If you watch or listen to Allen Americans broadcasts you hear two mantras from Tommy Daniels and Maurice Fitzgerald almost every game. Maurice will say a two goal lead is the most dangerous lead in hockey and Tommy will say never leave a hockey game early. Last night a lot of fans ignored both mantras only to find out when checking the final score from the bar, restaurant or when they got home that Allen didn't get shutout 2-0, but won the game 3-2 in a shootout.
- Playing meaningful games at the end of the season is always suspenseful, but to win a game the way the Americans did last night has more impact than just one game. The Americans are finding a way to win at the most crucial time of the season. Prior to the last three games Allen had gone to overtime six times in 64 games (9.4%) which was the lowest percentage in the league. Now the Americans are on a three game extra time win streak. A week ago Allen beat Rapid City 4-3 in overtime, last Wednesday Allen beat Wichita 2-1 in overtime and last night it was a 3-2 shootout win against Adirondack. FYI, Adirondack has gone to overtime in 21 of 66 games (32%), by far the most in the ECHL.
- How much did Allen beat the odds last night?
- Allen gave up the first goal of the game. The Americans record when allowing the first goal was 8-27-1-0 (.236).
- Allen was out shot 17-5 and trailed 1-0 after the first period. Adirondack's record with a first period lead was 18-3-3-1 (.800)
- Allen trailed 2-0 after the second period. Adirondack's record when leading after the second period was 23-2-1-0 (.904).
- Despite being out shot and out played in the first period it looked like the Americans were going to escape the opening frame tied 0-0. That is until Adirondack scored with 28 seconds left in the period. Allen played better in the second period but the only goal was scored by Adirondack at the 4:19 mark.
- A big momentum swing came in the game a few minutes after Adirondack had taken the 2-0 lead. A dangerous kneeing penalty sent Colby McAuley to the ice. It was the type of play you often see serious knee injuries as a result. Ryan Gagnon immediately went after the player that kneed McAuley. That fight did two things. It showed the importance of a player standing up for his teammate, but just as important, it fired up the entire team. When Grant Hebert deflected a shot from Easton Brodzinski from the point into the net it was game on. Allen had cut the score to 2-1 with just 3:12 left in the game and hope was revived. Adirondack took a delay of game penalty 32 seconds after the Hebert goal. Coach Costello called a time out to let the power play unit how long they had to score before he would pull Costantini for an extra attacker. As it turned out six seconds after Easton Brodzinski jumped on the ice as the extra attacker, Kris Myllari made a perfect pass to Blake Murray for a one timer goal from the playoff dot. There were 103 seconds remaining when Murray tied the score 2-2 to send the game to overtime.
- Allen dominated the overtime period and had several great opportunities to win the game. Shots in overtime favored Allen 8-2, but the game moved on to a shootout. Both teams missed in the first round of the shootout. Adirondack missed in the second round which brought up Hank Crone, playing in his first game after missing a month. Crone was in his favorite spot, the second round of shootout. Using one of his favorite shootout moves that works best for teams Allen doesn't see often, Hank went forehand-backhand-forehand and slipped the puck into the net. It was a very different move than the one he used to win the 3ICE championship last season, which was decided in a shootout.
