The Allen Americans shut out the Rapid City Rush 3-0 last night before a crowd of 6144 at the CUTX Event Center. There are not many games where every key is met, but that was the case last night. Here is a list of the stats from the game:
- Allen has won 12 of its last 14 home games. The Americans' home record is 12-4-1-0 (.735). That is the 4th-best home points percentage in the league.
- Allen scored the first goal of the game and improved its record when scoring first to 14-2-3-0 (.816).
- Allen shut down Rapid City's power play (0-4). Allen has killed 28 straight Rapid City power plays and hasn't allowed a power play goal in the last seven games against the Rush.
- Allen's played great team defense, recording its fourth shutout of the season. All three Allen goalies have a shutout (Tendeck has 2).
- Allen led 2-0 after the second period and improved its record when leading after the 2nd period to 15-0-1-0.
- Allen outshot Rapid City 24-3 in the second period. The differential of 21 shots is the largest in memory.
- Sam Sedley scored a goal and now has a point in 10 straight games. The longest ECHL point streak this season is 11.
- Colby McAuley scored Allen's second shorthanded goal of the season. The Americans' penalty kill unit allowed no goals (0-4) and scored one.
- Braidan Simmons-Fischer acquitted himself quite well in a fight with Garrett Klotz.
- Goal scorers for Allen were Sam Sedley (6), Colby McAuley (15), and Spencer Asuchak (10). Here are the video highlights with all the goals, the fight, the scrums, and the saves: https://echl.com/videos/rapid-city-rush-vs-allen-americans-jan-31-2026
- Here are the game recaps from both teams:
- Allen Americans - "Americans Blank Rush 3-0" -https://allenamericans.com/news/2026/01/americans-blank-rush-3-0
- Rapid City Rush - "Rush Blanked in Allen"- https://rapidcityrush.com/news/2026/01/game-recap-rush-blanked-in-allen
- It is a quick turnaround for both teams with an early start (2:10 pm) today for the third game of the series. It was almost 11:00 pm when I left the rink last night, and the players were just getting off the ice after the skate with fans. Based on last night's shutout, you will see the same lineup today, except for the goalie. Tendeck will start in goal, and Costantini will be the backup.
Forwards
67 Crone - 7 Hargrove - 92 McAuley
26 Asuchak - 29 Watts - 18 Blaisdell 9 Katic- 91 Gildon - 11 Chiasson
19 Maxwell - 14 Gursoy - 6 Simmons-Fischer
Defense
86 Anania - 40 Touré
8 Prefontaine - 23 Sedley
2 Warmuth - 3 Greco
Goalies
32 Tendeck
33 Costantini (backup)
- More of the same from last night is the key to victory today. Three games in about 46 hours will test the will as much as the skill. The good thing is that it is the same for both teams. A good start will be very important today.
- Here is the game preview issued by the Allen Americans this morning: https://allenamericans.com/news/2026/02/game-day-preview-americans-host-rush-at-210-pm
- The same referee as the first two games of the series, Emile Charron (#43), will
call the game. The linesmen will be Michael Miggins (#47) and Trent
Williams (#48). There were nine total penalties called in game one and 14 last night. You would think there would be even more penalties this afternoon, but oftentimes that isn't the case. I would bet the under on 14 penalties being called today.
OTHER COMMENTS
- Here are the Mountain Division standings by points percentage, with games remaining in parentheses:
- .775 - Kansas City (32)
- .695 - Idaho (31)
- .600 - Allen (32)
- .571 - Tahoe (30)
- .513 - Wichita (34)
- .463 - Rapid City (32)
- .405 - Utah (30)
- .321 - Tulsa (33)
- I have been posting about the number of players who have reached the 20 and 30 points plateau. Allen leads all teams in both categories. Here is another one where Allen's depth shines. Allen also leads the ECHL with the most players with 10 or more goals. Here is the number for each Mountain Division team:
- 7 - Allen
- 6 - Tahoe
- 5 - Idaho
- 5 - Kansas City
- 5 - Rapid City
- 4 - Utah
- 2 - Wichita
- 2 - Tulsa
- Here are the Allen players averaging a point per game over the last 10 games:
- 15 points (4G, 11A) - Hargrove
- 14 points (4G, 10A) - Crone
- 14 points (4G, 10A) - Watts
- 14 points (4G, 10A) - Sedley
- 12 points (1G, 11A) - Blaisdell
- 10 points (3G, 7A) - Asuchak
- There are 11 games on the ECHL schedule today. Seven of the eight Mountain Division teams will be in action. Utah is idle. Here is the ECHL Today with all of the previews:https://echl.com/news/2026/02/echl-today-feb-1
DID YOU KNOW: Number of players with 30 or more points for each ECHL team:
6: ALN
5: *ATL*
4: FW, *KC*
3: ORL, SC, TAH, *TOL*, WIC
2: BLM, CIN, IDH, RC, UTA, *WHL*
1: ADK, FLA, JAX, KAL, MNE, NOR, SAV, WOR
0: GSO, GVL, IND, IA, REA. TR, TUL
*Division leaders (by points percentage)
LFG Red!!
ReplyDeleteSaturday night game was great.
ReplyDeleteSunday, not so much.
Great comments by Martinson at the post game prep conference. Still some work to do but time to get in-sync as we have the final drive for the playoffs. Hargrove made a lot of mistakes … we know he’s better than that and the entire team needs to work together with stronger D and more crisp offense (love the new guys, Toure and Chiasson). Too bad we can’t get Duarte back for the final push but happy for him that he’s playing up in AAA.
Still, much better season than last and improving despite an occasional loss.
