The Allen Americans extended their point streak to 11 games (10-0-1-0) last night with a 3-2 win in Wichita. It sets up the final game of the season tonight. The point streak built the chance; tonight decides the reward.
- The 72-game regular season ends tonight, and while Kansas City has already locked up the league's top spot, the Americans have something a lot more personal on the line: home ice against Idaho. Riding a scorching 11-game point streak, Allen needs one point against the Mavericks to leapfrog Idaho for second place and open the playoffs at the CUTX Event Center next week instead of boarding another plane to Boise.
Both teams staggered into Allen overnight, the Mavericks from Tulsa and the Americans from Wichita. Expect some tired players, strong coffee, and a game that means nothing to Kansas City, but everything for Allen.
- Kansas City played most of its top players in Tulsa last night in a 3-1 loss to the Oilers, so they will not be any more rested than the Americans. Allen won 3-2 and played all 20 players on the roster, as the Americans await the assignment of players from Belleville.
- Allen got off to a great start last night, scoring twice early in the first period. Jax Dubois scored his fifth goal in his 10th game with the Americans at the 1:56 mark. Just 95 seconds later (3:31), Danny Katic scored his league-leading 38th goal on the power play. With a 2-0 lead less than four minutes into the game, it looked like it would be an easy night for Allen. Wichita had other plans. The Thunder scored midway through the first period to cut the deficit to 2-1, and that's how the period ended.
- Allen has been the best team in the league in the second period (+42 goal differential) and managed to extend its lead to 3-1 with the only goal in the second period, despite being outshot 14-9 by Wichita. Hank Crone scored his 13th goal of the season to give Allen a cushion at the second intermission.
- Wichita's persistence paid off in the third period when they cut the score to 3-2 at the 7:50 mark. Unlike previous games against the Thunder, when Allen extended its lead in the third period, Wichita kept the pressure on the entire period. The Thunder took the last six shots of the game, and Allen had no shots in the final eight minutes of the game.
- There was a lot to like about the game, even though Allen's high-powered offense, which has averaged close to six goals a game for the last 10 games, was held to three goals:
- Allen scored the 1st goal of the game and improved its record when scoring 1st to 29-2-4-0 (.886)
- Allen led 2-1 after the 1st period and improved its record with a 1st period lead to 17-1-2-0 (.900)
- Allen led 3-1 after the 2nd period and improved it record with a 2nd period lead to 30-0-2-0 (.969)
- Allen won the special teams battle, going 1-3 on the power play and 0-4 on the penalty kill, including a long 5-on-3 penalty kill.
- Allen's defense held Wichita to two goals, below the Americans' average of 2.93. Marco Costantini was great in goal, stopping 35 of 37 shots for a .946 save percentage.
- Allen finished the season with a record of 9-1-0-0 against Wichita.
Here are the video highlights with all of the goals and great saves, plus game recaps from both teams:
- Allen Americans: https://allenamericans.com/news/2026/04/game-recap-americans-beat-wichita-3-2
- Wichita Thunder: https://wichitathunder.com/news/2026/04/late-push-falls-short-in-loss-to-allen
ALLEN VS KANSAS CITY PREVIEW
- One point stands between Allen and sleeping in their own beds for the first round of the playoffs. The challenge tonight is taking one point from the best team in the ECHL this season. The game tonight will be the seventh time Allen has played Kansas City this season. The bad news is the Americans are 2-4-0-0 against the Mavericks. The good news is Allen won the last two games, which were road games.
- Here are the stats:
- Allen's record is 42-23-6-0 (.634), Kansas City's is 55-12-2-2 (.808)
- Allen is 9-0-1-0 over the last 10 games, Kansas City is 7-2-0-1.
- Allen is 23-9-3-0 at home, Kansas City is 28-4-1-2 on the road.
- Allen's goal differential is +58 (266-208), Kansas City's is +97 (254-157).
- Allen's team plus/minus is +169, Kansas City's is +304.
- Allen's team save percentage is .914, Kansas City's is .918.
If you look at the season-long stats above, it is clear that Kansas City has been the better team. The Mavericks .808 points percentage is the second-best in the history of the ECHL. If Kansas City wins tonight, it will give them 29 road wins, which would tie the all-time ECHL record. The Mavericks own that record, set in 2023-24 when Kansas City's road record was 29-4-2-1.
