18 Game Challenge Update:
- 7th game in the books
- Last game: 4-3 loss at Tulsa
- Next game: Kansas City at home tonight
- Record: 1-5-1-0
- Point Percentage: .214
- It is game day for the Allen Americans who are back in action after the Christmas break. The most challenging part of the 18 game challenge that began December 13 and will finish on January 15 takes place in the next nine days. The Americans will play four games against Kansas City and one against Idaho.
- The good news is Allen has three home games to close out 2024. The bad news is the Americans play Kansas City tonight and tomorrow night and Idaho on New Year's Eve. Next weekend Allen is at Kansas City for two games.
- Playing Kansas City at home isn't the advantage you might think. Last season the Mavericks set an all-time ECHl record for road wins with a record of 29-4-2-1. So far this year Kansas City's road record is 13-3-1-0. Since the beginning of last season the Mavericks combined road record is 42-7-3-1 for a points percentage of .830. Yikes!
- You combine Kansas City's great road record with Allen's dismal home record this season of 2-6-4-0 (.333) and you can see the challenge for the Americans the next two nights. If you look at the records over the last 10 games it also favors the Mavericks. Allen is 1-7-2-0 and Kansas City is 7-2-1-0.
- It is hard to forget the two times Allen played Kansas City this season. It was two home games on opening weekend and the Americans were shutout in both games, 4-0 and 9-0 and outshot 38-16 and 51-18. Allen has never recovered for the first two games of the season when they were outscored 13-0 and outshot 89-34. It has been two months since those games and Allen is ranked #29 is average shots allowed per game (38.46) and #28 is average goals allowed per game (4.08).
- If you are looking for a silver lining in all of the stats for this two game series against Kansas City it would be on special teams, which will be key. Allen has a better power play and a better penalty kill than the Mavericks. Allen is ranked #12 (19.5%) on the power play and Kansas City is ranked #21 (15.8%). Allen is ranked #17 (81.3%) on the penalty kill and Kansas City is ranked #24 (78.4%). If Allen can win the special teams battle against Kansas City it this series, it will go a long way to the Americans earning some points this weekend.
- A good start is always critical but against Kansas City it is even more important. It will be almost mandatory for Allen to score first and avoid playing from behind if the Americans have any hope of earning points against Kansas City. The stats say it all:
- The Mavericks have scored 32 first period goals and allowed just 20 for a goal differential of +12.
- Allen has scored 21 first period goals and allowed 31 for a goal differential of -10.
- Kansas City's record when scoring first is 14-1-1-1 (.882).
- Allen's record when giving up the first goal is 3-7-2-0 (.333).
- Kansas City's record when leading after the first period is 12-0-0-0.
- Allen's record when trailing after the first period is 1-9-1-0.
- Kansas City had a few roster changes over the break that will impact the games against Allen. On the plus side for the Mavericks was the return of Cade Borchardt from Coachella Valley (AHL). Borchardt has only played in 23 ECHL games for Kansas City, but leads the league is goals (19), plus/minus (+28) and has a 1.35 points per game average. In the two games against Allen he had five points (2G, 3A). Keep an eye on #28 tonight.
On the downside for Kansas City was two of their AHL contracted defensemen, Charlie Wright and Jake McLaughlin were recalled by Coachella Valley yesterday. Wright was second among defensemen in points per game (0.52) and McLaughlin was tied for lead among defensemen in plus/minus (+15).
