Allen Wins 2-1, Game Recap, Video Highlights, Coach's Comments, Look Ahead, Divsion Standings, Allen Plus/Minus Leaders and More

Sorry for the lateness of the blog this morning. It has been one of those mornings! My travails actually started last night when I fell asleep during the third period of Allen's win over Rapid City, so I didn't touch base with the coaches after the game. No problem I told myself as I knew the team was taking a very early flight this morning (5:59 am). Since I get up very early the plan was to send the coaches a text while they were sitting at the airport waiting for their flight. It wasn't to be as at 3:45 am I get a call from Brian, the guy that delivers my paper every morning needing my help. We have become friends over the years and he stops if front of my house every morning (4:00am) and we chat about the Americans, sports in general and solve the world's problems in a five minute chat. He gives me an extra paper each morning and if someone in Heritage Ranch get missed he sends me a text and I deliver the extra paper to them on my bike. This morning Brian's pickup broke down and he need help delivering 300 papers on a route that is 45 miles long. So, I got to be a paperboy again, something I first did as a 12 year old walking my neighborhood in Bloomington, Minnesota.

I would do anything to help out Brian. He gets up at 12:30 am to deliver papers seven days a week and then goes to his primary job at 5:00 am (five days a week) working for Dr. Pepper stocking shelves at groceries stores.This morning I met Brian in the parking lot where his truck broke down and we transferred 300 papers to my truck. I then got to see what it is like to deliver papers in the dark in housing communities in parts of McKinney, Allen, Fairview and Lucas. One of his customers was waiting in the driveway of his gated mansion and shrugged his shoulders as we approached, obviously peeved his Sunday paper was late. I explained to the elder gentleman the paper was late because Brian's truck broke down. I was sure the old guy would say he understood, but his response to me with a sneer was "not my problem." Brian assured me the vast majority of his customers are very nice and understanding. I share this story because we all see people everyday working hard just trying to get by. I try to acknowledge/engage those I come in contact with, but I know I can do better.

 

- The good thing about not getting started with the blog until after 8:30 is by the time I was getting to the coach's comments section the team had already arrived back in DFW (9:14 am). I was able to get my questions about the game answered by coach Adams.   

 

- The Allen Americans beat Rapid City last night 2-1 and earned four of six points in the series. The Americans have now won the week three weeks in a row with a record of 5-1-2-0 over the last eight games. Allen took four of six points from Rapid City this week, three of four points from Tulsa last week and five of six points from Utah two weeks ago. The Americans have raised their point percentage to the highest of the season at .531. One month ago Allen's point percentage was .100. They are now in contention for the fourth playoff spot with Tahoe (.563) and Wichita (.525).

 

- All the scoring last night took place in a five minute span in the second period. Easton Brodzinski scored the first goal of the game, his team leading 10th, at the 5:46 mark, Rapid City scored the equalizer less than a minute later (6:22) and Mark Duarte scored the game winner at 11:01. It was his second goal of the season.

 

- Allen played great team defense led by Marco Costantini who was the #1 star of the game after saving 35 of 36 shots for a .972 save percentage. No too shabby for a goalie that last played in a game on April 27. Allen's penalty kill unit was perfect and needed to be. The Americans only had one power play opportunity and didn't convert. Rapid City was 0-5 on the power play. Much of the shot disparity in the game (36-25) was the fact Rapid City had eight more minutes of power play time than Allen including a very brief 5-on-3.

- The Americans gave up only six goals in this series. Over the last eight games Allen allowed 20 goals for a goals per game average of  2.50. A far cry from the 4.00+ goals per game average the Americans have had most of the season. 

 

- It was great to see all three former Rapid City players get points in the series. Mark Duarte had a goal and two assists, James Hardie had a goal and Riley Ginnell had an assist. 

 

- The second line of Guy-Duarte-Brodzinski was the difference maker last night. With the top line being shutout the second line had both goals and three of the four assists in the game. The second line players totaled 10 points in the series (3G, 7A). The first line players had six points (3G, 3A). 

 

- Here are the game recaps from both teams:

Allen Americans: https://allenamericans.com/news/2024/11/americans-beat-rapid-city-in-ot

Rapid City Rush: https://rapidcityrush.com/news/2024/11/game-recap-allen-sneaks-by-rush-2-1 

- Here are the video highlights. Rapid City does an excellent job with its highlight package covering the goals, some of the better saves and some hits: https://echl.com/videos/allen-americans-vs-rapid-city-rush-nov-30-2024

 

COACH'S COMMENTS

- Coach B.J. Adams comments about the win over the Rush:

"Marco played very well in goal. I am sure it was tough for him being out of action for so long."

"Our penalty kill was very good (0-5) especially the kill at the end of the third period. We blocked a lot of shots and our guys were determined to outwork their power play."

"We are getting better with how we play without the puck. Our defense will keep improving if we continue to work on how we manage the puck and lower our turnovers in certain areas of the ice."

"It is nice to be in tight games like tonight and come out with a win. From the goaltending to the defense to the forwards, everyone was committed to playing smart defense in this series, especially in the last game.

 

OTHER COMMENTS

- Next up for Allen in its quest to win every week is a very rare schedule. The Americans play Tahoe at home on Tuesday and Wednesday, visit Wichita on Thursday and are off Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Americans used an EBUG last night. My reporting is Anson Thornton will be available for the game on Tuesday.

 

- The Mountain Division standings continue to see Tulsa as the best team (9-3 in last 12 games) and Utah continuing to fade (1-8-2-0 in last 11 games). Allen is tied with Tulsa as best team in the division over the last 10 games (6-2-2-0) vs Tulsa (7-3-0-0). Here are the standings by point percentage:

• .694 - Tulsa
• .611 - Kansas City
  
• .583 - Idaho
• .563 - Tahoe
  
• .531 - Allen
  
• .525 - Wichita
• .389 - Rapid City
• .353 - Utah 

- It wasn't that long ago (November 12) Allen's power play was ranked #24 at 12.0%. In the last three weeks the power play has improved to 25.5% and is now the #3 ranked power play in the ECHL. 

 

- The #1 power play in the ECHL belongs to Trois Riviéres (31.7%) and the #29 ranked power play belongs to Cincinnati (9.3%). The #1 penalty kill belongs to South Carolina (95.7%) and the #29 penalty kill belongs to Utah (54.5%).

 

- There are just three games on the schedule today. South Carolina visits Orlando, Kansas City is at Wichita and Bloomington is at Iowa. Here is the ECHL Today with the previews: https://echl.com/news/2024/12/echl-today-dec-1

 

DID YOU KNOW: Spencer Asuchak leads the Americans in plus/minus with +6. Here is the plus/minus leader for each season since Allen joined the ECHL:

• +9 Ty Farmer (2023-24)
• +10 Kris Myllari (2022-23)
• +15 Kris Myllari & Jack Combs (2021-22)
• +9 Matt Register (2020-21)
• +25 Jack Sadek (2019-20)
• +6 Nick Boka (2018-19)
• +28 David Makowski (2017-18)
• +47 Joel Chouinard (2016-17) - finished #1 in the ECHL
  
• +11 Eric Roy (2015-16)
• #43 Chad Costello (2014-15) - finished #3 in the ECHL