Sunday, December 15, 2024

Another Big Loss for Allen, Game Recap, Video Highlights, Rematch Preview, All-Time Worst Losses, Goal Differentials, Christmas Break and More

 

It was a second night of making the Allen Americans all-time worst losses list (losing by six or more goals) which now stands at 11 over the past ten years. Three of the 11 have come this season. Last night it was a loss to Fort Wayne by a score of 8-2. The Komets scored on their 3rd, 4th, 8th and 10th shot of the game and it all happened before the midpoint of the first period. Fort Wayne added a fifth goal at the 13:20 mark of the first period to put the final nail in the coffin. Three of the five first period goals were scored unassisted including a shorthanded goal.

 

- It wasn't as bad as the loss in Indy on Friday night. After all the Americans generated 33 shots and scored two goals, both in the second period. Braden Guy scored his fifth goal of the season and Ryan Mahshie his first, but the game was long since over by the time Allen got on the scoreboard. Fort Wayne scored three unanswered goals in the third period to make the final score 8-2. Eight different players scored goals for Fort Wayne. 

 

- Allen has now been outscored 14-2 on its swing through the Central Division with one more game this afternoon in Fort Wayne (4:00 pm Allen time). Here are a  few other combined stats from the two losses:

  • 72-33: Allen shot disadvantage.
  • 0%: Allen's power play percentage (0-7).
  • 57.2%: Allen's penalty kill percentage (3-7).

 

- Here are the video highlights. You can see the many defensive miscues including those that led to the three unassisted goals in the first period. : https://echl.com/videos/allen-americans-vs-fort-wayne-komets-dec-14-2024  


-  Allen will have one more opportunity to earn points on this road trip with a rematch against Fort Wayne this afternoon (4:00 pm Allen time). The team can't be in a good frame of mind based on the embarrassing losses the last two nights. Meanwhile the Komets will be full of confidence. They scored eight goals last night after totaling just 10 goals in their last six games. 


- Allen will need outstanding goalie play to have any chance of beating Fort Wayne. Thornton looked tired last night giving up four goals on 10 shots after allowing six goals on Friday in Indy. Anson has started 10 of the last 11 games including three games in three days before this road trip. Logan Neaton came in to the games last night in a difficult relief role and stopped 25 of 29 shots (.862) over 50 minutes of playing time. You have to expect he will get the start today, but you just never know. 

 

- Allen will have to do better on special teams if it expects to win. Whenever you get outscored on the power play it is not a good night. Last night the power play failed to scored on five opportunities and gave up a shorthanded goal. The penalty kill gave up a goal last night and has been scored on in four of the last five games. Allen can't win with special teams results like that.

 

- Last night Allen gave up a couple of early goals and got steamrolled. Fort Wayne's record when it scores first is 8-2-1-0. If Allen doesn't score first this afternoon it could get ugly again.

 

- Allen Americans leading scorers over the last six games with six points are Mark Duarte (4G, 2A) and Brayden Guy (2G, 4A). Here are Allen's leading goal scorers:

  • 11 - Easton Brodzinski
  • 8 - Brayden Watts
  • 7 - Spencer Asuchak
  • 5 - Kyle Crnkovic
  • 5 - Brayden Guy
  • 5 - Mark Duarte
     

 

OTHER COMMENTS

- Goal differential (goals scored minus goals allowed) is a good proxy for just how good a team is regardless of the standings, though both stats are very closely aligned. Here are the Mountain Division goal differentials with point percentages in parenthesis:

  • +28 Kansas City (.700)
  • +20 Tahoe (.682)
  • +14 Wichita (.560)
  • +12 Tulsa (.630)
  • +9 Idaho (.542)
  • -35 Allen (.429)
  • -35 Rapid City (.354)
  • -44 Utah (.273)

It is pretty clear there is a sizeable difference between the top five teams in the division and the bottom three. 

 

- Allen's losing streak has now reached five games (0-4-1-0). Only two ECHL teams have a current longer losing streak than the Allen Americans. Bloomington has lost seven straight games and Utah has lost 11 straight. The five game losing for the Americans matches the five game losing streak they had to start the season.

 

- Here the 11 games Allen has lost by six or more goals since joining the ECHL in 2014. Notice the only two road losses by six or more goals happened the last two nights. Also, notice the only team on the list more than once is Kansas City (four times).