- Allen has been getting more depth scoring in recent games, but the top two lines have not scored like the beginning of the year, The top two lines have been changed up quite a bit recently. I saw a stat that when the line of Watts-Asuchak-Crnkovic play together Allen's record is 8-4-4-0. When they aren't a line the Americans record is 0-9-1-0. If that stat is accurate it is a compelling reason to leave that group together. Over the first month of the season that group scored 70% of Allen's goals and points. Mark Duarte has been Allen's leading scorer the last 11 games with 11 points (8G, 3A). Duarte has eight goals over the last 11 games while Watts, Asuchak and Watts have a combine total of three goals. How about this for the top two lines tonight, no particular order:
- Watts-Asuchak-Crnkovic
- Guy-Duarte-Brodzinski
OTHER COMMENTS
- In about three weeks the ECHL will reach the 50% mark of the season. The top and bottom teams are starting to separate in a way that teams at the bottom will not make the playoffs and the teams at the top will battle for the Brabham Cup. After the end of January it will be very hard for big moves up or down the standings. Here is a league breakdown by point percentage:
- .700 to .771: Wheeling, Trois Riviéres, Florida, Norfolk, South Carolina
- .600 to .699: Toledo, Kansas City, Tahoe, Tulsa, Fort Wayne, Iowa, Jacksonville
- .500 to .599: Idaho, Wichita, Indy, Greenville, Savannah, Orlando, Atlanta, Adirondack
- .400 to .499: Maine, Bloomington, Kalamazoo, Worcester, Allen
- .300 to 399: Reading, Rapid City, Utah,
- .280: Cincinnati
- You can't have a more busy schedule than the 14 games on tap tonight in the ECHL. Maine is the only team not playing. Other than Kansas City at Allen the other three Mountain Division match-ups are against teams with very similar records.
- Idaho (15-10-2) at Wichita (15-11-2)
- Rapid City (6-14-7) at Utah (7-16-3)
- Tulsa (16-8-2) at Tahoe (16-8-2)
Here is the ECHL Today with previews on all 14 games: https://echl.com/news/2024/12/echl-today-dec-27
- Very few players play all 72 games in a season. Of the over 1000 players that played in the ECHL last season just 28 played in every game. Kris Myllari was the only player that played in all 72 games for the Americans last season. Allen is 26 games into the season and there are still seven players that have not missed a game. The most players that have played in every game in a single season for Allen is three which happened in 2013-14 and 2014-15. Here are the seven players that have not missed a game this season:
- Spencer Asuchak
- Easton Brodzinski
- Kyle Crnkovic
- Mark Duarte
- Ryan Gagnon
- Brayden Guy
- Brayden Watts
DID YOU KNOW: The ECHL Stats post today is about average goals scored and allowed by division. The Mountain Division is the good on offense and bad on defense division. Not sure that is a winning formula when it comes playoff time. FYI, Allen has given up more goals (106) than any other team in the ECHL except Utah. At the same time Allen has scored the fewest goals in the Mountain Division (64).
Wow, that is a lot of stat work. Sadly none of it adds up to success for us. Thanks for all of that work Barry!
ReplyDeleteScore prediction: 5-1
ReplyDelete7-3
Delete6-2 KC
Delete6-1 Kansas. 1.58 x SOG
DeleteOne game closer to Myles finally losing his mind and firing BJ and Video Guy.
NBA doesn’t put up with mediocrity.
ReplyDeleteMike Brown (Sacramento) fired today with a 13-18 record in 2024-25.
What will BJ’s record be at the end of the 18 game stretch?
Mid Jan is the predicted period for a coaching change.
This…..
ReplyDeleteFort Wayne:
add Luke Richardson, G added as emergency backup goalie
What???
I also noticed that on the leagues transaction report… same player? If so, how?
DeleteHe’s on the ice tonight.
DeleteThornton is
DeleteWhat the hell is up with armadillos??
ReplyDeleteFriends gimmick
ReplyDeleteMaybe 800 here
ReplyDeleteCredit to Richardson. He was solid.
ReplyDeleteAnother game, another gadooshing… waiting on Brown Bag Night where paper sacks are handed out for embarrassed fans to hide their faces with.
ReplyDeleteFunny how everyone is a keyboard warrior here but only softball questions at the post-game press conference.
