It is game day for the Allen Americans as the Utah Grizzlies invade the CUTX Event Center for two games. Allen plays Utah 10 times this season with some interesting sequencing. The teams played six times in a row (3 in Utah and 3 in Allen) between November 26 and December 6. After the two games in Allen this weekend, the Americans will make the long haul to Utah for two games at the end of March to complete the 10-game schedule.
- Allen's turnaround after a slow start to the season started when they played Utah six straight games around Thanksgiving. The Americans had lost six straight games (3 to Tulsa, 3 to Idaho) when they rolled into Utah on November 26. The Americans won two of three in Utah, followed by two of three in Allen, and it started the turnaround.
- Here are some comparison stats between Allen and Utah:
- Allen's record is 26-18-4-0, Utah's is 18-25-6-0.
- Allen is 6-4-0-0 over the last 10 games, Utah is 3-4-3-0.
- Allen is 14-7-1-0 at home, Utah is 14-12-2-0 on the road.
- Allen's goal differential is +18 (167-149), Utah's is -16 (167-181).
- Allen's team plus/minus is +20, Utah's is -167.
- Allen's team save percentage is .912, Utah's is .878.
- Here is the more traditional statistical comparison between the two
teams.
- Goals scored average: Allen (3.5) - Utah (3.3)
- Goals allowed average: Allen (3.1) - Utah (3.8)
- Shots for average: Allen (33.3) - Utah (31.7)
- Shots against average: Allen (35.3) - Utah (31.2)
- Power play percentage: Allen (21.2%%) - Utah (22.3%)
- Penalty kill percentage: Allen (84.6%) - Utah (77.6%)
- When you look at the overall stats for Utah, they are very deceiving. The Grizzlies have the worst home record in the ECHL, and it is not even close, 4-13-4-0 (.286). However, Utah has a winning road record of 14-12-2-0 (.536). There isn't a team in the league with a bigger discrepancy between home and road records. Let's take a look at home versus road stats, and you see some of the differences above disappear:
- Goals differential: Allen +20 at home, Utah +4 on the road.
- Power play percentage: Allen 15.7% at home, Utah 23.9% on the road.
- Penalty kill percentage: Allen 88.2% at home, Utah 76.1% on the road.
- Leading after the 1st period: Allen 4-0-0-0 at home, Utah 8-3-2-0 on the road.
- Leading after the 2nd period: Allen 10-0-0-0 at home, Utah 10-1-2-0 on the road.
- Here are some individual stats that will give you players to watch in this series. Players from both teams are in the top 5 in the ECHL in the following stats:
- #1 PP Goals - #59 Tyler Gratton, 9, Utah
- #1 Shots - #26 Danny Dzhaniyev, 204, Utah
- #1 Shooting % - #9 Danny Katic, 27.2%, Allen
- #2 PP Assists - #23 Sam Sedley, 21, Allen
- #2 Goals - #23 Reed Lebster, 28, Utah
- #4 Assists - #67 Hank Crone, 33, Allen
- #4 Assists - #23 Sam Sedley. 33, Allen
- #4 PP Assists - #67 Hank Crone 17, Allen
- #4 PP Points - #23 Sam Sedley 22, Allen
- #4 Shots - #23 Reed Lebster 162, Utah
- Scoring first is a big advantage, especially for Allen. The Americans have scored first in 46% of their games with a record of 17-2-3-0 (.841). When they give up the first goal, the Americans' record is 9-16-1-0 (.365). Utah has scored the first goal in 51% of its games, with a record of 14-9-2-0 (.600).
- If either game goes to overtime, both teams have struggled. Allen is 1-4 in overtime, but is 2-0 in shootouts. The Americans' lone overtime win came last Sunday in Tulsa. Utah is 1-6 in overtime and has not been in a shootout yet this season.
- I won't get the lineup until later today, but here is what I expect:
- Lukas Sillinger, just acquired from Florida, will be in the lineup.
