Allen Shutout 5-0, Trails 2-0 in Series, Game Recaps, Video Highlights, A Look Ahead, All-Time Records and More

 

The Allen Americans were shutout 5-0 by the Idaho Steelheads last night before a sellout crowd of 5127 at the Idaho Central Arena. The game was over before many fans were settled in their seats. Idaho scored three goals by the six minute mark of the first period (1:36, 4:46, 5:54) and the die was cast. The Americans did manage to stop the bleeding in the second period by matching shots with Idaho (11-11) and goals (0-0) but it was not good enough. Idaho outshot Allen 15-8 in a penalty filled third period and added two more goals to complete the 28 save 5-0 shutout and take a 2-0 lead in the series. 

 

- Nothing went right for the Allen Americans in this game. Here are some of the examples:

• Idaho scored the first goal of the game 96 seconds after the opening puck drop. The Steelheads win 90% of its games when scoring first.
• Allen's goal was to stay out of the penalty box and the Americans gave up seven power play opportunities. Idaho was 1-7 on the power play.
• Allen was 0-4 on the power play.
  
• Allen was out shot 38-28 in the game.
• Allen had no answer for Mark Rassel (2G, 1A) and Ty Pelton-Byce (1G, 3A).
• Allen gave up five goals after allowing six goals in game one.
• Allen took 53 penalty minutes, the highest PIM total in the 2024 playoffs and 45 of the 53 PIMs were in the third period when the game had long been decided. 
  

- After two playoff games the Allen Americans are in a familiar spot, dead last in goals allowed per game. The Americans were last most of the regular season though they escaped the cellar with their seven game point streak at the end of the season. Allen was ranked #26 allowing 3.83 goals per game. In the playoffs Allen is last, ranked #16, allowing an average of 5.50 goals per game. 10 of the 16 playoff teams are allowing fewer than 3.00 goals per game and eight are allowing 2.00 or fewer goals per game. 

- I know the team believes it can play with and beat Idaho. However believing is one thing, but executing on that belief is quite different. Here are the facts over the last two regular seasons and playoffs combined:

• Allen's record against Idaho is 4-21-1-0 (.173)
• Three of the four Allen wins were with NHL contracted goalie, Leevi Meriläinen, in goal.

 

- Can Allen win on Friday and turn this series around, of course they can, but the odds are stacked against them. Based on NHL historical data Allen has around a 45% chance of winning game three and less than a 15% chance of winning this series. Right now the only goal for the Americans is to get a win on Friday.

 

- Here are the game recaps from both teams:

•  Allen Americans: https://allenamericans.com/news/2024/04/americans-shutout-in-game-2
• Idaho Steelheads: https://idahosteelheads.com/news/2024/04/jake-kielly-posts-28-save-shutout-in-5-0-victory-as-steelheads-capture-a-2-0-series-lead

 

- Here are the video highlights or the defensive breakdown highlights depending on your point of view: https://echl.com/videos/allen-americans-vs-idaho-steelheads-april-24-2024-game-2   

- Four players have killed the Americans in this series and limiting their impact was a point of emphasis before the series started. Here are their totals after two games:

• Ty Pelton-Byce: 8 points (1G, 7A)
• Mark Rassell: 6 points (4G, 2A)
• Patrick Kudla - 5 points (2G, 3A)
• Matt Register - 2 points (2G, 0A)
   

 

- The Americans now must get ready for game three at home tomorrow (Friday) night. Because the start of this series was delayed the teams must play four games in five days with the only day off (today) spent traveling between Boise and Dallas. Doesn't seem ideal for any Kelly Cup playoff series. The Allen contingent is split between a flight that left Boise at 6:30 this morning and one that that is scheduled to leave around 1:30 this afternoon. Most of the players will be on the later flight as will the Idaho team which should be an interesting dynamic.

 

OTHER COMMENTS

- Matt Register scored a goal last night and now is one point away from the all time ECHL career playoff points record of 117 points. It is a record that has stood since 1996. A very impressive record for any player but even more extraordinary that the all time career playoff points leader is about to be a defenseman. It will be ironic that Register will likely tie and/or set the record in Allen, the place he started his professional career. Matt's first professional point was a game winning power play goal against Rio Grande Valley on February 11, 2012.

 

- Toledo beat Kalamazoo 6-2 last night to take a 3-0 lead in the series. Toledo finished the regular season with a 14 game win streak and has now added three straight playoff wins. Toledo's 17 game win streak is the second longest win streak including playoffs in the history of the ECHL. Toledo can tie the record when they play Kalamazoo Friday night. The current record of 18 games was set by the Las Vegas Wranglers in 2007 when they finished the regular season with 13 straight wins followed by five straight playoff wins.

 

- The Belleville Senators beat the Toronto Marlies 3-1 last night to take a 1-0 series lead in their first round best of three series. Game two is in Toronto on Friday and game three, if necessary, will be in Belleville on Sunday.   

 

- There have been 24 games played thus far in the first round of the playoffs. The higher seeds (#1 & #2) have a record of 17-7. Of the seven wins by lower seeds (#3 & #4), three have been by #3 seed Wheeling against #2 seed Indy.

 

- On a personal note I wanted to share a big surprise I got yesterday. I know most of you have seen this on social media, but I have learned over the years a lot of you are not on social media or don't spend much time on social media so wanted to share here.

Allen Americans team President, Jonny Mydra, presented me with this framed jersey yesterday, signed by the front office staff, coaches, players and hockey operations staff, to recognize me reaching the milestone of publishing 2500 blogs. My thanks to Jonny and the entire Allen Americans organization.

 Congrats to Barry Janssen (Allen Americans Blog) on surpassing 2,500 team blogs! Widely respected across the league and the hockey world, we are fortunate to have Barry covering our team. 
 

 

DID YOU KNOW: The ECHL Stats post today is about average playoff goals scored and allowed. Allen has averaged 2.50 goals in the first two playoff games and allowed 5.50 goals per game. 

Thus far in the playoffs (24 games) there have been five shutouts and seven times when a team scored five or more goals. Here are the top four playoff teams in goals scored and goals allowed:

 

Goals Scored

5.50 - Idaho

4.67 - Toledo

4.00 - Norfolk

3.75 - Wheeling 

 

Goals Allowed

1.00 - *Adirondack

1.50 - *Maine

1.50 - Kansas City

1.50 - Greenville

 

*Adirondack and Maine are playing each other with the series tied 1-1. In two games they have combined for a total of five goals. An average of 2.5 combined goals per game.

 

The only team that is top five in goals scored and goals allowed is Kansas City.