It is game day for the Allen Americans as they continue their five game series against Rapid City. Allen lost 4-3 in a shootout in game one, lost 8-4 in game two and won 3-2 in game three. As important as the 3-2 win on Wednesday was to snap the Americans seven game losing streak, if Allen doesn't followup with another win tonight, they will lose the series and gain no ground in escaping last place. As a reminder, the three worst teams in the ECHL by point percentage reside in the Mountain Division and Allen is the worst of the three at .375.
- Here is the good news and bad news from the first three games of the series:
- Allen is ranked #22 in average shots per game (27.93), but in this series they have had 39 (season high), 36 and 35 shots. A big improvement.
- Allen is dead last in the ECHL in average shots allowed (39.43). Rapid City had 37, 39 and 46 shots in the first three games (40.66 average).
- Allen killed six of seven penalties in the win on Wednesday, but have given up a power play goal in all three games of this series. Rapid City is 4-13 (30.8%) on the power play.
- Allen's power play on the season is better than Rapid City's (20.2% vs 16.2%), but Allen is just 1-10 (10%) on the power play.
- Allen came back from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits on Wednesday, took the lead midway through the second period and never relinquished it.
- In game one of the series Allen gave up 1-0 and 2-1 leads and scored with 35 seconds remaining in the game to send it to overtime. They ended up losing in a shootout.
- Allen's save percentage was .957 in the win on Wednesday, .917 in the shootout loss in game one and .794 in the 8-4 loss in game two.
- The team with the lead after the second period won all three games of this series. It is close to a guarantee the team trailing after the second period will lose. The Americans have one win all season when trailing after the second period, Rapid City has none. Allen's record when trailing after the second period is 1-18-2-1, Rapid City's is 0-20-3-0.
- Here were the keys to the game from Wednesday. Allen won the game despite missing several of the keys. Here is how the Americans performed against the keys. It is doubtful Allen can win again tonight if the Americans need the goalie to stop 44 of 46 shots:
- Good starts, don't play from behind. (Allen gave up the first goal and came from behind twice)
- Win
the special teams battle. Allen has the better power play despite the
poor showing in Rapid City. Take advantage on special teams. (Allen lost the special teams battle)
- Do a better job on breakouts. (Team achieved this key)
- Protect the offensive and defensive blue lines and avoid turnovers. (Did okay)
- Get good goaltending. (Great goaltending. Wells save percentage was .957)
- Stay out of the penalty box. (big fail, Allen had four power plays, Rapid City had seven).
- After listening to coach Ferguson and defenseman Artyom Kulakov after the game on Wednesday, I would add physical play to the keys for the game tonight. As Steve Martinson used to say, a pack of wolves is better than one lion. Allen needs to play like a pack of wolves tonight.
- Here are coach Ferguson's keys to the game:
- Power play has to be a difference maker and not a momentum sucker.
- Clean up the chances around our net. Wells will make the first save. We need to help out around the blue paint.
- Home ice advantage. We haven't played a Friday night at home in a while. We need to be ready to go from the puck drop and get the crowd behind us.
- Allen didn't give up a goal to Rapid City in the last 37 plus minutes of the game on Wednesday despite facing 40 shots in the final two periods and killing off four power plays in the thirds period. The changes coach Ferguson has made since taking over the team is to win more games with 3-2 scores. It is obviously a work in progress for a team that has allowed and average of 4.13 goals per game this season. Only Utah (4.23) has a worse average in the ECHL. If the Americans can hold the Rush to fewer then four goals tonight that would be a success.
- The game tonight is one of the 18 home games (50%) that will have two referees. Logan Gruhl (#29) and Tyler Hascall (#8) will work the game. Based on the Allen games theses referees have worked this year (alone or with another referee) they have called an average of seven penalties per game, so maybe more of a let them play style. As for the total penalties tonight you would have to take the over on seven penalties given Allen and Rapid City are playing for the fourth straight time and the physical play has been ramping up.
- I won't get the lineup until this afternoon but based on some of the comments coach Ferguson has made you can expect to see some lineup changes for the game tonight or tomorrow night. Forward Kamerin Nault (#11) and defenseman Jay Powell (#3) will both add to the physical game Allen is looking to play.