  •  8-2: Fort Wayne - 12/14/24 (road)
  •  6-0: Indy - 12/13/24 (road)
  •  9-0: Kansas City - 10/26/24 (home)
  •  6-0: Tulsa - 3/10/24 (home)
  •  6-0: Atlanta - 10/29/23 (home)
  •  8-1: Kansas City - 1/8/22 (home)
  •  8-2: Rapid City - 12/3/22 (home)
  •  7-0: Wichita - 10/23/21 (home) 
  •  9-3: Kansas City - 3/8/19 (home
  •  6-0: Kansas City - 3/6/19 (home) 
  •  8-1: Colorado - 11/14/15 (home)

 

- It is a light schedule in the ECHL today with just five games being played. The Allen game will be the latest with a 5:00 pm local start time. The other four games have start times at 3:00 or 3:05 pm local time. Here is the ECHL Today with all of the previews.https://echl.com/news/2024/12/echl-today-dec-15 

 

- Here is a great story about Charlie Combs, who plays for South Carolina, and the influence his brother Jack has had on his hockey career. Jack Combs is fifth on the Allen Americans all-time points list with 213 points (79G, 139A) in just 162 games played. His 1.31 points per game average is second all-time to his good friend and teammate, Chad Costello's 1.50 points per game (minimum 110 games played). https://echl.com/news/2024/12/charlie-combs-hockey-journey-following-in-big-brother-jacks-footsteps 



DID YOU KNOW: The ECHL Stats post today is about the Christmas break. My guess is a lot of players will stay in Allen over the break. The Americans are one of the teams that have a game on the 22nd (in Tulsa) so they won't get an early start on the Christmas break. The Americans play at home on the 27th so I would expect coach Adams will have a practice on the 26th. If that is the case, maybe practice can be scheduled late in the day so players can travel back to Allen the morning of the 26th. 


It’s that time of year. The ECHL Christmas waiver/trade freeze is from December 22-26. No games will be played on the 23, 24 or 25 which is the official Christmas break.
 
Some teams can’t wait for the break. The Utah Grizzlies have lost 12 straight games (0-11-1-0). They haven’t won a game in a month (November 16). 
 
Other teams are on a roll. The Wheeling Nailers are on a point streak of 16 games (15-0-1-0). Wheeling has won 13 straight games and last lost in regulation on November 1.
 
There are only six games on the schedule on the 22nd and no games on the schedule on the 26th. If coaches are cooperative and don’t schedule practices for the 26th, players might have time to go home or take a quick vacation to warm places, Las Vegas, etc. For players that have to play on the 22nd and have to practice on the 26th, it will be tough to go anywhere.
 

73 comments:

  1. These owners and this coach are a complete wack job!!! These players will not produce under such stupidity. They have shit on the players and the season ticket holders. Allen is a joke!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Coach is waaaay over his head.
      Video Guy is just happy In n Out is across the road from the arena.
      LJ is a fan girl who needs to urgently make big girl decisions.

      Delete
    2. Owners are a joke. They have no idea how to run an ECHL team.

      Coach is pathetic and clearly evident of being the 4th choice.
      I’m not sure why the disconnect and lies from ownership and Mydra to Barry. Surely Mydra knew what was going on and when, so he clearly knew BJ was the 4th option. Why lie? Disappointing from Mydra, to be expected from the other idiots (Zawyer/Ernst/LJ/Myles).

      Delete
  2. I never thought that I would think this cuz we have been STH for 15 years and have loved it!! Friendships and a good team always giving us some hope! This year I agree, Allen is a joke!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I to have had tickets since year one (STH for last 14 years). I am trying to be supportive of this team but it is becoming increasingly difficult. Hoping next year (if there is a team) will be better with Zawyer out and Rev in, assuming we have ownership that will at least listen to them and take their advice. Also give Jonny the responsibility he deserves. He is one of the few in the front office that actually understands management of a minor league hockey team.

      Delete
    2. Agreed as well. Let Jonny do his job, but I will add to it, find someone who is qualified to be a GM as well.

      Delete
    3. Ditto. Long STH. This will be my last unless change is effected within the next 45 days. I’m done spending my money supporting this clown show.

      Delete
    4. Sadly I am afraid that “what you see is what you get” is going to ring true for the remainder of the season. Zawyer still has enough control, directly and indirectly, to prevent any meaningful change this year

      Delete
  3. No comments from the coach after these embarrassing losses?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bj is a moron that’s why. He has no class or clue what he’s doing.

      Delete
    2. No one cares what he says, he’s a lying narcissist anyways

      Delete
    3. 100%
      Lied to multiple people and multiple STH

      Delete
    4. BJ doesn’t interact.
      Probably blew off Barry and ignored the request.

      Delete
    5. How does the coach or assistant coach not provide audio or do an interview for Tommy? Or Barry?
      This should be mandated.
      This isn’t about Tommy, it’s basic interactions for fan engagement.
      I just don’t get it.

