hold Wichita to fewer than four goals and stay out of the penalty box.You can add to this list control of the neutral zone.
- It will be one of those two referee games tonight with Sam Heidemann (#22) and Nolan Bloyer (#31) scheduled for the game. You never know what to expect against Wichita, but the last two times these team have played it has been very tame, a combined five minor penalties and six minor penalties. The last game (February 14) there were three penalties on each team and it was a two referee game.
OTHER COMMENTS
- Here are the Mountain Division standings after the results last night with games remaining in parenthesis. Notice Allen has two or three games in hand on every team:
- 83 points - Kansas City (19 games remaining)
- 77 points - Idaho (18 games remaining)
- 54 points - Tulsa (18 games remaining)
- 49 points - Allen (21 games remaining)
- 49 points - Utah (18 games remaining)
- 46 points - Wichita (19 games remaining)
- 42 points - Rapid City (18 games remaining)
- Here is Allen's record and points percentage by month:
- October: 1-3-0-0 (.250)
- November: 4-7-1-0 (.375)
- December: 7-7-0-0 (.500)
- January: 6-4-1-1 (.583)
- February: 4-4-0-0 (.500)
- Here are points earned over the last 10 games by the Mountain Division teams:
- 17 points - Idaho
- 16 points - Kansas City
- 14 points - Wichita
- 11 points - Allen
- 8 points - Utah
- 7 points - Tulsa
- 2 points - Rapid City
- There is a full schedule in the ECHL tonight with all 28 teams in action. Here is the ECHL Today with all of the previews. Worth noting is the statement at the end which talks about the first ECHL team to clinch a 2024 Kelly Cup playoff berth. If Kansas City wins tonight, Wichita loses in regulation and Utah loses, the Mavericks will clinch a playoff spot. https://echl.com/news/2024/03/echl-today-march-2
DID YOU KNOW: The ECHL Stats post today is about the goalies with the most minutes played. Allen has had goalie by committee this season. Here are the minutes. FYI, last season Luke Peressini led all Allen goalies with 1997 minutes played.
- 1031 - Mark Sinclair
- 749 - Leevi Meriläinen
- 613 - Marco Costantini
- 552 - Chase Perry
- 119 - Kevin Mandolese
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