OTHER COMMENTS
- Coach Ferguson has said there is a possibility a player in Europe could end up in Allen. Nothing is imminent, but like all ECHL teams, conversations are taking place. It is difficult for teams like Allen to attract players from Europe, because they prefer to sign with teams at the top of the standings with a chance for a deep playoff run. However, sometimes relationships with a coach or player can sway a player to come to a team with little chance of making the playoffs. That is what would need to happen for Allen to attract a player from overseas and they would have to be the right fit for the Americans. The bottom line is it is doubtful Allen will sign a player from Europe, but not impossible. The deadline for players to return from Europe is approaching fast, February 17.
- The average ECHL attendance stands at 4814 with a range of 8976 at the top (Jacksonville) and 1583 at the bottom (Iowa). Allen's average is 4417. The ECHL average attendance last season was 4981. ECHL attendance always increases as the season progresses so it is likely the average attendance will surpass last season by the end of this season.
- If you follow the comments on the blog (I recommend you don't) you will see a constant dialogue (ad nauseam) about what should or will happen with the Allen coaching vacancy at the end of the season. I avoid getting involved in these many comments about how good or bad every coach is. Being a stat/fact guy I wanted to share this stat that I have shared before, not to change minds but to get the record straight. I think all would agree the goal of every team is to make the playoffs. Many teams (not in Allen) consider a season making the playoffs as a success.
Chad Costello coached two seasons in Allen and finished #2 and #4 in the Mountain Division during the regular season. He lost in the second round of the Kelly Cup playoffs in 2023 and the first round in 2024. How many coaches made the ECHL playoffs in 2023 and 2024 and won at least one playoff round. The total number is seven. If you have done better in the playoffs than 21 of your 28 peers I would say that is success.
- It is a full schedule around the ECHL tonight with 28 teams in action including all eight Mountain Division teams. If Allen wins and Utah loses the Americans will pass both Utah and Rapid City in points percentage and move into sixth place in the division.
- Rapid City at Allen
- Tahoe at Kansas City
- Wichita at Tulsa
- Idaho at Utah
DID YOU KNOW: The ECHL Stats post today is about the hottest teams in the league. FYI, Allen is 3-4-2-1 in the last 10 games and 3-9-2-1 (.300) in the last 15 games.
Hottest ECHL teams the last 10 games. Record in last 13 games plus point percentage is in parenthesis:
7-1-0-2: South Carolina (9-1-1-2, .808)
7-2-1-0: Cincinnati (10-2-1-0, .808)
7-2-1-0: Orlando (9-3-1-0, .731)
Other Hot Teams
- Trois Rivières is only 6-3-0-1 in the last 10 games, but 10-3-1-1 (.767) in the last 15 games.
- Florida is only 6-2-1-1 in the last 10 games, but 12-3-2-1 (.750) in the last 18 games.
- Toledo is only 5-3-2-0 in the last 10 games, but 12-4-3-0 (.710) in the last 19 games.
Chad Costello = winner, on and off the ice. Make it happen Myles. Stats don’t lie.
ReplyDelete👍🏻
I've been a STH for 10 years, loved Marty, wasn't an initial fan to replace Marty with Costello, but warmed pretty quick to liking Costello. He was approachable, personable and understood hockey at a high level. He overcame what I perceived as obstacles early on and like most, I was shocked he would be fired. From an initial standpoint of not being a fan of the change from Marty, Chad won me over. He should come back, and this ownership group needs to figure out how to get it done. He is a proven winner as a player and coach, no one can dispute that. Beating 21 of your peers out of a field of 28 deems you a winner in my eyes. Chad has a lot of fans in the house as you will see tonight and tomorrow.
DeleteI'd like to know what lead to the decision to fire Chad Coostello, and who exactly was responsible for making that decision.
ReplyDeleteI'm a little shocked to see that the average attendance is ~4400
We elected to not renew our season tickets after more than 15 years and in hindsight I'm very glad we made that decision, I assumed that the increase in prices coupled with the decrease in on Ice product and season ticket holder benefits would have led to a much lower number.
Hopefully the Americans can get back to their winning ways, but that's not going to happen if the same people are making the decisions in the future, that made them in the past to fire Chad in the first place.
Losing a 15 year STH is at massive detriment to the club. I am happy you've stated this, and hopefully Myles and LJ understand it wasn't just you, but many others, and many more to follow for 25/26.
DeleteHere is a great post from the blog, which should solidify Chad's numbers, results, and the overwhelming opinion the decision was bad.
http://allenamericansblog.blogspot.com/2024/05/why-was-chad-costello-let-go-by-allen.html
Joe Ernst was the reason he was fired.
DeleteThat is not the attendance - it includes the number of tickets "printed" and/or "given away".
