Allen Loses, Game Recap, Video Highlights, Tonight's Preview, Allen Adds Chaz Smedsrud (ATO) and Kameron Kielly (Waivers) and More

 

The Allen Americans started the week hoping to sweep the last place Rapid City Rush and get back in the playoff hunt. After a 6-3 loss last night the Allen goal is now to avoid getting swept by Rapid City in the final game of the series tonight.

 

- It is hard to find the positives from the game last. Here is the formula for success from the preview yesterday with the results from last night. - All Allen needs to do to guarantee a win is score first, outshoot the Rush, don't allow a power play goal and hold Rapid City to two or fewer goals. Allen went 0-4.

• Score first - Rapid City scored first at the 6:59 mark of the first period. Allen has now given up the first goal in five straight games. 
• Outshoot Rapid City - Allen had 42 shots on goal which was the first time the Americans have managed more than 30 shots since the beginning of the month. Unfortunately Allen gave up 53 shots. The Americans had another 20+ shots allowed period, they were outshot 21-9 in the third period.
• Don't allow Rapid City a power play goal - The good news is Allen did a good job of staying out of the penalty box giving the Rush just two power play opportunities. The bad news is Rapid City scored on both of them. Allen had four power play opportunities and did not convert on any of them.
• Hold Rapid City to two or fewer goals - Allen allowed six goals last night after allowing five in the loss on Wednesday. Allen has now lost nine of its last 11 games. In those nine losses Allen has given up an average of 4.78 goals per game while scoring an average of 1.78 goals per game.  

 

- I share these stats a lot because they are so compelling. Last night Allen gave up the first goal of the game, trailed 3-1 after the first period and 5-2 after the second period. Here is Allen's record that shows how big a difference there is in these three categories when the Americans are on the right side or wrong side of the stat:

• Scoring First
• Yes: 20-7-1-1 (.724)
• No: 7-27-1-0 (.214)
  

• Lead After 1st Period
• Yes: 14-1-1-1 (.882)
• No: 4-17-0-0 (.190)

• Lead After 2nd Period
• Yes: 22-2-1-1 (.885)
• No: 3-27-1-0 (.113)
  

- Just like in the loss on Wednesday the Americans fell behind early trailing 2-0, 3-1 and by the mid point of the game 5-1. The Americans scored two goals to cut the score to 5-3 but that is as close as they were able to get before Rapid City made the final score 6-3. 

- Goal scorers for Allen were Grant Hebert (9), Chaz Smedsrud (1) and Mikael Robidoux (6). Smesdrud, playing in his first pro game, also had an assist and was the only Allen player with a multi-point game. James Hardie assisted on the Robidoux goal to keep his point streak alive. Hardie has played four games since being acquired from Rapid City and has at least one point in all of them for a total of six points (3G, 3A). Here are the video highlights: https://echl.com/videos/allen-americans-vs-rapid-city-rush-march-29-2024 

- Here are game recaps from both teams with all of the goal by goal details. The headlines say it all. The Allen headline says "Rush Jump on the Americans Early" and the Rapid City headline says "Rush Blast Americans."

• Allen Americans: https://allenamericans.com/news/2024/03/rush-jump-on-the-americans-early-in-6-3-win-on-friday
• Rapid City Rush: https://rapidcityrush.com/news/2024/03/rush-blast-americans-for-6-3-win

 

- If Allen is going to salvage any points in the series with Rapid City the Americans have to get off to a better start tonight. Playing from behind is not going to work well for the Americans. It is not a matter of better defense or better offense. When you are giving up 4.78 goals per game and scoring 1.78 goals per game as the Americans have done in their last nine loses, both offense and defense have to be a lot better tonight. Winning the special teams battle would be a big help. The Americans have given up a power play goal in every game against Rapid City this season. The Rush were 2-2 on the power play last night and Allen was 0-4. That will have to change tonight to earn points. 

 

OTHER COMMENTS

 

-Here are the Mountain Division results from last night:

• Tulsa beat Wichita 3-1 and now leads Allen by eight points,
• Utah beat Idaho 5-4 and now leads Allen by six points.
• Rapid City beating Allen 6-3 has the Rush tied with the Americans in points (57).
• Kansas City beat Iowa 4-2 and clinched the division title.
   

