Allen Loses 9-1, Wells and Duarte Injured, Game Recap, Video Highlights, Standings Update, Best ECHL Defenses and More

 

The Allen Americans lost to the Jacksonville Icemen last night by a score of 9-1. It wasn't the worst score of the season. That is reserved for the 9-0 shutout by Kansas in the home opener. The game last night was without a doubt the worst game of the season. In addition to get embarrassed by Jacksonville the Americans lost their best goalie (Dylan Wells) to a lower body injury in the first period and their best player, Mark Duarte, to an upper body injury at the end of the second period.

 

- Allen found out just how good the third place team in the South Division is. Jacksonville is the third best team in its division, but the sixth best team in the ECHL by points and point percentage. In my mind, Jacksonville is the fastest team the Americans have played this season. It was apparent on the rush and  when the Jaguars were in control in Allen's defensive zone. 

- Allen actually had a great start, outshooting Jacksonville 10-1 in the first five minutes of the game. The Americans had a great chance to take the lead on a power play when Jacksonville took penalties at 3:56 and 4:55 of the period. Despite having over a minute of 5-on-3 time Allen couldn't score, missing the net when they did have chances to score. Allen had another power play opportunity later in the period after Jacksonville had taken a 1-0 lead, but once again failed to score. The Icemen had the better opportunities to score on Allen's power plays than the Americans. Jacksonville had at least three shorthanded chances and you could see how much speed the team had on those plays. The Icemen have scored nine shorthanded goals (#2 in the league).

 

- After starting out with a 10-1 shot advantage, the first period ended with Allen outshooting Jacksonville by one shot, 16-15. More importantly the Americans were trailing 2-0 at the end of the first frame. That was definitely a bad sign because Allen's record when trailing after the first period is 2-24-2-0. 

 

- Jacksonville took a 3-0 lead midway through the second period. Forward Olivier Nadeau scored the first three goals to get a pure hat trick and take over the team lead with 20 goals. If you read the blog yesterday or listened to coach Ferguson's pregame interview he talked about controlling Jacksonville's contracted players who are averaging over a point per game. Nadeau is one those players. He is under contract with the Buffalo Sabres. The 22 year old was the fourth round draft choice of the Sabres in 2021. He leads Jacksonville in goals (20) and is second in points (37) despite playing in only 33 games. Nadeau's goals per game average of .606 is the best in the ECHL of all of the 20+ goals scorers. Keep an eye on #68 tonight. He has scored goals in four straight games (six goals) and has nine goals in his last eight games.

 

- The Icemen built a 4-0 lead in the second period before Allen finally got on the scoreboard on Colin Jacobs eighth goal of the season. Jacksonville took a 4-1 lead into the second intermission and the game was over. The Icemen record when leading after the second period is almost unbeatable, 25-0-3-1, so the only question was the final score. 

 

- The third period was a disaster for the Americans. The Icemen scored five goals on 11 shots. Allen scored zero goals on 17 shots. The Americans actually outshot Jacksonville for the game (40-37) and stayed out of the penalty box (one minor penalty), but Jacksonville was clearly the better team. 

 

- After breaking their 12 game losing streak in Tahoe last Sunday there was hope things would turn around for the Americans. After one step forward the team has taken two steps back. With the win Jacksonville extended its point streak to 12 games. Meanwhile Allen's record over the last 14 games fell to 1-11-1-1 (.142).

 

- The challenge tonight for the Americans is huge. It is tough to bounce back from a game like last night. Coach Ferguson met with the season ticket holders after the game and gave an update on the injuries. Wells will likely not be available tonight, he is listed as day to day. There won't be a need for an EBUG as Anson Thornton can be activated from the 14-day injured reserve. Mark Duarte will be out for a while. With eight days off after the Jacksonville series a decision on whether Durate goes on the 14-day IR can be delayed. In addition a few other players are banged up pretty good.

 

- Allen's task tonight is twofold as they need to be much better at both ends of the ice. The defense has been improved the last few games, but the inconsistency has crept back in. The nine goals allowed last night was the second time Allen has given up nine goals in the last month. For the season Allen is #29 in goals allowed (233) which is over 100 more goals allowed than #1 Florida (126).

 

- The offense is every bit of a concern as the defense. Last night Allen scored one goal on 40 shots. Since the beginning of February the Americans have averaged exactly 2.00 goals per game. Allen has scored 138 goals this season. The other seven Mountain Division teams have scored between 170-203 goals.

 

- Many times when the situation looks bleak and almost impossible a big surprise happens. That is they way it looks for tonight. Can Allen pull off that surprise.   

 

- If you want the goal by goal details here are the game recaps from both teams plus video highlights or more appropriately low-lights:

 Allen Americans game recap: https://allenamericans.com/news/2025/03/game-recap-jacksonville-explodes-for-9-1-win-over-the-americans 

Jacksonville Jaguars game recap: https://jacksonvilleicemen.com/news/2025/03/nadeaus-hat-trick-leads-to-icemen-winning-9-1-tying-club-record-in-goals-scored    

Video highlights: https://echl.com/videos/jacksonville-icemen-vs-allen-americans-mar-6-2025   

 

- It will be a two referee game again tonight. Trevor Wohlford (#38) and Hayden Verbeek (#57) will work the game as they did last night. They let the players play last night, calling only five minor penalties with four of the five on Jacksonville. 

 

OTHER COMMENTS

- In the only other ECHL game last night, Rapid City lost in Tahoe 5-4 in a game the Rush had a 46-40 shot advantage. The loss snapped Rapid City's 13 game points streak and was a big setback to its slim chance to make playoffs. Here is a point update on the Mountain Division. Each team's maximum points if they won all remaining games is in parenthesis:

• 77 points - Kansas City (111)
• 70 points - Tahoe (102)
• 70 points - Tulsa (102)
• 67 points - Wichita (101)
• 65 points - Idaho (99)
  
• 55 points - Rapid City (91)
• 45 points - Utah (77)
• 35 points - Allen (70)

 

- If Allen loses tonight and Wichita wins or loses in overtime the Americans will become the first ECHL team to be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. 

 

- There are 12 games on the ECHL schedule tonight. Six of eight Mountain teams are in action. 

• Jacksonville at Allen
• Wichita at Cincinnati
• Idaho at Kansas City
• Tulsa at Utah

Here is the ECHL Today with previews on all 12 games.

 

DID YOU KNOW: The ECHL Stats post today is about the best defensive teams. FYI, Allen is ranked #29 in average goals allowed (4.16) and #28 in average goals scored (2.46)

If defense wins championships the 2025 Kelly Cup will go to one of the six ECHL teams allowing an average of 2.65 or fewer goals per game. Each team’s average goals scored is in parenthesis:

 

2.25- Florida (3.30)

2.34 - South Carolina (3.73)

2.49 - Trois Rivières (3.58)

2.56 - Kansas City (3.55)

2.61 - Jacksonville (3.33)

2.65 - Toledo (3.28)

 

Statistically South Carolina is the best team in the ECHL, ranked #1 in goals scored and #2 in goals allowed.