Spotlight Squarely on Allen vs Idaho, Game Preview, Keys to the Game, Lineup, Playoff Stats, Martinson Climbs the Ladder and Point Increases/Decreases

 

While eight first-round Kelly Cup series are taking place across the league, only one game is scheduled today, and that puts the spotlight on Allen at Idaho. The marathon of five games in six days, which is actually five games in just over five days (122 hours) continues today (5:10 pm CDT) with Allen leading the series 2-0. 

 

- Playoff hockey always tests skill and depth, but this series will test stamina just as much. With travel, quick turnarounds, and the possibility of five games in only 122 hours, the margin for error shrinks with every shift. Martinson will talk systems, and players will talk matchups. But somewhere behind the scenes, the real MVPs of this series might be trainer Jordan Dutton and equipment manager Matt Miletich. and coffee machines. Five games in 122 hours doesn't just test playoff toughness; it tests laundry cycles, recovery time, and who can bounce back the fastest when the puck drops again.

 

-  Now that the playoffs are underway, it is easy to forget Allen has been playing the best hockey in the ECHL for over a month. The last time the Americans lost a game in regulation time was March 21. Since then, Allen's record is 13-0-1-0. In those 14 games, the Americans scored 72 goals (5.14 average) and allowed 30 goals (2.14 average). In any month, if you can average two more goals than your opponent, you know you are playing excellent hockey. 

 

- With all of the recent success, I am reminded of what you always read in a stock prospectus: "past performance is no guarantee of future results." That is definitely true as Allen takes the ice this afternoon. If Allen wins today and takes a 3-0 lead, the likelihood of Idaho coming back falls to less than 2%. If Idaho wins this afternoon, the odds of winning the series increase to just over 30%.

 

- Here are the stats after the first two games of the series:

• Allen scored first in both games.
• Allen outscored Idaho 9-3.
• Allen outshot Idaho 65-53.
• Allen was 2-8 (25%) on the power play; Idaho was 1-7 (14.3%).
• Allen took 18 penalties for 44 minutes, Idaho 19 for 46 minutes.
• Allen has not trailed in the series. The score after the 6 periods was 2-0, 3-2, 5-1, 0-0, 2-0, 4-2.   

 

-  Keys to the game today:

• As usual, scoring first will be critical. It is easy to predict that the team that scores first will win the game, since that has been the case 88% of the time in the playoffs. Idaho has a history of good starts against Allen, so the Americans have to be ready. 
• Playing with the lead is another key. Playing from behind in the third period will not be successful for either team.
• After the whistle scrums have become commonplace in this series. Coach Martinson is tired of Idaho players taking shots after the whistle with no repercussions from the referees. If the referees want to avoid all of the scrums, they need to penalize the instigator. Martinson's feeling is, play within the whistle or drop your gloves; it is as simple as that. Allen players will be reminded to stay away from the post-whistle scrums, but if the officials don't take control, it could get ugly. 
• Special teams will likely be the difference maker in the game today. Win the special teams battle, win the game.
• Idaho got two players assigned yesterday, who were playing in the AHL (San Jose).  The Barracuda were just eliminated from the playoffs.. Brendan Hoffman (#9) was leading the league in goals when he was loaned to San Jose in February. Despite missing 28 games, Hoffman led the Steelheads in points (51) and goals (32). His goals per game average of .727 is the best in the league. Allen will have to account for Hoffmann today. 

 

-  I don't have the lineup for the game today, but I will be surprised if it isn't the same as the lineup on Friday. That lineup was great in earning a 2-0 series lead, and with a day of rest, you might see them again.  What will be interesting to watch is how Coach Martinson might change up his lines, because Idaho will have last change. No doubt, he will have a couple of tricks up his sleeve to counter Idaho's last change advantage.  

 

- Here is the game day preview/ notes from the Allen Americans: https://allenamericans.com/news/2026/04/game-day-preview-the-series-moves-to-boise  

 

OTHER COMMENTS 

- After last night, each of the eight playoff series has played two games. The higher seeds/home teams are 14-2. The two series that are tied 1-1 are  #2 Adirondack vs #3 Maine in the North Division and #2 Atlanta vs #3 South Carolina in the South Division. Here are some other playoff stats:

• Defenses continue to dominate. In 16 playoff games, the losing teams have scored only 20 goals, averaging just 1.25 goals per game.
• Penalty minutes continue to be much higher in the playoffs than in the regular season. The regular-season average was 12.24 minutes per game. So far in the playoffs, the average is 19.91 minutes per game.
• There have been 19 misconduct penalties (10 minutes) in 16 games. Reading has five of them.
• Toledo had the best power play percentage in the regular season (29.9%). and they are #1 in the playoffs  (37.5%). 

 

 - Steve Martinson has won championships in four different leagues, WCHL (5), UHL (1), CHL (2) and ECHL (2). With the two wins against Idaho this week, Martinson has moved into #2 all-time in ECHL career playoff wins (56). He needs three more games coached to move into #2 all-time in that category. The 2026 playoffs are the 11th time Martinson has taken an ECHL team to the playoffs. That is tied for #1. 

 

DID YOU  KNOW: ECHL teams that gained or lost more than 20 points from 2024-25 to 2025-26. Teams on the upswing and teams in decline:

 

Point Increases

+49: Allen (4th largest year-over-year increase of all-time)

+28: Atlanta

+28: Adirondack

+23: Maine

 

Point Decreases

-27: Iowa

-27: Wichita

-25: Tulsa

-23: Norfolk

-23: Jacksonville

-22: Trois Rivières

-21: Orlando