ReplyDeleteYes bc they would have been answered honestly … good try though
DeleteYou’re making the assumption that I feel the need to attend a press conference with Zawyer controlled BJ Adams. I’ve better things to do after a game than hear him lie again.
DeleteOh wow, wish I had the opportunity to ask the big questions
DeleteNice cop-put. It’s called putting the pressure on both Zawyer and Adams if you want change. Respectful pressure isn’t bad. Softball questions deliver the message that we’re ok with losing and BJ. Blogs won’t deliver change but will be disregarded as just that: hiding behind the keyboard for most, but not all, comments.
DeleteIf you don’t care to attend press conferences and ask legitimate questions about concerns, then you have no room to complain and be taken seriously here. Apathy kills.
DeleteBJ has lied to STH.
DeleteWhy go and listen to the same again?
I heard JM and listened to him.
Nothing can be done here folks.
It’s in Myles hands….
I was thinking this last night.... It appears the questions asked of Mydra were just whining about non-STH being in the STH lounge and not giving us enough recognition. I don't care about all that, I care about having a competitive product on the ice... but it seems no one asked those questions?
DeleteAgree. But JM has zero power to effect change other than the small items to ensure or salvage STH not renewing.
DeleteBall, or puck is in Myles court.
You have my vote for Ernst at a presser!
DeleteOne has to wonder the ethics of Ernst…… good question!
DeleteThere's no guessing about Joe, Napoleon complex, only surrounds himself with "yes" men. He would never do a press conference he's too weak, he reads the blog though. He could care less if he destroys the Americans, that was his goal. That's why we have an incompetent coach who bows down to him.
DeleteBJ just standing there watching the game and not coaching again… shocker
ReplyDelete🤣
DeleteHow many more games will it take to get another coach?
ReplyDeleteThis team used to win championships or at least make deep runs into the playoffs. No one wanted to play us because you knew it was going to be painful. Now everyone wants to play us because it’s like playing a juniors team. Add to that, the game presentation is terrible and there is no longer any interaction between fans and players (we used to know everyone and the kids and players interacted). I think LJ and Myles mean well, but they need to realize that their “partners” may not have their best interest and start acting like owners who want to win championships and not just get interiewed in some local website that no one reads. Build a team that wins a championship then you have a real story to tell!
ReplyDeleteOr run Martinson out, run Costello out and bring in a puppet. Makes sense. 😆
DeleteI think the real story here is lack on money for a buy out. I’m sure Myles has had his lawyers look at everything. But if the money isn’t their then, it is what it is at this point. This team is a debacle & we all know Joe is to blame. Not Zawyer, not Jonny, no one but Joe. He has zero accountability for his actions & now I’m hearing he’s trying to blame others for his doing. Im sorry to say but Allen is stuck with this mess till this season is over.
ReplyDeleteWe are stuck with Joe for 5 years. Zawyer thought Joe was going to come in a be the hero and hes actually a zero! He hated Allen always. Just looks what Zawyer did with the night monsters and how good therir team is. Joe did this on purpose. Agree Joe is absolutely to blame for this mess. It will not get better, it’s too convoluted bc the Jacks are still in a partnership with Zawyer on an investing side. All the other ECHL teams were right in not wanting Zawyer to create a monopoly. It will take years and years to unscrew this mess.
DeleteJoes a joke and BJ is a bigger joke.
Yep 100%
DeleteOnly way out is for Myles and his lawyers to figure it out and get rid of the contract.
That being said, if they continue the financial terms with Zawyer, they can keep Joe out, empower JM and have BJ and Video Guy report to JM.
What an abysmal loss.
ReplyDeleteBJ his usual self sugar coating things.
Time for change.
Get rid of anything attached to Zawyer.
At some point me posting the same old same old about incompetency and the fact BJ Adams should be fired becomes old, even for myself.
ReplyDeleteThere’s a reason the comment count has continued to decline. People are sick of posting the blatant obvious.
