Costantini Returns, Allen vs Tulsa Preview, Mountain Division Standings Tighten, NHL/AHL Players Assigned, 8 Players Involved in 40% of Team's Goals and More

 

It is game day for the Allen Americans as they head to Tulsa to take on the Oilers (7:05 pm). Tulsa is the only location where Allen can do same day travel for a game. The Collective Bargaining Agreement allows for same day travel to stand alone games if the distance is fewer than 325 miles. Tulsa is 235 miles from Allen. Next closest location is Wichita, 370 miles from Allen. It means the Americans will get on a passenger bus early this afternoon, drive to Tulsa, play the game, head back to Allen right after the game and play Tulsa at home tomorrow night. 

 

- This home and home series against Tulsa will be a good test for the Americans. Allen has a record of 4-1-1-0 over the last six games. The one regulation loss was a 4-0 shutout by Tulsa. Allen's four wins have been against Utah who is 1-3-1-0 over its last five games and Wichita whose record over its last seven games is 1-5-1-0. Meanwhile Tulsa's record over the last six games is 5-1-0-0.

 

- Before going into the game preview I want to share my reporting on what happened with the Allen three goalies this week. It all started on Sunday, which was the day ECHL teams had to reduce their active rosters from 21 to 20 players. Coach Adams made the decision to release goalie Marco Costantini. This was done knowing full well with two contract goalies, one would get recalled whenever there was an injury in Tucson or Utah. The motivation for releasing Marco was simply to give him an opportunity to play. Three goalies is not a good long term proposition with two contract goalies. It meant Marco was not getting in any games, but even in practice the contract goalies get more reps. I have seen comments about why didn't Allen trade Marco instead of releasing him. It goes without saying that all ECHL teams try to trade players before they are released. The facts are no other ECHL team needed a goalie, so there were no takers for a trade. 

As many predicted because they have seen it in the past, as soon as a goalie is released a contract goalie gets recalled. Tuesday Allen got the call from Tucson that it was recalling Dylan Wells because of the trickle down effect of Utah's top goalie, Connor Ingram, being injured. 

The timing for Allen could not have worked out better and frankly the Americans were lucky. Costantini had cleared waivers and was a free agent. I have seen comments Marco had left Allen, however, I was told he was still in Allen and re-signed with the Americans immediately. I do know he was at practice yesterday and will travel with the team to Tulsa today. 

 

- In the two head to head games against Tulsa the stats are very one-sided.

• Allen lost 8-2 in Tulsa on October 24.
• Allen lost 4-0 in Allen on November 9.
• Allen was outscored 12-2.
• Allen was out shot 83-49.
  
• Allen gave up the first goal in both games.
• Allen was 1-9 (11.1%) on the power play.
• Tulsa was 3-8 (37.5%) on the power play.

- Here is how Allen and Tulsa rank in the ECHL in key stats:

• Ave. goals scored: Allen #21 (2.45) - Tulsa #2 (3.92)
• Ave. goals allowed: Allen #29 (4.45) - Tulsa #8 (2.58)
• Ave. shot for: Allen #23 (27.55) - Tulsa #5 (24.25)
• Ave shots allowed: Allen #29 (41.45) - Tulsa #12 (28.25) 
  
• Power play percentage: Allen #12 (19.4%) - Tulsa #6 (23.8%)
• Penalty kill percentage: Allen #24 (75.6%) - Tulsa #10 (84.4%)
   

- It is very clear what the challenge is for Allen in these two games against Tulsa. The Oilers score 1.47 goals per game more than Allen and allow 1.87 fewer goals per game than the Americans. Tulsa is undefeated when it scores first (6-0), Allen is 1-4-1-0 when giving up the first goal. Allen's team shooting percentage is 8.9%, Tulsa's is 11.2%. Allen's team save percentage is .893, Tulsa's is .909.

