Before I talk about the details of Allen's 5-0 shutout loss in Tulsa yesterday I wanted to share the thoughts I had during and then after the game. I am sure like many of you I was full of excitement after the outstanding three game sweep of Rapid City where Allen set season records for consecutive games won (3) and fewest goals allowed in a three game span (2,1,2). There were high expectations for the game in Tulsa even though the team was exhausted from playing three games in four days and having to travel to Tulsa on game day. When the game turned out the way it did I attributed the loss to team fatigue.
- Then last night it dawned on me maybe the three game sweep of Rapid City was fools gold. Was Allen playing better or was the "improved" play because they were playing one of the worst teams in the league. Early in the season Allen was winning, but most of the wins were against Rapid City and Utah. Once Allen was playing better teams (18 Game Challenge) they did not fare well (3-12-3-0). I decided to look at all of Allen's 43 games this season. Here is Allen's record and point percentage (in parenthesis) against the other Mountain Division teams listed in order of current point percentage from low to high:
- .381 - Rapid City (5-2-0-1, .688)
- .402 - Utah (3-1-1-0, .700)
- .583 - Idaho (0-1-0-0, .000)
- .591 - Wichita (3-5-2-0, .400)
- .614 - Tahoe (0-1-1-0, 000)
- .636 - Tulsa (1-5-2-0, 250)
- .690 - Kansas City (1-5-0-0, 143)
- Games outside division (0-2-1-0, .000)
You add it all together and the Americans record against Rapid City and Utah is 8-3-1-1 (.692). Against everyone else Allen's record is 5-19-6-0 (.267). Another way to state this is 62% of Allen's wins this season have come against Rapid City and Utah.
- Allen has just three games remaining against Rapid City and Utah this season. Actually, none against Rapid City and three against Utah, all on the road. The bottom line is Allen will have to prove it is an improved team against teams it has struggled against and playoff teams from other division (Worcester and Jacksonville).
- Allen was shutout for the fifth time this season in Tulsa yesterday. The 5-0 loss was not the worst shutout of the season. Allen was shutout 9-0 by Kansas City and 6-0 by Indy earlier in the season. Nothing seemed to go right for the Americans. Here are some examples:
- Allen gave up the first goal to one of the best teams in the league when it scores first (18-2-2-1).
- Tulsa outscored Allen in every period (1-0, 2-0, 2-0)
- Tulsa outshot Allen in every period (15-9, 15-8, 17-10) for a total of 47-27.
- Allen was 0-2 on the power play, Tulsa was 1-4.
- Two former Allen players (Tyler Poulsen, Duggie Lagrone) scored goals and Easton Brodzinski contributed an assist.
- Here are the video highlights that only include the five Tulsa goals: https://echl.com/videos/allen-americans-vs-tulsa-oilers-feb-2-2025
- The team will take the day off today and then prepare for Wichita who will be in Allen for games on Friday and Saturday. The good news for Allen, it has played better against Wichita than the other top five Mountain Division teams. (3-5-2-0).
COACH'S COMMENTS
- I had a chance to ask coach Ferguson a few questions that he was kind enough to answer on the trip home to Allen:
Q: How much do you attribute the result today to team fatigue?
A: Well, fatigue shouldn't be used as an excuse. It is the ECHL, three games in three days and four games in five days are part of the gig. However, this is the third time since December 22 Tulsa has caught us on home ice at the back end of a 3-in-3 where we had to travel in. Also, they played on the 25th (Saturday) and not again until playing Wichita at home the last two nights.
It took us 10 minutes to get into the game. They had the jump from the opening faceoff and we were caught watching.
Q: I know Tulsa throws the puck at the net from everywhere, but 44 shots allowed is a lot. Time of possession in your defensive zone seemed off the charts. What is your take?
A: We weren't as clean breaking out as we were in the previous games at home. It was a variety of factors, lack of execution on tape to tape passes, not good enough on the walls where they came away with too many pucks and we couldn't stop the motion in our defensive zone. We did a lot of puck watching and not reacting.
Q: Special teams didn't go your way again. Seems to be a trend. Will you give the PP and PK any more attention than normal at practice this week?
A: Yes, special teams will be a point of emphasis this week. We haven't had a lot of practice time lately, the player's reps have been in games. We will get to work on it this week.
Q: Any other thoughts on the Tulsa game?