The only hockey ops that should be retained are Dutes and Matt. Empower JM and fix this train wreck.
Agree 💯 but I’m sure at this point they will be looking to go elsewhere too, and wouldn’t blame them.
DeleteCongrats on being one of the few to reach the obvious conclusion.
DeleteThe blog can be a voice for reason also. We should embrace that and the passion fans have.
DeleteUntil change is made, people will continue to express frustration and ask for change. Buck stops with BJ who has failed to deliver on multiple promises and things he stated he could do and accomplish.
ReplyDeleteBarry, as always, I value your insight. Here's my question: If the team holds an 8-4-4 record when Watts, Asuchak, and Crnkovic play as a line, but hasn’t won a single game without them together, what could possibly justify the coach keeping them separated? At what point do we start questioning whether the continued losing is intentional?
It’s called an inexperienced coach that was fired after 2 half seasons in the OHL. He is way out of his league. He is beyond clueless. Can’t recruit, can’t coach.
DeleteWatch video guy, he spends half his time laughing on the bench.
Maybe the coach thinks you get a higher draft pick for finishing last like you do in the OHL and NHL? Someone should tell him there’s no draft in the ECHL
Deletethats a really good point. I thought Allen played their best game of the year against Wichita Dec. 21. beating them 4-2 and outshooting them 31-22. The next night BJ changes the lines and we have been brutal since. Also makes me wonder, is BJ trying to lose?
DeleteHe report to Joe after all….. 🤔
DeleteIf there is speculation of BJ intentionally manipulating games to lose, it can be reported here https://echl.com/pages/echl-integrity-reporting
DeleteIs there a place to report Joe for integrity?
DeleteAre they playing losing on purpose...no
Is BJ doing it on purpose...no just inexperienced coach who has been fired multiple times for being inept
Are they crying out for a coaching change....absolutely
you beat me to it - I was going to make the same comments. I’m surprised Joe didn’t realize that. Obviously we don’t think BJ is purposely trying to lose, he is just that bad.
Delete
DeleteAre you certain about that? Based on his decisions, it seems less like poor coaching and more like deliberate sabotage. These choices don't just reflect incompetence—they appear intentional, as if he's actively trying lose
I think BJ is just incompetent, Joe Ernst is where the integrity questions would come into play. He is the deliberate saboteur in this whole thing
DeleteI understand what you are saying, it is that bad that it seems like deliberate sabotage and appears intentional. I just truly believe BJ is really that incompetent.
DeleteIs that really Joe Ernst commenting on the blog?!?! Seems legit as to where to turn someone in to the league. 🤔
DeleteDoes anyone know if BJ will be doing Skate with the Players post tonight’s game? I assume that if he is that he will be shuffling along the boards.
ReplyDeletePeople will be lining up to hip check him into the boards.
DeleteSeriously, if BJ was showing improvement it would possibly be worth keeping him. It’s only getting worse. Absolutely needs to go. Steve Martinson is the best GM/Coach at recruiting players and putting together a team that can be successful. Takes a team from the now defunct
ReplyDeleteCHL and wins back to back championships hos first two years in the ECHL. I realize he is coaching in the FHL, but it would be worth it
to reach out to see what it would take to
bring him back. The increased attendence and
long playoff run will more then pay for bringing Marty back.
Both Marty and Costy are both Allen legends. Costy wasn’t given a fair go based on his achievements and recruiting in the 2 seasons.
DeleteThe Jacks owe him a monumental apology. Myles deserves to be losing money. Crowds are down significantly. Team store sales appear to be down.
I don’t think there is a snowballs chance in hell that Marty will return with Ernst still involved with the team
DeleteNEITHER one would EVER come back here EVER
Delete(Joe would never allow it anyways)
Ted - 100% agree
DeleteMissing Gulati yet?
ReplyDeleteNo kidding….
DeleteAnyone seen LJ lately?
ReplyDeleteshe was there last night
Delete