What the stats do show is that Allen is playing the best hockey in the league right now. Since March 22, the Americans have earned 21 of a possible 22 points, averaging 5.80 goals per game and allowing an average of 2.36 goals per game. Interesting, the one point lost was on a controversial overtime penalty. That singular lost point is why Allen needs one point tonight.
- Here are three keys to the game if Allen wants to get a win tonight.
- The Americans have to score the first goal. Allen is almost unbeatable when they score first (29-2-4-0) .886. The only team in the league with a better record is Kansas City, 40-2-2-0 (.932).
- Allen has to win the special teams battle, and that will be a challenge. Kansas City is ranked #3 on the power play (23.3%) and #1 on the penalty kill (88.6%). Allen has the #7-ranked power play (21.6%) and #10-ranked penalty kill (83.9%). In the six head-to-head games, Allen is 5-31 (16.1%) on the power play, and Kansas City is 7-35 (20.0%). Just like scoring first, if the Americans win the special teams battle, it will go a long way in securing a victory.
- Allen has to avoid playing from behind if they expect to win. The Americans are almost unbeatable with a first-period lead (17-1-2-0). Kansas City is even better (20-1-0-0).
- The same is true with a second-period lead. Allen is 30-0-2-0 with a second-period lead. Kansas City is even better, 34-0-1-0.
- Allen's lineup tonight will be the same as last night, with the exception that Brett Mirwald will get the start in goal. Landon Hookey will play briefly (opening puck drop) and then leave the ice, and that will give him the five games needed to qualify for the playoffs.
- Coach Martinson has been pointing to this game for well over a month. What I thought was a long shot, he was confident in. I know this game is important to him on many levels. This is what he shared with me this morning:
"The team has been getting the job done, and now it comes down to one game for home ice in the first round of the playoffs. It is business, but some wins feel better than others. I feel we will come out tonight playing full tilt hockey."
"Tonight will be like a playoff game. We can see early who has the mindset and discipline to play a best of one! Can't wait for the puck to drop.
OTHER COMMENTS
- Stick taps to Brayden Watts, who is the recipient of the 2025-26 ECHL Sportsmanship Award. The award is given annually to a player with a high standard of playing ability who is judged to have exhibited the best sportsmanship. The only other Allen player to win this award was Chad Costello in 2014-15.
Watts had a hooking penalty last night. It was only his sixth penalty of the season. He went half the season, 36 games and three months, from December 3 to March 6, without taking a penalty.
- Danny Katic scored a goal last night and maintains a three-goal lead in the most goals race (38-35) and still has a chance to reach 40 goals. Brayden Watts had an assist last night and leads all forwards with 50 assists.
- The Central Division is still up in the air, coming down to the last two days of the season. The division championship won't be decided until Sunday. Fort Wayne and Toledo are tied with 98 points. Toledo is done. Fort Wayne plays at home tomorrow. Toledo has the tiebreaker if they end up tied.
Three teams (Bloomington, Indy, Kalamazoo) have a chance to claim one of the final two playoff spots tonight. Here are the details, plus the previews on the 11 games on the schedule tonight. https://echl.com/news/2026/04/echl-today-april-18
- Tulsa is at Wichita tonight in a battle for the cellar in the Mountain Division. Tulsa has been in last place since before Thanksgiving and tied with Wichita last night by beating Kansas City. The Oilers and Thunder are tied with 71 points. The team that loses tonight ends up in last place. Tulsa has gained 11 points on Wichita in the last 10 games and, with one more win tonight, will escape the cellar.
- There are some hard-to-explain records between Mountain Division teams this season. Here are a few examples:
- 13-2-0-0 Kansas City vs Wichita
- 4-3-0-1 Wichita vs Tahoe
- 6-0-0-0 Tulsa vs Rapid City
- 10-1-2-0 Rapid City vs Tahoe
- 9-1-0-0 Allen vs Wichita
- 6-0-0-1 Idaho vs Allen
If the Americans lose in OT or a SO, they would be tied with Idaho. Isn’t the first tie breaker head to head? Idaho has owned Allen this season.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mr. confidence!
ReplyDeleteRegular season wins I think.
ReplyDeleteOr regulation maybe???
ReplyDeleteYou are the winner. It is regulation wins
DeleteHome ice for round one! Go Red!
ReplyDelete