      Delete
    6. They do with Maurice when they are home, and they also do it with the players too. I'm sure in their current situation they don't want to LOL

      Delete
  4. Let’s launch a public campaign on Myles Jack

    LJ posts photos of being at the Biden White House when a large if not super majority of the Allen American fan base doesn’t like Biden… she has no clue what she is doing in life, business or hockey, point the attention to her son… he is the bigger name and he put us in bed with Zawyer… Myles Jack is to blame

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Preach never trust a person who has ever played for Shittsburgh. They should never show their faces in Allen again. I think we need a Trump Inauguration celebration.

      Delete
    2. Myles lied to Chad Costello.
      He’s a clueless snake.
      Told him one thing and did something else.

      They didn’t find BJ in 13 days folks.

      Myles can’t be trusted and is a liar.

      Myles and LJ caused the damn mess. None of this needed to happen.

      Delete
    3. It feels intentionally done at this point. Why? Who knows but nobody can be this accidentally stupid.

      Delete
    4. They are this accidentally stupid.
      LJ is enamored with the AllStar Game.
      If she had half a brain she’d fire BJ and Video Guy and eat $150-175k and correct the missteps immediately.

      Delete
    5. Whether right or wrong, LJ needs to hire Costello back, and give him water tight g’tees for 25/26 and beyond. What a fkn mess she has created.

      Delete
  5. Everyone who works for the americans sucks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not everyone…

      Delete
    2. Name one who doesn’t?

      Delete
    3. I’m going to keep it professional, but Mydra is a class act, had responsibilities stripped though, some of the ticket reps are good people, Dutes is class, Matt is class, there are more, but there are a lot of interns and some that are beyond incompetent.
      Leadership starts at the top.

      Delete
    4. Front office staff is a joke…they do nothing doots* and Matt of course do there job…front office is terrible and 40% of the reason our team is doing so bad…they use the games as a way to act professional with all their made up titles so seems important when in reality they don’t know anything not just about hockey but how to function in a professional office setting and for the staff that read this you know who you are…and we all know yall are shady…but if the ownership group is too preoccupied to fire yall you might as well get your money while you can 🫡

      Delete
    5. I’ll add Jeff Fink is useless.

      Delete
  6. It's early and we're just getting to know where each other is on the ice. Pay no attention to the scoreboard, especially the SOG.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They just throw the puck at the net. I expect them to have more SOG 🙄

      Delete
  7. I’m am so sick of the bashing on Thornton … of course he’s tired he’s had to play his ass off for this team with no breaks. Tommy bashing him last night and stating Neaton looks so great and has earned a starting position laughable…but he quickly shut up after letting sane amount of goals in that he did.
    Just wait until our dumbass coach gets Thornton injured or he gets recalled. Hmmmm miss Cozz yet.
    The Jacks were hosed by Joe and Zawyer, the trusted them, I have fully faith that they will fix it and I will welcome it with open arms.
    Crossing my fingers for todays game for the players sake and hoping BJ falls.

    I feel a coaching change coming in our Christmas stockings! Go Red!!


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yep - those 8 days off must have been brutal!

      Delete
    2. When you have a coach that overworks them and no rest days & no experience yep

      Delete
    3. Should never have released Marco.
      As simple as that.
      Dipshit move by an amateur/fantasy GM and clueless coach.

      Fire these amateurs.

      LJ, are you listening?
      You read the blog, give us a signal you give half a $hit…

      Delete
  8. The hits just keep on coming. You would think ownership would get a clue and realize; I think; we made a mistake and should see what the #1 choice is doing and make a change....but..... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_auMTWA3xeg

    ReplyDelete
  9. Tommy walked all over National Anthem again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Let’s deal with Tommy down the track. The issues right now are ownership and BJ/Video Guy

      Delete
    2. He has no respect for anything and is only interested in making sure he keeps his job

      Delete
    3. Fair to a degree, but ownership and BJ issues are much more important today.

      Delete
  10. What’s the likelihood of them losing from a 2-0 start today? I have Komets in OT 3-2.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Many believe National Anthem respect IS IMPORTANT. But probably not to a control freak.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Four more veterans are willing to go to the veterans and Tommy meeting. I think our group takes us to over twenty attending.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would waste my breath with Tommy he would just gravel at your feet and keep doing it. Hoping for a new broadcaster

      Delete
    2. Y’all need to stop the TD bashing and focus on the ownership and BJ issues. I’m a long time STH and really don’t mind Tommy. I’m not privy to people’s issues with him as a person but I do enjoy the broadcast. As I’ve posted before, I’ve never met him.