 

- Goalie play will be key in the two games against Tulsa. Dylan Wells had carried the load in the Americans recent resurgence. Allen has won four games, all with Wells in goal. He won his last four starts with an average save percentage of .945. Matching that effort will be tough for Anson Thornton whose record is 0-3-1-1 with a .892 save percentage and Marco Costantini who hasn't played in a game since last April.   

- As always a good start will be a big key in this series and Allen cannot play from behind. Tulsa's record when leading after the first and second period is 10-0-1-0 and is 0-6-0-0 when trailing after the first and second period. Allen needs to play with the lead.

 

- Based on the stats the second period will tell the tale in the games against Tulsa. Allen is the worst second period team in the league being outscored 17-6. Tulsa is the best second period team in the league outscoring its opponents 22-12. 

- Special teams favor Tulsa, but the good news is the Americans scored a power play goal in their last three games. Prior to the last three games Allen had power play goals in just two of eight games. The Americans must beware of the shorthanded goal. Tulsa is one of the best in the league scoring three shorthanded goals thus far and allowing none. 

- Allen has been outshot in 10 of its 11 games this season. The Americans don't have to outshoot Tulsa to win but they have to keep the shots close. They were outshot by 14 and 20 shots in the first to games against Tulsa. That must improve if Allen expects to win.  

OTHER COMMENTS

- In games last night Tahoe continued its great play beating Kansas City 4-1 and Wichita broke its six game losing streak by beating Utah at home 5-2. The Mountain Division standings continue to tighten. Here are the standings (by point percentage) with current streak in parenthesis:

• .708 - Tulsa (2-0-0-0)
• .654 - Kansas City (0-1-0-0)
• .636 - Tahoe (1-0-0-1)
• .500 - Wichita (1-0-0-0)
• .500 - Idaho (0-2-1-0)
• .500 - Utah (0-1-0-0)
• .455 - Allen (2-0-1-0)
• .423 - Rapid City (4-0-0-1)

 

-  Had the chance to talk to Steve Martinson on Tuesday and his team (Athens Rock Lobsters) is off to a great start. Athens is 9-1 thus far and has outscored its opponents 44-22. And this was all accomplished on the road. The Rock Lobsters have one more road game before they will play their first home game in their brand new arena. Martinson is looking for his 11th championship having won 10 of 25 chances in the past. He won a championship in his first season in San Diego where he won a total of five and his first season in Allen where he won a total of four. He could do it again in Athens.

 

- There are just eight ECHL players that have been involved in over 40% of their team’s goals either by scoring the goal or having an assist. The fact that there are three Americans on this list tells you how much the Americans rely on the top line:

55.6% - Brayden Watts, ALN

50.0% - Matthew Sop, IA

44.4% - Kyle Crnkovic, ALN

43.5% - Brandon Hawkins, TOL

42.6% - Michal Stinil, WIC

42.1% - Anthony Repaci, WOR

40.9% - Cody Sylvester, ATL

40.7% - Spencer Asuchak, ALN

 

- There are just three games on the ECHL schedule tonight, two of them in the Mountain Division. In addition to Allen at Tulsa, Utah is at Wichita. Here is the ECHL Today with all of the previews: https://echl.com/news/2024/11/echl-today-nov-21

 

DID YOU KNOW: Here is the ECHL Stats post (accurate as of yesterday morning) which shows NHL/AHL contracted players. With Wells called up and Will Gavin on 14-day injured reserve the American have just two contract players in the lineup, Anson Thornton and Kyle Crnkovic:

NHL/AHL contracted players assigned to each ECHL team. Asterisks are teams with .600+ point percentage:

 

12: *SAV, *SC

11: *KC

9: *WHL, WIC, REA

8: GVL, KAL, RC

7: *TAH, *ADK, IND

6: BLM, *TR, *TUL, *FLA, CIN

5: *FW, *JAX, MNE, ORL, NOR

4: *IDH, IA, *TOL, UTA, WOR

3: ALN

2: ATL

 

The total number of NHL/AHL contracted players assigned to ECHL teams has increased slightly in the last two weeks from 180 to 187.