Allen Suffers Another Big Loss, Game Recap, Video Highlights, Coach's Comment, Today's Preview, Jersey Auction Results, Playoff Race and More

 

A good start by Allen turned into a blowout as the desperate Idaho Steelheads beat the Americans 7-3. With the win, Idaho closed to within one point of a playoff spot, having one game in hand over fourth-place Wichita.

 

- The first period went well for the Americans despite being outshot 19-10. Allen scored the first goal of the game and scored two goals on its first seven shots. Allen had a 2-1 lead after the first period. 

 

- The wheels came off for Allen in the second period, as has happened all too often this season. The Americans lead the league in second period goals allowed, with 98. The ECHL average for goals allowed in the second period is 70. Idaho tied the score 2-2 just 54 seconds into the second period and then rattled off two more with in 82 seconds (3:16 & 4:38) to make the scored 4-2. The Steelheads added a fourth goal late in the period to take a commanding 5-2 lead into the second intermission. Given Idaho's record when leading after the second period was 24-0-1-0 (.980) with any lead, it was clear the game was over at that point.

 

-  The Steelhead won the third period, outshooting Allen 11-5 and outscoring the Americans 2-1 to make the final score 7-3. It was the 10th time this season Allen has allowed seven or more goals. 

- Goal scorers for Allen were Tyler Burnie (6), Ayden MacDonald (8) and Brayden Watts (18). It was Watt's first goal since February 16. It was Burnie's first goal since joining Allen and MacDonald's second. Here are the video highlights: https://echl.com/videos/idaho-steelheads-vs-allen-americans-apr-4-2025 

- Here are the game recaps from both teams:

• Allen Americans: https://allenamericans.com/news/2025/04/game-recap-americans-three-game-point-streak-comes-to-an-end
• Idaho Steelheads: https://idahosteelheads.com/news/2025/04/nick-canade-and-patrick-moynihan-score-twice-in-victory-7-3 

 

- Here are some random stats about the game last night  and the five games Allen has played Idaho this season:

• Allen is 0-5-0-0 against Idaho this season.
• Allen was outshot in every period last night.
• Allen's 23 shots last night were the fewest against Idaho this season.
• Idaho's 43 shots last night were the most against Allen this season.
• Allen scored first last night, the only time this season that has happened.
• Allen was 0-1 on the power play last night and is 0-14 against Idaho this season. 
• Allen has been outscored 26-7 in the five games against Idaho.
• Allen has been outshot 197-150 in the five games against Idaho. The Americans have been outshot in every game. 
• Allen's three goals last night was the most against Idaho this season, the other four games were 2,0,0,2.
• The line of Westcott-Kane-Morrison has been on fire.
  
• Jared Westcott has eight points (4G, 4A) in the last six games.
• Noah Kane has eight points (1G, 7A) in the last six games
  
• Brad Morrison has 10 points (2G, 8A) in the last four games. 

- Allen has scored seven goals in five games against Idaho, which makes it clear for Allen to win tonight the game is unlikely to be 5-4. Allen needs to hold Idaho to three or fewer goals and manage to scratch out three or four themselves. A good start like last night is almost a must, but keeping the lead is even more important. A reminder of how Idaho plays with the lead. 

• When scoring first, 24-3-6-1 (.809). 
• Leading after the 1st period, 18-1-2-0 (.905).
• Leading after the 2nd period, 25-0-1-0 (.981).

 

- Special teams weren't much of a factor last night. Up until the scrum with 44 second remaining in the game that resulted in three minor penalties, the referee, Tyler Hascall (#8) had called only three penalties the entire game. Hascall will be the lone referee again tonight. The linesmen will be Daniel Barnes (#76) and Kyle Gaspari (#67). 

 

- I had a chance to talk to coach Ferguson after the game and this captures in a nutshell what happened last night after the Americans took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission. "Between the first and second period we talked about where we got our success. It was laying pucks behind their defense, going in and get them back. We were winning races to pucks, we were winning battles for pucks and that is how we got our offensive zone time. Then to start the second period we had four straight rushes when we turned the puck over right inside the blue line and they scored three goals."