      Delete
    3. I’m a long time STM also and I did mind him and the coach.
      I just hope they clean the entire slate if they want true change.

      Delete
    4. Biggest BJ issue I have is too much teeth.

      Delete
  13. Can someone explain to me why Blowie Adams not only drove out all of previous seasons top producers, but also rolls with zero toughness? I get that the team is a large group of kids, but they are still all kids! Good luck going into places like Fort Wayne, Kansas City, Adirondack, etc.. Not only are you going to get out shot/out scored, you’re also going to get the shit kicked out of you physically. This team is unbearable to watch at this point. I feel for this current group of kids it’s not their fault at all, and I feel for the roster of guys that BJ ran off as well. Hate to see the last of minor hockey in Texas go down like this.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Some of you whiners think you are in control of what should be said what not should be said. I feel certain I know some of you from our section.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Getting outshot in the SOG at close to 2.0x is a recipe for disaster. Nothing changes.

    BJ needs to be fired. Should never have been hired to begin with.

    ReplyDelete
  16. If anyone is posting on an ECHL blog, they definitely care. Paying fans should be entitled to an opinion, especially STH. We have invested time, money and emotion into this team. Why would we want to see it collapse with such blatant mismanagement? Some may think this is complaining, but maybe, we just want to win and enjoy the team that we invest in?

    ReplyDelete
  17. Overtime…. Let’s do this!!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Fire BJ Adams immediately and without delay

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 42-23 SOG 😡👀

      Delete
    2. GM will be making changes to help the back line. 🙄

      Delete
    3. Expect multiple trades that make no sense.

      Delete
  19. I posted this on the last blog but it got buried..
    Zawyer is all smoke & mirrors. They get higher profile names to “invest” in what they think is a good product. They sell the “dream” to these what I call idiots. 95% of the owners in the league cannot stand Zawyer. Once they ruin a team & see they can’t handle it, they bail & leave it in shambles. Allen will be worth penny’s on the dollar once this mess is all said & done. Then a real owner will show up. Myles, put the joint down & please fix this dumpster fire or sell the team. It’s time. Stick up to your mom & tell her straight up how it is. Quit putting your tail between your legs & listening to the people who are telling you otherwise. Do what your heart tells you. Ty most of Allen fans

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Realistically, what is the cost to buy and the deficit to fund on an ECHL team?

      Delete
    2. The team was acquired for less than $2m, not much less though. Losses were not carried fwd. The Jack's entity was a new entity.

      Delete
    3. Insane. I could have assembled investors to do this deal: $2 mil doesn’t make you a celeb. Deficit cannot be above $250k before this season.

      I would think you do a buy and then a fans share of equity and build it that way.

      Delete
  20. Depending on the market (city) could be anywhere from $2m-$5m. Now there are a lot of other “things” like will the new owner assume the debt or will the “old” ownership take that on. Buying amount isn’t the issue. To do things the correct way, a yearly budget of $1.5-$2m operating costs. This covers everything from payroll, travel, housing, & the lease with the building. Some teams operate on a shoestring budget but still take care of what needs to be taken care of. Hope this helps

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks. Makes sense. Clearly things are being done on the cheap this season thinking a profit is to be had, which is a newbie mistake. Jacks should sell since they have no idea what they are doing OR let Jonny make all of the decisions. Give him a chance to build a legitimate business.

      Delete
    2. Nothing is going to fix this clusterphuck short of a full organizational enema!

      Delete
  21. There’s no way this team was less than break even before AT&T AVP assumed the helm. Absolutely no business acumen. LJ, please hand it off. Use the tax loss against all of success you have, such as massive book sales.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I think we can all agree Thornton … oof

    ReplyDelete
  23. Please quit talking like anyone know what its like to buy the team, it’s more than just the initial money 🤣 you think buying an ECHL team people do it to make money here in DFW, that even funnier. The team already had one “big talker” act like they could, and couldn’t even make the first 200k payment.
    I’ve also heard you all bitching about ticket prices go up and not wanting to renew. Lol So if you’re really thinking about :remember the city lease,( they won’t work with you) office staff, downstairs staff, players, housing, food travel hotels uniforms helmets equipment advertising etc so. so much more

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lame attempt to justify what you have done LJ/MJ. Avoid the real issues in attempt to put fan concerns in a box.

      Delete
    2. People don’t want to pay an exorbitant amount of money for a bad, minor league hockey team and god help you if you get thirsty during the game or decide you want a new hoody or jersey. Make me want to come to more games.

      Delete