The Allen Americans finally scored the game's first goal, and it carried them to a 3-1 win in the rubber game of the series in New Mexico. The Americans have scored first three times in their nine games and remain perfect. A 4:00 a.m. wake-up call and an early flight this morning had the team back in DFW before most fans had their first cup of coffee.
- The Americans arrive home earning four of six points in New Mexico and tied for first place in the Mountain Division with 12 points. Even better, Allen will get its locker room back on Monday after weeks without it. There is still no ice, so practices this week will still be at Comerica Center before the team leaves for Kansas City on Thursday.
- There wasn't much scoring in the game last night. The Goatheads outshot Allen 28-24; both teams were scoreless on the power play, Allen 0-3, New Mexico 0-4, and the best player for both teams was the goalie. Here is a quick recap:
- Allen scored the only goal of the first period at 9:39. It was Luke Mistelbacher's third goal of the season, assisted by Riley Kidney.
- New Mexico tied the score with the only goal of the second period at the 2:20 mark.
- Allen went ahead 2-1 at 14:10 of the third period on Mathieu De St. Phalle's fifth goal of the season, assisted by Sam Lipkin and Riley Kidney.
- Allen scored an empty-net goal with seven seconds remaining in the game. Brayden Watts scored the goal on an unselfish pass from Mistelbacher. It is Watts' first goal of the season and somehow it got credited to Lipkin. They will get it changed.
- Four players (2 from each team) were given game misconduct for fighting (continuing altercation) just as the game ended. No suspensions have been issued; it was mostly a bunch of pushing and shoving.
- I had a chance to touch base with Coach Martinson at the airport before the team headed back to DFW. While he was glad the team came away with four points after the loss on Wednesday, he didn't think the team played well. He felt the team was not carry the puck on the rush like they did in the games at Comerica Center.
OTHER COMMENTS
- Coach Martinson has mentioned several times recently that he is expecting players to be assigned to Allen as Belleville gets players back from injury. That has started to happen. Ottawa goalie Linus Ullmark has been activated from injured reserve. Ottawa has returned goalie Jonas Johansson to Belleville, which now has three goalies on the roster. Goalie Kevin Reidler could be assigned to Allen this week.
- Belleville forward Landon Hookey has been out with an injury since the season began and played his first game last night. With Hookey healthy, Allen could be sent a forward this week, but not necessarily Hookey
- Here are the Mountain Division standings by points with points percentage in parentheses:
- 12 points - Tulsa (.857)
- 12 points - Allen (.667)
- 10 points - Rapid City (. 714)
- 10 points - Kansas City (.500)
- 9 points - Tahoe (.450)
- 8 points - New Mexico (.364)
- 7 points - Idaho (.500)
- 7 points - Wichita (.500)
- There are seven games on the ECHL schedule today. Wichita at Tulsa is the only Mountain Division game. Here is the ECHL Today with the previews: https://echl.com/news/2026/11/echl-today-nov-8
- Mathieu De St. Phalle had the game-winning goal last night. Allen has won six games, and Mathieu had the game-winning goal in half of them. His three game-winning goals are tied for the league lead.
DID YOU KNOW: My ECHL Stats post today is about the top five teams in average goals scored and allowed. Allen is #11 in goals allowed (2.78) and #12 in goals scored (3.33).
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