- Here are the game recaps and video highlights:
- Adirondack Thunder game recap: https://echlthunder.com/news/2024/04/young-scores-in-adirondacks-3-2-shootout-loss-to-allen
- Video highlights: https://echl.com/videos/adirondack-thunder-vs-allen-americans-april-5-2024
- Coach Costello and captain Kris Myllari addressed the season ticket holders after the game and here are some of their comments:
"That came aged me five years. I told the guys before the third period that Adirondack is a team that plays very very hard and takes defense as serious as offense. The teams in the North Division play a little different style than the Mountain Division. They are more systematic and every player is always where they are supposed to be.".....Costello
"I challenged the guys, if your dream is to play in the AHL this game is perfect and it is will before skill. It was great to see the fireworks in the third period. It was great to have Crone back. The deflection by Hebert of the Brodzinski shot was huge and once again Costantini was fantastic.".....Costello
"This game was not easy on our defensemen. Adirondack continually dumps pucks in, hunts them down and hit every single time.".....Costello
"We are starting to find ways to win games now where in the past we would play well but not get the results. Finding ways to win is all that matters right now. We have to find a way to take that last eight or none minutes tonight and bring that into all 60 minutes.".....Myllari
"It was huge that we stayed out of the penalty box tonight. It wasn't a coincidence after Gagnon stepped up for his teammate we started playing well. That speaks volumes about this group."....Costello
"We decide in our pregame prep work which players will be used if the game goes to a shootout but the order they go we discuss on the bench before the start of the shootout.".....Costello
"With three games in three days against Adirondack and the way they play and then going right into the three games against Tulsa, I think the freshest bodies, the freshest athletes is what we are going to go with.".....Costello
"This time of year numbers get crunched, players come down from the AHL and decisions have to be made. Johnny Walker is a fantastic person and teammate. I don't think there is a guy in the locker room that would say a bad thing about him. Unfortunately you can only have a limited number of guys. Coach has to make some tough decisions, but I know Johnny will land on his feet.".....Myllari
"I told the team before the game a meaningful game in April with everything we have gone through this season (on and off the ice) is something we should be thankful for.
TODAY'S PREVIEW
- Allen has to get off to a better start tonight. Playing from behind like last night will end in a loss most of the time. If the Americans can take the energy they showed at the end of the game last night and apply that for 60 minutes tonight, there will be a good outcome.
- Both teams enter the game tonight in different but desperate position. Adirondack was caught by Norfolk last night for the top spot in the North Division. They both have 87 points with Adirondack having two games in hand. Allen gained ground on the field in the Mountain Division but is still on the outside looking in for the playoffs. It should be an intense, playoff style and entertaining game tonight.
- Special teams was the difference maker last night. Allen killed all three Adirondack power plays and the Americans scored the game tying goal on a power play. Allen hasn't allowed a power play goal in the last three games and only given up eight opportunities. Over the same three games the Americans were 2-9 (22.2%) on the power play.
- Here is the game preview from the Allen Americans: https://allenamericans.com/news/2024/04/game-day-preview-three-straight-overtime-games-for-the-americans
- I haven't received the lineup for today, but with three games in three days and the comments coach Costello made last night there will be changes. I would assume Mark Sinclair will get the start in goal and some if not all of the healthy scratches from last night (Gould, Fournier, Jarvis) will be in the lineup tonight. Three games in less than 46 hours is tough enough but adding overtime to the mix makes it even worse. Three players (Myllari, McAuley and Crone) had over 26 minutes times on ice last night. Per usual Myllari led with 27:55 time on ice.
- The Texas jersey the Americans wore last night looks great and has a record of 5-2 (.714). With tonight being another big crowd, Saturday night, specialty jersey game, can the curse be overcome. The specialty jersey record this season is 1-7 (125). Maybe tonight is the night to turn the Texas jersey into a specialty jersey. Haha. Or better yet, improve the specialty jersey record to 2-7.
OTHER COMMENTS
- Allen got plenty of help last night in the playoff race. Wichita beat Tulsa (3-2) in overtime, Idaho beat Rapid City (7-5) and Kansas City beat Utah (7-4). Here are the current standings with each teams possible maximum points in parenthesis:
- 108 points - Kansas City (116)
- 94 points - Idaho (100)
- 66 points - Tulsa (76)
- 65 points - Utah (71)
- 63 points - Allen (73)
- 59 points - Wichita (69)
- 58 points - Rapid City (66)
- There will be a lot of scoreboard watching again tonight. Here are the games Allen fans will be tracking:
- Tulsa plays in Wichita.
- Utah plays Kansas City at home.
- Rapid City plays in Idaho.
- There are 12 games on schedule tonight. Indy is the only team that can clinch a playoff spot tonight. Here is the ECHL Today with the previews: https://echl.com/news/2024/04/echl-today-april-6
Let's go RED! Fantastic comeback win last night.
ReplyDeleteA lot of positivity on display, even when things were looking down.
There is a sense something is developing, could be in time for this season, maybe next season.
Keep an eye on the recent signings ... they are playing with determination.
Giddy up !!
ReplyDelete4 straight OT games with the W!!