A: It was a funny game, they were buzzing early and then we hit three posts from the 10 minute mark to the end of the first period. Puck luck was not on our side. We had a good push early in the second period, but then got hemmed into our zone at the end of the second period and the puck ended up in the back of our net. We took too many stick penalties again, we have to eliminate those.
OTHER COMMENTS
- Goalie Leevi Merilainen was just sent down (loaned) to the AHL Belleville Senators by the NHL Ottawa Senators. His NHL record this season is 8-3-1, GAA 1.99 and .925 save percentage.
- "Best of the Rest" standings:
- .402 - Utah
- .395 - Allen
- .381 - Rapid City
- Allen plays Wichita at home on Friday and Saturday.
- Utah plays at Tulsa Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
- Rapid City plays at Idaho on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
- Spencer Asuchak leads the Allen Americans in goals (17) and power play goals (7). His seven power play goals is tied for fourth in the ECHL. Asuchak also leads the team in shooting percentage (20.5%)
- Goalie Anson Thornton is ranked #14 in the ECHL in minutes played (1337), but is #1 in the league in saves with 878.
- With the loss in Tulsa yesterday, Allen's road winless streak has reached seven games. That is the longest current streak in the league. Allen's last road win was January 4 in Kansas City.
hello barry - it is crazy they make these guys play 3 games in 4 days, then get on a bus the morning of the 5th day, take a road trip, and hit the ice. ECHL needs to change their scheduling and play 10 less games each season. why did that game yesterday need to happen? Tulsa's arena was mostly empty as is the case with Sundays across the league, and both teams were beyond tired. That is how injuries happen a lot. I played in the sphl and we didnt even have this tough of scheduling. Time to cut out some of the mid week and sunday games from this league to protect the players.
ReplyDeleteI demand you expose yourself!…. Your name, that is.
DeleteStart the season 10-14 days earlier.
DeleteNHL starts early October.
Starting Oct 8 (or thereabouts) and running to April 10 is 180 days.
180 days/26 weeks.
Play 2.76 games a week.
Utilizing a Wednesday thru Sunday schedule, seems like there are better options than 4 games in 5 days. Especially when the drive between Allen and Tulsa is 3.5-4hrs.
Some weekends, there will be Fri/Sat/Sun games.
Some weeks, Wed/Fri/Sat or Thu/Sat/Sun
Seems the ECHL needs to think outside the box a little.
Multiple opportunities for better placement of the Tulsa game in the schedule. Probably the influence of Joe Ernst as his final F you to Allen before he left the ECHL.
DeleteThanks, Barry.
ReplyDeleteLove the Merilainen update. He was fun to watch last year when playing for Allen and now this year playing many games at the NHL level. Hope he makes it back up to Ottawa.
I realize we have an affiliation with Utah….but are we really forced to keep Thornton and keep Richardson as a reserve? Thornton clearly needs more work but taking up a roster spot when he get killed hockey-wise when he starts is crazy. Talk about destroying someone’s confidence.
ReplyDeleteOn the flip side, I realize it’s also up to our defense to play better, minimize SOG and win more wall battles. But having to keep two G spots for two affiliation Goalies (rather than play someone who at least shows promise) and one who needs to find another home where he can be productive would seem to be a better approach. I don’t know all the nuances of the behind the scenes so any reasonable insights are welcome.
SOG ratio has been a problem all season.
DeleteCoaching has been a problem all year as well. The current "answer" has only beaten one team that is just as bad as Allen.
DeleteFrom Barry’s blog… - Goalie Anson Thornton is ranked #14 in the ECHL in minutes played (1337), but is #1 in the league in saves with 878.
ReplyDelete26 - 4.26 .892 95 783 0 2-15-7
Delete26 GP
4.26 GAA
0.892 save %
95 Goals Against
783 saves
0 Shutouts
2-15-7 2 Wins, 15 Losses, 7 Ties/OT
Hardly compelling …..
Luke Richardson
Delete9 GP
3.18 GAA
0.916 save %
25 Goals Against
273 Goals Saved
0 Shutouts
3-4-0 record
Dylan Wells
Delete12 GP
3.35 GAA
.915 Save %
38 Goals Against
409 Saves
0 Shutouts
7-3-1 record
I’m hearing the season renewal push and subsequent success of this eliminated calls for capital contributions.
ReplyDeleteGood news for Myles Jack, Rodd Newhouse, Megan Hayward and Zane Shartz, owners of your Allen Americans.
Still can’t believe Gulati sold Shartz a percentage of this team. Unbelievable.
LOL! For how long? The financial demise of this franchise is quickly approaching
Delete