Allen Loses in Shootout, Game Recap, Video Highlights, Coach's Comments, Tonight's Preview and More

 

Given how close Allen and Rapid City are statistically and the fact the three previous times they have played this season were one goal games, it was no surprise the game last night was another one goal game. Neither team lead by more than a single goal. The final outcome was a 4-3 shootout win for Rapid City. It was an entertaining game given it was between the last place teams in the ECHL. Since both teams earned points and Utah lost to Wichita, the battle for the "Best of the Rest" now has Utah in last place:

• .382 -Rapid City
  
• .368 - Allen 
• .365 - Utah 

 -  One of the keys to the game was being ready from the opening puck drop and Allen certainly was. Kyle Crnkovic scored his ninth goal of the season just 74 seconds after the opening puck drop. Allen's 1-0 lead lasted until late in the first period (16:45) when Rapid City scored on the power play. The Americans got the lead back just 43 seconds after the Rush tied the score 1-1. Quinn Warmuth scored his second goal of the season assisted by Brayden Watts and J.C. Brassard. For Watts it was his ninth straight road game with an assist which is the longest road assist streak in the ECHL this season.

 

- Allen took its 2-1 lead into the first intermission which was a good sign given the Americans record when leading after the first period on the road was 4-1-1-0. However, as has happened so often this season, the second period was the difference maker. There were two goals scored in the second period, both by Rapid City and the Rush took a 3-2 lead into the second intermission. That was definitely not a good sign for the Americans given their record when trailing after the second period was 1-17-2-0.

 

- Allen dominated the third period outshooting Rapid City 17-7, but had trouble getting the equalizer. Allen had 50 seconds of 5-on-3 power play time and managed just one shot. It really looked bleak for the Americans when they took a penalty with 2:36 remaining in the game. Allen did a good job killing the penalty and just one second after the penalty expired Brayden Guy scored with 34.5 seconds remaining to send the game to overtime.

- Both teams had great opportunities to end the game in overtime. There were a total of 12 shots in the overtime period (5 Allen, 7 Rapid City). You rarely see 12 shots in overtime with no goals scored. The shootout was the first this season for Allen and the fourth for Rapid City (they were 0-3). Rapid City went first in the shootout and scored, which put the pressure on the Americans. Allen sent out Polino, Crnkovic and Watts but all were stopped. 

- Allen outshot Rapid City 39-37. It was just the fourth time all season the Americans have outshot the opponent. The 39 shots were also the highest total of the season. 

- The difference in the game turned out to be special teams. One of the keys to the game was special teams had to be special. As coach Ferguson told me, "We need to end up plus on the score sheet on special teams to give us a chance to win." Allen had a better power play percentage (21.2% vs 14.5%) and a better penalty kill percentage (79.5% vs 78.6%) than the Rush. Allen lost the special teams battle. The Americans were 0-4 on the power play which included almost a minute of 5-on-3 time. Rapid City was 1-3 on the power play. 

- Here are the game recaps from both teams with more details plus the video highlights:

Allen Americans game recap: https://allenamericans.com/news/2025/01/americans-fall-in-a-shootout-4-3 

Rapid City Rush game recap: https://rapidcityrush.com/news/2025/01/game-recap-rush-defeats-americans-in-shootout

Video highlights: https://echl.com/videos/allen-americans-vs-rapid-city-rush-jan-24-2025

 

 COACH FERGUSON'S COMMENTS

- I had a chance to swap messages with coach Ferguson after the game. Here is what he had to say:

"We got off to a good start. Scoring early in the game is a great boost."

"I liked the way we were playing off the puck too in the first period, always on the right side of the puck, finishing checks and closing gaps."

"They seamed us on that power play goal and Bennett isn't going to miss those. That being said, we had a big kill late in the third period to set up the tying goal."

"Unfortunately our power play had some looks, including a post, that could have been the difference maker, but that is the way the puck bounces sometimes."

"A couple of hiccups with the puck in our own zone in the second period ended up in the back of our net."

"I loved the effort in the third period with 17 shots on goal and many grade A chances. Their goalie stood tall until we were finally able to get one past him late in the game."

"The goalies put on a performance in overtime. Wells stopped two breakaways before we even got to the shootout."

"I loved their effort tonight and the never out of the fight attitude. We will be ready to bounce back tomorrow.."

GAME TWO PREVIEW

- Allen's losing streak has reached six games, but the Americans have earned points in three of the six on a record of 0-3-2-1. You get the feeling they are close to breaking out of this slump and if they continue to play like they did in the third period last night and capitalize on their special teams advantage, tonight could be a win. 

- Rapid City tends to have forwards that cheat for offense and fly the zone, a trade mark of a Chad Costello coached team. Allen has to be aware of this and limit the odd man rushes. Coach Ferguson mentioned the team has to manage the puck better at both bluelines. It cost the Americans two goals last night when they didn't execute plays to get the puck out of the zone. 

 

    

OTHER COMMENTS

- Allen lost last night despite scoring the first goal of the game. While scoring first is a huge advantage considering across the ECHL teams that score first win 74% of the points, not the case for Allen. The Americans are the only team in the league with a losing record when they score first. Allen has scored first in 50% (19-38) of its games and has a record of 6-8-4-1 (.442).

- There is a full schedule of 14 games on tap in the ECHL tonight. Here is the ECHL Today with all of the previews: https://echl.com/news/2025/01/echl-today-jan-25 

 

- I have referenced the story I did about Brett Ferguson when he first arrived in Allen several times but not sure if I have ever reposted it. If you haven't read this story I encourage you to do so. He has been much more than a video coach. Plus a video coach at the NHL level is a vital part of the coaching staff. Brett also spent time behind the bench as an assistant coach when he was in San Diego and one of his responsibilities was the power play. Running an AHL power play is a significant experience. Anyone who says coach Ferguson is just a video coach doesn't understand the depth and breadth of his experience: https://allenamericansblog.blogspot.com/2024/09/meet-allen-americans-assistant-coach.html

- On his broadcast tonight Tommy Daniels mentioned Allen's first year as a franchise (2009-10) when the Americans went to the championship finals before losing to Rapid City. Scott Wray scored the championship winning goal with with 39.2 seconds left in double overtime. Wray's #17 jersey is retired and hanging in the rafters in Rapid City. Tommy mentioning Wray got me wondering what he is doing today. After many years as an assistant in the OHL (Ontario Hockey League) for the North Bay Battalion he was selected as the head coach of the Owen Sound Attack of the OHL for the 2024-25 season. 

DID YOU KNOW: The ECHL Stats post today shows just how far the bottom three teams in the Mountain Division are out of the playoffs. Rapid City is 19 points from a playoff spot, Allen 20 points and Utah 21 points. These are the widest gaps in the league:

Which ECHL division is most competitive from top to bottom by point percentage? 

 

North

.757 - Wheeling

.412 - Adirondack

.345 - difference

 

Central

.688 - Toledo

.389 - Kalamazoo

.299 - difference

 

Mountain

.654 - Tahoe

.365 - Utah

.289- difference

 

South

.737 - Florida

.459 - Greenville

.278 - difference

 

Here is the point difference between the last place team in each division and the final playoff spot (4th place).

21 points - Mountain Division

13 points - South Division

10 points - North Division

9 points - Central Division