After a day off to rest, recuperate and relax which included a practice, the Allen Americans will try to get a split in Idaho tonight before returning home for three games this weekend. In a seven game playoff series it is important to not get too high or too low. After the disappointing 6-5 overtime loss on Monday the game tonight will be key for the Americans. If Allen falls behind 2-0 in this series the odds of them winning the series will drop to around 15%.
- The scoring trend from the regular season continued in game one of the playoffs. Allen and Idaho have now played 12 times this season and the winning team has scored five or more goals in 10 of the 12 games. Allen's record in the 12 games is 3-7-2-0. The Americans scored five or more goals in all three of their wins.
- If you look at the analytics from the game on Monday the Americans did a lot of good things. Allen got off to a good start taking a 2-0 lead in the game, scored two power play goals (2-4), had more puck possession time than Idaho and had a 5-4 lead in the third period. On the downside Allen allowed two power play goals, surrendered two goal leads twice, gave up three goals in the second period and had half the blocked shots than Idaho.
- There were 348 defensemen who played in the ECHL during the regular season. The #2 and #4 in points among the 348 defensemen play for Idaho. Matt Register was #2 with 64 points (10G, 54A) and Patrick Kudla was #4 with 60 points (10G, 50A). Allen had a plan to limit the impact of these two offensive defensemen but it did not work on Monday. With Idaho trailing 4-2 late in the second period they each scored a goal within 53 seconds to get the Steelheads back in the game. When Allen took a 5-4 lead in the third period Kudla scored his second goal to send the game to overtime. Allen will have to do a better job on these two defensemen tonight.
- Turnovers as always will be a key tonight because when Allen turns over the puck they miss the chance for a shot and give Idaho an excellent shooting opportunity. The Americans have to be smart with the puck because Idaho has an excellent transition game.
- If Allen can get off to another good start tonight, control Kudla and Register, limit the number of power play opportunities given to Idaho and cut down on puck possession losses/turnovers, especially in the neutral zone, they can win tonight. It is a tall task but it can be done.
- The referees tonight will be the same as Monday, Brendan Schreider (#12) and Tatu Kunto (#17). For the most part the duo let the players play on Monday. They called just seven penalties and three of them (high sticking & delay of game) are automatic penalties or close to automatic.
- 2 - hooking
- 2 - high-sticking
- 1 - tripping
- 1 - delay of game
- 1 - holding
OTHER
- Belleville's first round playoff series (best of three) begins at home tonight against Toronto. Game two is Friday in Toronto and if necessary game three will be in Belleville on Sunday. Belleville's roster has 21 forwards, nine defensemen and three goalies. Makes you wonder why forward Tarun Fizer hasn't been sent to Allen unless he has earned a spot in the Belleville lineup.
- Of the eight first round ECHL series the higher seeds (#1 & #2) are tied or leading in all but one. The one possible upset is in the Central Division where #3 Wheeling beat #2 Indy 3-0 last night to take a 3-1 lead in the series.
- Kansas City has already announced its second round home game dates which will be the same whether the Mavericks play Allen or Idaho. Here are the Kansas City dates for games one and two plus six and seven if necessary:
- May 4, Saturday
- May 5, Sunday
- May 14, Tuesday
- May 15, Wednesday
If you look at the dates above the second round home dates for Allen or Idaho will almost certainly be between May 8-12. Dates for the three home games, if Allen advances, would be on three of the following days depending on arena availability. A quick look at the CUTX Event Center schedule shows other events scheduled on the 10th (Collin College graduation) and 12th (concert). It is a little like counting your chickens before they hatch, but if Allen makes it to the 2nd round, my guess is the home games will be on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday:
- May 8, Wednesday
- May 9, Thursday
- May 10, Friday
- May 11, Saturday
- May 12, Sunday
- Check out the ECHL Today that has a preview of the four playoff games tonight and the status of all eight first round series. FYI, no team can clinch a series tonight. Only Kansas City has advanced to the second round. The Mavericks advanced on April 22 and won't play again until May 4th. With 11 days off Kansas City will be very fresh or very rusty depending on the outcome of its first second round game on May 4th.