- Andre Anania, just returned from his PTO in Iowa will be in the lineup.
- Ty Prefontaine's suspension has been voided by the ECHL, and he will be in the lineup.
- Matt Register - with the unexpected return of Anania and Prefontaine, my guess is Matt will be behind the bench tonight.
- David Tendeck is available, but has only had a couple of practices. I assume Costantini will get the start in goal.
PLAYER PROFILE - LUKAS SILLINGER
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| Lukas Sillinger |
Lukas Sillinger is a 25-year-old, 5''11", 170-pound, left-shot forward from Regina, Saskatchewan. He played his junior hockey in the BCHL where he had 104 points (43G, 61A) in 146 games. Sillinger played his college hockey at Bemidji State University (2 years) and Arizona State University (3 years). He played in 171 NCAA games and totaled 160 points (51G, 109A). Last season Lukas had 38 points (8G, 30A) and led his team in assists. He was nominated for the Hobey Baker Award in 2023-24 and served as an alternate captain for Arizona State from 2023-25.
To say Lukas comes from a hockey family would be an understatement. His dad, Mike, had an 18-year NHL career with 1,049 games played for 12 different teams. Mike Sillinger still holds the NHL record for being traded nine times in his career.
Lukas' older brother (28), Owen, plays for the AHL Cleveland Monsters, and his younger brother (22), Cole, plays for the NHL Columbus Blue Jackets. Cole was the Blue Jackets' first-round (12th overall) draft pick in 2021. As a 22-year-old, he has already played in 341 NHL games.
If you look at Sillinger's collegiate stats, it is clear he is more of a playmaker than a goal scorer. He had twice as many assists (109) as goals (51) in college.
When you look at scouting and other reports on Lukas, you see the same things over and over again, which include some version of the following:
- His pedigree comes with a high hockey IQ and creative puck play.
- A player who creates space through puck control and decision making rather than explosive skating.
- Effective in tight spots and in one-on-one plays. Good vision, quick release, and able to find teammates and make smart passes.
- Top skills are vision, passing, awareness, and hockey IQ.
Here is a video interview with Lukas just before his final season at Arizona State. You will notice he had a pronounced limp at the time. He eventually had hip surgery, and his recovery caused him to start this season late. He signed with the AHL Iowa Wild in December on a PTO and played five games before being released. He then signed with Florida, where he played seven games before being traded to Allen. Coach Martinson has tracked Lukas since he was the leading scorer at Arizona State.
OTHER COMMENTS
- Every week is important as Allen tries to maintain third place in the Mountain Division with Tahoe, and Wichita nipping at their heels. The Americans will hit the 50 games played mark this weekend with the prospect of three games in Kansas City next week.
- There are 12 games on the ECHL schedule tonight. The Mountain Division match-ups, in addition to Utah at Allen, are Wichita at Kansas City, Worcester at Rapid City, and Idaho at Tahoe. Here is the ECHL Today with all of the previews: https://echl.com/news/2026/02/echl-today-feb-20
- Don't forget that the Allen Americans alumni game will take place before the Allen vs Tulsa game on March 7. Lots of players are returning from the early years and the championship years.
DID YOU KNOW: Here is the ECHL Stats post for today, which is about attendance. FYI, Allen's average attendance is currently 4715. Last season, Allen's average was 4573.
Marty doing Marty things.
ReplyDeleteOne of the best hockey brains in the business.
Sit down, buckle up, and enjoy the rest of the season.
GO RED.
THIS IS SPOT ON! Marty being Marty wheeling and dealing baby!
DeleteWhat is the alumni game?
ReplyDeleteFormer Americans players playing in a pregame game.
DeleteAllen:
ReplyDeleteAdd Andre Anania, D Returned From Loan by Iowa Wild
Add David Tendeck, G Activated from Reserve
Add Ty Prefontaine, D Activated from Team Suspension
Delete Braidan Simmons-Fisher, D Placed on IR 3 Day
Delete Jake Chiasson, F Placed on Reserve