 

- It is likely the Mountain Division will have a team make the playoffs with a losing record. It is mathematically possible they could have two. Allen would have to win its last eight games to reach the .500 mark. Since Allen joined the ECHL in 2014-15 just one team has made the playoffs with a losing record. In 2017-18 Atlanta made the playoffs in the South Division with 69 points and a .479 points percentage. Five non-playoff teams had more points than Atlanta. FYI, Atlanta was swept 4-0 in the first round of the playoffs by Florida.  

  

 

- Allen added two players yesterday, forward Chaz Smedsrud was signed to an amateur tryout (ATO) and Kameron Kielly was claimed off waivers from South Carolina. Smedsrud played his first pro game last night while Kielly will meet the team in Allen. Here is a short player profile on both players:

 

CHAZ SMEDSRUD

 

Chaz Smedsrud

 

 

Chaz in another in a long list of small town Minnesota hockey players that have played for the Allen Americans. Here are three that won multiple championships with the Americans:

• Riley Gill - Northfield, MN, population 20,790
• Brain McMillin - Roseau, MN, population 2730 
• Aaron Gens - Baudette MN, population 966
• Chaz Smedsrud - Laverne MN, population 4946  

Smedsrud just finished his collegiate career at Union College. The 6’2” left shot, 195 pound forward is 25 years old and led his team in goals this season. In 37 games he had 22 points (14G, 8A). He was an assistant captain this season. He has been on his conference (ECAC) all-academic team every year of his collegiate career. He earned his Bachelor's degree in managerial economics.

 

Chaz played four years of high school hockey and had some staggering stats. He comes from the southwest corner of Minnesota where hockey isn't as strong as in the Twin Cities and the northern part of the state. In 98 games he tallied a school record of 315 points (128G, 187A) for a points per game average of 3.21. After high school he played three years of junior hockey and then spent five years at Union College. He played 141 college games and had 62 points (29G, 33A).  

 

If you are big, can skate and have good vision on the ice you can be successful in the ECHL. Smedsrud checks all of those boxes according to the scouting reports I have read and from a conversation I had with coach Costello after he watched video.  

 

KAMERON KIELLY

  

Kielly was claimed off waivers and will be returning to Allen after playing 32 games for the Americans as a rookie in 2020-21. The 6'1" 190 pound, right shot forward is in his fourth pro season and has played for Allen, Indy, Atlanta, Toledo and South Carolina in the ECHL and spent a very short time in England (Sheffield) at the beginning of this season. Here are his stats:

 

• Five seasons in junior (QMJHL) where he totaled 202 points (77G, 125A) in 306 games.
• Three seasons in college (USports) where he totaled 127 points (45G, 82A) in 90 games.
• Four seasons in the ECHL where he has totaled 87 points (33G, 54A) in 147 games. 

 

 Kielly's scouting reports from his junior days all talk about his ability to play in all situations. He can produce offensively but plays both sides of the puck. He has good vision and works hard in all three zones. He played both right wing and center in juniors. 

Here is a get to know you video interview Tommy Daniels did with Kielly during his first stint in Allen three years ago during Covid:

 

 

 

 

- There are 13 games on the ECHL schedule tonight. Jacksonville is the only team that can clinch a playoff spot tonight and join the six teams that have already qualified. Here are the previews: https://echl.com/news/2024/03/echl-today-march-30

 

 

 

 

DID YOU KNOW: The gap between the ECHL #1 and #28 teams in the following stats is very wide:

 

Goals For Gap - 112

#1 Idaho: 280

#28 Atlanta: 168

 

Goals Against Gap - 100

#1 Jacksonville: 167

#28 Allen: 267

 

Points Gap - 58

#1 Kansas City: 102

#28 Atlanta: 44

 

PIMS Gap - 770

#1 Norfolk: 1304

#28 Jacksonville: 534

 

1st Period Goals For Gap - 34

#1 Norfolk: 80

#28 Worcester: 46

 

2nd Period Goals For Gap - 67

#1 Idaho: 114

#28 Atlanta: 47

 

3rd Period Goals For Gap - 59

#1 Kansas City: 107

#28 Iowa: 48