Allen vs Tulsa Preview, MacDonald Suspended, My Rant on All-ECHL Teams, Riley Gill Honored in Reading, Playoff Race, Goalies Used and More

 

The Allen Americans are down to the final two games of the season, playing the Tulsa Oilers tonight and tomorrow night, to conclude the worst season in franchise history. These games are huge for Tulsa who is fighting for a playoff spot. 

 

- Other than playing the spoiler role the Americans need one win to avoid finishing the season with just seven wins at home and end up all alone with the second fewest home wins in the 37 year history of the ECHL. When you consider there have been close to 100 different teams in the 37 year history of the league and the storied Allen franchise could be all alone with the second fewest home wins in a season (7) it is a stark reality. As I have written before, even if Allen ends up with eight home wins the Americans will still be #2 all-time, but will be tied with four other teams. 

- I won't bore you with all of the stats on these games against Tulsa. You can look at the series preview from Wednesday if interested. It is worthwhile restating what Allen accomplished when the Americans beat Tulsa 10 days ago:

Allen scored first

Allen led after the first period

Allen led after the second period

Allen outshot Tulsa

Allen won the special teams battle

Allen got great goaltending

Allen allowed only two goals

 

- The Americans will be without forward Ayden MacDonald tonight because he was suspended by the ECHL for one game yesterday. MacDonald scored Allen's only goal in the 8-1 loss to Tulsa on Wednesday. He took a minor penalty for boarding in the first period. Minor penalties for boarding are not typically reviewed by the league for suspensions (major boarding penalties are automatically reviewed). Any team can submit video of  penalties for review. There is a form time frame for submitting a video and there is also a small fee ($75). When teams submit these videos they usually claim the player was injured and the penalty deserves a suspension. Not sure what happened in the MacDonald case, but the referee only called a minor penalty, the Tulsa player (Solag Backich) did not miss a shift and he scored a power play goal on the penalty that was called. Teams/coaches have different thresholds for submitting videos for review. Some submit very few and others submit many. 

 

- Based on coach Ferguson's post game comments you can expect more changes to the lineup tonight beside Ayden MacDonald. I will post the lineup later today. Colin Jacobs, who has been out injured the last three games, will return to the lineup.

 

- The game on Wednesday was worked by two referees. The game tonight will be worked by one of the two from Wednesday. Austin O'Rourke (#10) will be the referee and the linesmen will be Daniel Barnes (#76) and Michael Miggins (#47). On Wednesday there were 10 penalties, all minor penalties, five against each team. 

 

OTHER COMMENTS

- MY RANT

The ECHL announced its All-ECHL first and second teams yesterday. There are six players selected for each team, three forwards, two defensemen and a goalie. Unfortunately these teams are usually just the leagues top scorers and do not look at stats in depth. In my view the Mountain Division is over represented because it is the great offense, poor defense division. Five of the top 10 teams in the ECHL in goals scored are from the Mountain Division. The bottom three ECHL teams in goals allowed are in the Mountain Division. This is what you end up with when all you look at is points when selecting the teams:

• Five of the six forwards (83%) come from the Mountain Division.
• Of the six forwards selected, the #1, #2, #3, #4 and #5 in points were chosen plus the #1 in goals.
• The defensemen selected are #1, #3, #4, #5 in points. Interesting that #2 in points, Matt Register, who leads all defensemen in assists (51), is #2 among all ECHL players in assists, has a better plus/minus (+28) than the four defensemen selected, was skipped over. I know the three time Kelly Cup champion and three time ECHL Defenseman of the Year is a almost a decade older than the 20 somethings that made the All-ECHL teams, but he should have been selected.

I am not saying those selected are not deserving as they all having outstanding seasons. My point is if the All-ECHL teams are merely a list of the league's top scorers something is missing. When no Eastern Conference forwards are selected to the All_ECHL teams and the best teams in the league play in the  Eastern Conference, something is wrong.  Here is the ECHL press release with all of the details: https://echl.com/news/2025/04/all-echl-first-and-second-teams-announced          

 

- Congrats to Riley Gill who will have a special night tonight at the Reading Royals game. Reading has a Wall of Honor where it recognizes those who have made distinctive contributions to the success of the Royal's organization. Riley will be the 19th inductee to the Wall of Fame and will be honored with a permanent display on the concourse of the arena.

During his career Riley was in three Kelly Cup finals and won all three. Many Allen fans forget his first Kelly Cup (2013) was with Reading. Riley started the season in the SPHL and didn't join the Royals until the end of February. He went on to lead Reading to the Kelly Cup with a playoff GAA of 1.91 and save percentage of .930. His record was 13-3-1 and included four shutouts with two of the shutouts in the finals. For his effort he was named Kelly Cup playoff MVP.

FYI, I say this every year, but it is time to put Riley, the ECHL all-time leader in playoff wins by a goaltender (53), in the Hall of Fame. Maybe Allen should join forces with Reading and make a joint submission to the league. 

Riley Gill - Reading Royals Honoree

 

 - There are two ECHL teams with 100 points, both from the South Division. South Carolina (105 points) and Florida (102 points) are arguably the two best teams in the ECHL. While several other teams (Kansas City, Toledo and Trois Riviéres) have a chance to crack the 100 point milestone this weekend none of those teams have the combination of skill and toughness of South Carolina and Florida. South Carolina is the ECHL #1 team in point percentage (.761), goals for (267), goals against (154) and penalty minutes (1210). A perfect formula for a Kelly Cup champion. The only thing going against the Stingrays is the Brabham Cup curse that says the regular season champion won't win the Kelly Cup. South Carolina can avoid the curse if it loses its final three games (all on the road) and Florida wins its final two games, but that is not likely. 

 

- Everyone knows the regular season doesn't mean much to Florida when it comes to the playoffs. The Everblades have won three straight Kelly Cups after finishing #8, #11 and #3 in the regular season. It looks like Florida will finish #2 in the regular season and the Everblades are #4 in penalty minutes (1110). A South Carolina vs Florida division finals would be epic. Hard to believe one of these teams will be eliminated in the second round of the playoffs. 

 

- Tulsa and Wichita can clinch playoff berths tonight. Wichita has three ways, Tulsa two. Here is how they qualify for the playoffs:

• If Wichita wins and Idaho loses or if Wichita loses in overtime/shootout and Idaho loses in regulation or if Wichita wins and Tulsa loses in regulation.
• If Tulsa wins and Idaho loses or if Tulsa loses in overtime/shootout and Idaho loses in regulation.

 

- There is a full schedule of 14 ECHL games tonight. In addition to Tulsa and Wichita, Worcester can also make the playoffs tonight. Here is the ECHL Today with all of the previews: https://echl.com/news/2025/04/echl-today-april-11

 

 

DID YOU KNOW: Number of goalies used this season by each ECHL team:

 

8: IND, NOR

7: BLM

6: ALN, ORL

5: ADK, GVL, IDH, IA, *KC*, REA, WHL, WIC

4: CIN, JAX, KAL, RC, *SC*, TAH, *TOL*, *TR*, WOR

3: ATL, FLA, FW, MNE, SAV, TUL, UTA 

 

*Division Champions/Leaders