DeleteI think it has been well known that Joe Ernst made the decision to fire Chad and do away with everything traditional and good about this franchise. Whether it is a personal agenda or stupidity, he is the one that made that happen. Just like rumor has it he recently reached out to the owner of Rapid City to trash Chad and tell them he was the worst thing to ever happen to Allen and shouldn't hold a coaching position anywhere in the league. Just think how much power he will hold when the name changes from the ECHL to the ZHL... since they are going to soon have a monopoly in this league. But the bigger question is: How dumb are the folks at Zawyer to have Joe Ernst working in such a top level capacity?
ReplyDeleteResearch the owner - tells you everything you need to know - complete loser
DeleteLegit question, if you were about to start a company and you could hire the best of the best, would Joe Ernst even come up? ... thought so.
DeleteNow, if you already ran a company, and you were looking to hire for open positions, any position in the company, would Joe Ernst get consideration for any of those positions? ... thought so.
The fact Myles has separated from both REV and ZAWYER speaks volumes as to what he saw. He drank the KoolAid hard and fast, but Myles is smart enough to identify mistakes and fix them.
The big question is, has he reached out to Costello to admit fault for listening to Zawyer, and tried making amends for the bad decisions? Next question is, if he has, has an offer been tabled for 25/26 ... that needs to be done.
While you make some valid points, most of the comments like this are stated with the final result of making Chad an offer. The bigger question is: Would Chad even consider an offer after the way he was treated at the end? If this was your job and you were publicly treated this way and fired, would you consider an offer to return? I think most of us subscribe to the "screw me once" philosophy.
DeleteAsk yourself: Even if he would consider a return, as Chad the BEST option for coach of this franchise? I know he is a fan favorite and the most cherished player ever but, is he the best option to coach?
Yes, he did amazing with what he had to work with and as much as I would love to see him return, I don't know if there might be a better option out there somewhere. I would prefer to work off the assumption that he would not wish to return and so move on to Plan B.... the next best person and the best option in a coach to return this team to consistent winning ways.
Chad is a winner. If Myles is honest, and is genuine with Chad, you better believe Chad would come back if he could see the vision and there is open and honest talk.
DeleteI think everything is different today than March-May of 2024.
This ^^^^^^^^
DeleteJoe Ernst shoud be served with a cease and desist letter ASAP!
ReplyDeleteHe has already made numerous phone calls to other teams Presidents/affiliates/owners etc
If true, he should be reported to the ECHL ethics line.
Deletehttps://echl.com/pages/echl-integrity-reporting
Additionally, email Ryan Crelin with a cc to the ECHL.
rcrelin@echl.com
echl@echl.com
The integrity of the league, its executives, current or former, or the executives of ECHL teams and ownership groups should never be called into question. NEVER.
It's absolutely 100 fact, doubt he'd do anything since Joe used to work in the ECHL. Boys club bull$hip
DeleteIf I were Myles Jack, you had better believe I would hire Costello just to piss off Joe Ernst. I'd also put Costello's signature and name on the ice and rename it the Chad Costello Ice at CUTX Event Center.
DeleteHere is a good read of the Non Profit ECHL.
ReplyDeletehttps://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/541472984/202423549349301557/full
$4m in expansion fees ....
$100k per team in league "dues"
https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/541472984/202223439349300207/full
All publicly avail info folks.
One has to think a league with $4-$6m in turnover would certainly be concerned about any allegations allegedly where a former executive and apparently current executive within an ownership group would be “allegedly” possibly “tampering”. I’d hope the comments and allegations are simply false.
DeleteYou would think so right? sadly no
DeleteAny idea what POWER PLAY HOCKEY USA INC does?
DeletePlayer development. Do a Google search using those exact words.
DeleteWhen is RED KINGDOM coming back? It's waaaaaaaay overdue.
ReplyDeleteAgreed
DeleteNo kidding. Use Red Kingdom as intro and use Come Together at another point in the game.
DeleteThe Come Together into is horrible. It’s a horrible song first of all. Second, they have a cheesy, crumpled foil background and it’s just lame overall.
DeleteRed Kingdom is and always will be the greatest intro for this team. Just update the video.
100% agree. ^^^^^
DeleteNo chit Sherlock - it's a for-profit with the non-profit - who owns it??? Who controls it?
ReplyDeleteControl/Ownership - each team is a director (owner) and has equal ownership, hence the dues of $100k per year. This also is validated by them voting against a water having control and ownership of the Americans.
DeleteManagement - Ryan Crelin, who at $300-400k salary, receives approximately 8-10% of revenue 🤔
*Zawyer
Delete