- Five of the 20 (25%) playoff games played thus far have gone to overtime. All have been decided in the first overtime. The time of the overtime winning goal ranged from 23 seconds to over 12 minutes: Here are the details on the five overtimes by time of winning goal:
- :23 - Idaho 6-5 over Allen
- :30 - Wheeling 3-2 over Indy
- 2:29 - Toledo 3-2 over Kalamazoo
- 8:24 - Florida 2-1 over Jacksonville
- 12:22 - Orlando 1-0 over Greenville
- There are a couple of long time ECHL records, one individual and one team, that could be broken this week. Matt Register is two points from the most career playoff points and Toledo is two wins from the longest winning streak including playoffs. Here is the info from the record book. Longevity has payed off for Matt Register. Matt is playing in his 10th ECHL playoffs and has played in 147 playoff games. Notice Chad Costello is #5 on this list. Chad played in five ECHL playoffs and scored his 87 points (24G, 83A) in just 71 playoff games.
MOST POINTS, PLAYOFF CAREER
117 – Phil Berger (Charlotte and Greensboro - 1990-96)
115 – Matt Register (Ontario, Allen, Colorado, Toledo, Idaho - 2013-Present)
101 – John Spoltore (Louisiana - 1996-2000)
94 – Jay Murphy (Louisiana, Richmond, Greensboro - 1995-2003)
87 – Chad Costello (Colorado and Allen - 2013-22)
LONGEST WINNNING STREAK, INCLUDING PLAYOFFS
18 – Las Vegas Wranglers, Mar. 10-Apr. 22, 2007 (13 regular-season games, 5 playoff games)
17 – Florida Everblades, Mar. 21-May 3, 2018 (10 regular-season games, 7 playoff games)
16 – Toledo Walleye, Mar. 15, 2024-Present (14 regular-season games, 2 playoff games)
10 – Columbia Inferno, Mar. 29-Apr. 27, 2003 (1 regular-season game, 9 playoff games)
– Peoria Rivermen, Mar. 31-May 2, 2000 (2 regular-season games, 8 playoff games)
DID YOU KNOW: The ECHL Stats post today covers team rosters. Allen currently has 22 of a max 24 players on the roster; four NHL/AHL contracted players (Sinclair, Crone, Murray, MacArthur), six rookies (Costantini, Allen, Farmer, Hardie, Smedsrud, Fournier and one veteran (Jacobs). Allen has two roster spots available for the two players on the playoff eligible list (Fizer, Meriläinen) currently playing in the AHL.
Huge game this evening.
ReplyDeleteBelleville is a joke. Maybe they already know we are parting ways and are refusing to send Fizer? Who knows. The relationship has delivered very little other than goalies for the season.
Listening to Tommy on FloHockey during the first game, I was somewhat surprised that it was Mydra's first road game since last seasons playoffs (If I heard that correctly).
ReplyDeleteI'd like to think the President gets to more away games over the course of the season than just one, if not to review, asses and analyze the products on offer at other stadiums and review the game day presentation and sponsor activation. Let's collectively make Allen and the offerings at the Event Center better.
I believe he goes to a lot of different venues to check them out, just doesn't usually sit with Tommy in the booth.
DeleteLet's go RED!
ReplyDeleteGreat PreGame interview from Tommy with Gens. Gens is a great hockey brain. Interesting he mentions Costello has had to rebuild the team 3 times this season. Tells you we need to discount a chunk of the season from a results perspective. Tonight could be interesting. Let's fill the house Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
ReplyDelete0-3 deficit less than 6:00 of 1st period is not a recipe for winning tonight or indication of good odds to extend series beyond Saturday. Fish can just rough up game now as not having to worry about Allen making a comeback. Glass half empty but not looking good folks.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Sloppy mistakes against the caliber of Idaho results in goals against us fast.
Delete