Let’s go Red!
If anyone saw the 5-6 Rapid City players go and acknowledge Simmons-Fischer after the game, that speaks volumes for his game and the fact that many players approached him after this series.
ReplyDeleteHe’s as tough as can be and puts his body on the line every night for the Americans.
I hope we’re lucky enough to have him for many more years.
He is a winner.
Go Red!!
We did notice the Rapid City players talking to Simmons-Fischer, I agree, a huge acknowledgment of his ability and efforts. Made me proud of him, very proud. He is a class act.
DeleteI feel we will have him this year, but would wager he will be in the AHL sometime next year.
I’m relatively new to the Americans. Who is Joe Ernst, whom Martinson referenced at the press conference?
ReplyDeleteAlso, who was the gentleman who was to his left and kind of ushered Martinson out / ended the press conference?
Joe Ernst - corrupt former ECHL official in charge of referees, who had hatred towards Allen.
ReplyDeleteThe old guy? …. That would be Barry the Blogger :-)
Didn’t mean old in a negative way but the room was full of people and had to make a reference somehow. Lol. Honestly meant offense. I really enjoy the blog. Great writing and stats.
DeleteIs Joe Ernst the “Little Joe” referenced in posts last year?
Deleteyep
DeleteJoe Ernst, = Marty's arch enemy from the past!
ReplyDeleteWhy was Marty commenting about Ernst? Is he still involved? I was it just a comment laughing about the past? (But I directly slamming him)
DeleteAm I the only one who thinks the game day experience is a bit of a joke? Overpriced food, crappy merch, uncomfortable seats, bad audio, national anthem is always delayed or chaotic and the bathrooms are dirty. It seems there is no evolving happening.
ReplyDeleteIt could use a refresh. Someone needs to visit some other arenas and take notice. Unfortunately, the City of Allen continues to accept mediocrity and be totally ignorant to the beyond woeful experience at the CUTX Event Center.
DeleteWhat about the things that used to be so great that have disappeared?
Delete1. Drummers. Created a fantastic home ice advantage, kept every game lively. Until they were run off.
2. Kids. Remember when kids used to be able to go on the ice for ChuckAPuck and help retrieve all the pucks? They had a blast and they were fun to watch.
3. Biscuit. Remember a skating Biscuit that would skate around at the opening and wave the Texas flag? Now we have a biscuit that barely walks around the arena taking pics with the kids. Sometimes you won't see him an entire game among the fans.
4. Skating Ice Angels. Used to skate and clean snow off the ice at timeouts.
5. Decent prices. Food, bar, and all concessions used to be priced decently, now the prices are consistent with AAC or Jerry's World, where you see MAJOR league (or at least the Cowboys) teams play.
6. Games. Remember when they would have people play games on the ice during the first period? Relay races, getting dressed and shooting races, catching t-shirts from the t-shirt gun, things like that.
What do you wish they would bring back from the good old days?
Rember the Carmel apples and the cookie sandwiches they had?
DeleteWhat's with Take me Home, Country Roads?
DeleteSeriously, wtf!
San Diego Gulls girls from Martinson’s time there…used to dance on the ice. Were fantastic (and hot). Only on-ice (not skates) dance team I have ever seen. HANDS DOWN the best. The best Jerry, THE BEST!
DeleteNeed Ice Angel Abbey strutting her stuff on the ice.
DeleteThat would have the place smokin' and the ice melting!!
I disagree. The merch is WAY better quality this year and much more variety. Not sure who would pay $300 for a full team signed jersey but if you can sell it, great.
DeleteI’d rather pay the prices for quality merch than crappy march like last year at rock bottom prices (but prices last year were about the same as this year). Remember. The patches falling off the jerseys last year ? Horrific. Kids merch was literally garbage last year.
Prices are really about the same as last year but WAY better quality.
Great job by Martinson’s wife (is her name Michelle?) to resurrect the shop. It was slammed with visitors and lines for purchases Saturday. Sunday slower but still looked busy.
Totally Agree, but no kids red jerseys other than biscuit? That’s a hard miss, as is no kids hats, kids are your target market. They spend the parents almighty dollar.
DeleteI missed the no red kids jerseys and no kids hats. Yeah, that’s a big miss. Get those kids in now and Locke them down as Americans fans (and hockey fans at minimum)
DeleteWhat is the intro song does anyone know?
ReplyDeleteNo idea but Red Kingdom has to come back. Period.
DeleteLast years intro was the team in front of what looked like foil. So horrible and cheap.
This years is ok but not as great as Red Kingdom.
RED KINGDOM
Deletethis is a non negotiable.
seems the request constantly from fans falls on deaf ears
I want the blimps back!!
ReplyDeleteAlso want the cookie/hot chocolate stand back.
Yes, and why are there “dead spots” in the music in the third period?
They need to have individual carts around like frozen dipped bananas, candy or other one-off stuff that you can’t find at a stupid stand.
DeleteAlso, just have a line for soda. People waiting for soda while everyone does their insane food orders is a waste of time for all. Speed the soda people out and let food clog themselves (selfish request, lol).
go to the game on the weekend.
Deleteorder a soda.
soda cup is half crushed.
bro, you serious with this?
he says al the cups are like that
no way, seriously?
he picks up a stack of cups half crushed.
someone fix the mess in the CUTX.
THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE FLOW OF PEOPLE AND PEAK RUSH TIMES. NO ONE THERE GETS IT.
DeleteBuy a souvenir cup and it won’t be crushed. But yes, paper cups should NOT be crushed.
Delete$9 for a soda in a souvenir cup?
DeleteFix the mess!