 

OTHER COMMENTS

- If you look across the ECHL, teams that score first have a .747 point percentage on a record of 669-187-90-29. The range is from a high (South Carolina) of .930 on a record of 39-2-1-1 to a low (Allen) of .500 on a record of  10-10-5-3. 

- The Mountain Division playoff picture got even tighter last as Tulsa and Idaho won while and Tahoe and Wichita lost. I mention Tahoe as the Knight Monsters have lost three straight and fallen back a bit to the group of three fighting for two playoff spots. Here are spots two thru five by points with games remaining:

• 85 points: Tahoe - Utah on the road, then three games at home against Wichita.
• 82 points: Tulsa - Idaho at home, then three games on the road in Allen.
• 81 points: Wichita - Allen at home, then three games on the road in Tahoe.
• 79 points: Idaho - Allen and Tulsa on the road, then three games at home against Kansas City.  

If my math is correct any of these four teams could finish in second place and any could miss the playoffs. Tonight Tahoe is at Utah and Idaho is at Allen. Tulsa and Wichita are idle and have a big advantage as Allen plays at Wichita tomorrow (2:05 pm) and Idaho plays at Tulsa (3:05 pm).

 

- The Allen Americans auctioned off the game jerseys (black) after the game last night. Not sure if the word got out as it was the smallest crowd I have ever seen for a jersey auction. Here are the results (Thanks, Kristi). The auction included the players black jersey and black helmet (except Biscuit and goalies no helmet). 

• $700 - Duarte
• $600 - Kane
• $550 - Asuchak
  
• $550 - Brassard
• $550 - Richardson
  
• $550 - Fraser 
• $550 - Kulakov
  
• $500 - Matikka
• $500 - Johnson
  
• $500 - Biscuit
• $450 - Watts
• $450 - Powell 
• $400 - Gorman
  
• $400 - Westcott
• $350 - Blaisdell
  
• $350 - Morrison
• $350 - Jacobs 
• $350 - Warmuth
  
• $350 - Burnie
  
• $350 - Van Unen
  
• $350 - Wilson 
• $350 - Perepeluk
  
• $350 - Gavin
• $350 - MacDonald
• $350 - LeDonne
  
• $300 - Isaacson
  
• $300 - Nault
• $275 - Gildon
• $250 - Myskiw
  
• $250 - Thornton

 

- Alex Ovechkin tied Wayne Gretzky's all time goal total of 894 last night. It is striking how similar their stats are with one big exception. Ovechkin will be the greatest goal scorer of all-time, but Gretzky is the greatest point scorer of all time:

• Both have 894 goals.
• Both have played 20 years.
• Gretzky has 1487 games played, Ovechkin 1486.
• Gretzky has 1963 assists, Ovechkin 724.
• Gretzky has 2857 points, Ovechkin 1618.
• Gretzky's point per game average is 1.92, Ovechkin's is 1.09. 

- South Carolina hasn't lost a game in over a month. The Stingrays have won 13 straight games and can move into the top ten all time if they beat Orlando at home tonight. Still a long way from the all time record of 23 consecutive wins which South Carolina set in 2014-15, going 50 days without losing a game. FYI,  in 2015, South Carolina lost in the Kelly Cup finals in seven games to the Allen Americans.

 

- There are 13 games on tap around the ECHL tonight. Here is the ECHL Today with all of the previews: https://echl.com/news/2025/04/echl-today-april-5

 

DID YOU KNOW: So much for all the young guys, these ECHL veterans are getting it done this season: 

 

Matt Register - The 36 year old, approaching 850 pro games played, three time Kelly Cup champion, three time Defenseman of the Year, leads all ECHL defensemen with 48 assists.

 

Brandon Hawkins - The 30 year old, with 341 ECHL games played, reigning ECHL MVP, leads the ECHL in points by 12 points. Hawkins has 86 points (36G, 50A).

 

Cam Johnson - The 30 year old, who has won the last 3 Kelly Cups and has played in 264 ECHL games (regular season and playoffs) leads all ECHL goalies in wins (35) and has 11 more than any other goalie. He also leads the league in GAA at 1.91.