The Allen Americans have another chance to get back on the winning track tonight in Rapid City when they take on the Rush in the second of a three game series. With the 5-2 loss to Rapid City on Wednesday Allen has now lost eight of its last 10 games. The Americans 2-8-0-0 record over the last 10 games is the worst in the ECHL. Meanwhile Rapid City's record over the last 10 games (6-3-1-0) is the second best in the Mountain Division matching Idaho. How much ground has Allen lost over the last 10 games? Here are the points earned in the last 10 games for each team in the Mountain Division (20 points maximum). Games remaining in the regular season is in parenthesis:
- 16 points - Kansas City (8)
- 13 points - Rapid City (8)
- 13 points - Idaho (7)
- 10 points - Utah (7)
- 9 points - Tulsa (8)
- 8 points - Wichita (9)
- 4 points - Allen (9)
- There is still plenty of time for Allen to claim the fourth and final playoff spot in the Mountain Division which is currently occupied by Utah. Allen is four points behind Utah, but the Grizzlies play their final seven games against Idaho (4 games) and Kansas City (3 games). While making the playoffs might be attainable the more important goal for the Americans is making the playoffs while playing better hockey and not backing into the playoffs.
- Allen and Rapid City have split four games this season and the head to head stats tell the following story:
- Allen was outshot in all four games.
- Allen scored first in just one of the four games.
- Power play goals were scored by both teams in all four games.
- Allen never had more power play opportunities than Rapid City.
- In three of the four games the losing team scored just two goals.
- Only one of the four games was close (3-2), the other three had scores of 10-5, 7-2 and 5-2.
- You look at the info above and the formula for success tonight for the Americans seems very clear. 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. Easier said than done but certainly doable and meeting three of these four goals would likely translate to a win.
- Neither one of these teams is having stellar year. Allen is ranked #24 in points and points percentage and Rapid City is ranked #26. Both teams struggle defensively. Rapid City is ranked #26 is average goals allowed per game (3.89) and Allen is ranked #28 (3.98). Allen has a third period goal differential of -20 (65 goals for, 85 goals against). Rapid City is even worse with a third period goal differential of -38 (61 goals for and 99 goals against). Despite the stats both teams have a chance to make the playoffs which makes the game tonight a must win. This game shapes up to be more about will than skill and who wants it more.
- Just like the game on Wednesday there will be two referees tonight. #34 Michael Zyla (#34) worked the game on Wednesday. #17 Tatu Kunto will be the second referee. Kunto played junior hockey in San Diego and is from the same hometown as Leevi Meriläinen, Oulu, Finland. Zyla played high school hockey in New York. Kunto played forward and Zyla played defense.
OTHER COMMENTS
- The ECHL Stat post today (see DID YOU KNOW below) is about 20+ goal scorers. In researching that info I was struck by the difference from last season to this season for the Allen Americans in goals and points. Injuries and retirement have made a big difference. Here are the top four in goals and points from last season and this season:
- 2022-23 - Points
- 105 points, Hanks Crone
- 95 points, Jack Combs
- 85 points, Colton Hargrove
- 70 points, Liam Finlay
- 2023-24 - Points (9 games remaining)
- 56 points, Colby McAuley
- 48 points, Hank Crone
- 43 points, Kris Myllari
- 41 points, Blake Murray
- 2022-23 - Goals
- 49 goals - Hank Crone
- 39 goals - Colton Hargrove
- 36 goals - Jack Combs
- 33 goals - Liam Finlay
- 2023-24 - Goals (9 games remaining)
- 24 goals - Colby McAuley
- 22 goals - Easton Brodzinski
- 16 goals - Blake Murray
- 15 goals - Hank Crone
Even though three of the top four in points and goals from last season (Hargrove, Crone, Finlay) are on the Allen roster this season they have only played a combined total of 63 games with 73 points (28G, 45A). Last season this trio played a combined total of 187 games with 260 points (121G, 139A).
- It will be a big weekend around the ECHL with 27 games on the schedule tonight and tomorrow. Just four of 16 playoff spots have been determined (Kansas City, Idaho, Toledo, Adirondack) and one division champion (Toledo) has been crowned. Look for both lists to grow this weekend. Norfolk and Greenville can clinch playoff spots tonight and Kansas City can clinch the Mountain Division title. Here is the ECHL Today with previews of the 14 games on the schedule tonight: https://echl.com/news/2024/03/echl-today-march-29
- Steve Martinson won four championships in Allen and five in San Diego. His 10th championship was with the Rockford IceHogs in 2007 in the United Hockey League. The Rockford IceHogs were part of the UHL from 1999-2007 and have been in the AHL since 2007. The championship Martinson's team won in 2007 is the one and only championship ever won in Rockford. Martinson was inducted this week into the Rockford IceHogs Ring of Honor. Here is the coverage from three of the Rockford television stations.
Why is Ty 14 not playing
ReplyDeleteLet’s bring back Marty. I thought at the time it was time to move on, but…. I was wrong there.
ReplyDeleteWhy did you "think" that?
DeleteNo problem getting swept by the big city bozo''s - we'll get the games back against the best team in the east!
ReplyDeletePut a fork in them.
ReplyDelete