Allen Loses 2-1, Game Recap, Video Highlights, Martinson’s Comments, Rematch Preview, Frank Marotte Returns and More

I have been using a steps forward and steps backward metaphor the last few days and to keep that going, it was a big step backwards last night as the Allen Americans lost 2-1 to the Tulsa Oilers before an announced crowd of 2984 at the CUTX Event Center. The game was not as close as the final score thanks to a standout performance by rookie goalie, Luke Peressini, who made 42 saves in his second start for the Americans. In his two starts, Peressini has stopped 73 of 77 shots for a GAA of 2.02 and a .951 save percentage.

– Allen’s defense has been much improved recently in terms of goals allowed, Allen has allowed no more than three goals in its last six games. In those six games the Americans have given up a total of 13 goals for an average of 2.33 per game. All Allen has to show for the improved goals allowed is a record of 3-3 over the last six games because the offense has disappeared. In those same six games Allen has scored just one goal twice and two goals twice.

– Last night was a low point for the Allen offense as it managed a season low 17 shots on goal. The lone goal came on the power play. The Americans have scored one goal in the last two games and both were on the power play. You have to go back almost eight periods (158:12) to find the last goal Allen scored even strength.

– To go along with the lack of offense was a defense that gave up way too many shots. Granted Tulsa always takes a lot of shots, throwing the puck at the net from everywhere, but there is no excuse for shot totals and shot differentials like last night. Here are the shots and shot differentials, broken down by period:

• 1st: 16-6 (-10)
• 2nd: 15-6 (-9)
• 3rd: 13-5 (-8)
• TOTAL: 44-17 (-27)

– Allen gets outshot a lot but by 27 is a high-water mark. The Americans have outshot their opponents in only nine of 39 games (23%) but have a great record in those games (8-1-0-0).  When they get outshot their record is 9-16-4-1.

– There were no goals scored in the first two periods. Tulsa broke the ice early in the third period (3:32) after Allen took a delay of game penalty. If you watch the replay of the goal, you will see Darian Skeoch get his stick slashed out of his hands but a penalty wasn’t called. It was all downhill from that moment and the puck was in the back of the net. Jackson Leppard had the only goal for the Americans, scored on the power play, to tie the score 1-1, with just over five minutes remaining in the game. Just when it looked like the game was heading to overtime, Tulsa struck back for a 2-1 lead with 2:15 remaining. Allen pulled the goalie but could not get the equalizer.

– Here are the video highlights with the goals and some of the great saves: https://youtu.be/FGte3CIuI6Q

ALLEN VS TULSA PREVIEW

– Allen will have to shake off the poor performance last night as they travel to Tulsa this afternoon for a rematch with the Oilers. The last time Allen played in Tulsa they won 8-0 so they will need some of that mojo today.

– Each team had a power play goal last night, Allen was 1-2 and Tulsa was 1-4. The referee scheduled for the game today is Matt Menniti (#10) who has been the ref for Allen’s last two games. He let a lot go last night, calling just six minor penalties in the game.

– The biggest key to the game for the Americans is to close the shot gap. Allen has outshot Tulsa once in six games (the 8-0 shutout game). They must be much improved from last night.

– The other key to the game is find a way to score even strength. Allen will not win if they can only score on the power play.

COACH’S CORNER WITH STEVE MARTINSON    

– My first question for Steve Martinson this morning was the one I was sure was on many of your minds when you saw Frank Marotte was headed back to Allen after a long loan to San Diego (AHL), what are your plans for goalies? Here is that answer along with other comments.

“My plan for now is to go with three goalies. Marotte and Lavigne will go to Tulsa today, but I haven’t decided yet who will get the start. Peressini has not played a lot recently so thought it was best that he stays back in Allen and work on his conditioning with a gym day. If he had been playing back to back games recently, I would have started him again today.”

“When you get outshot like we did last night there is no excuse. We got out played and out worked, plain and simple.”

“I wasn’t happy with a non-call on Tulsa’s first goal when Skeoch was slashed hard enough it broke his stick. The same player did the same thing to Bethune at the end of the second period.”

“On Tulsa’s second goal we lost the puck battle in the corner and then made several bad decisions trying to help out after getting beat in the corner. That often happens where the first mistake creates the second and third and the puck ends up in the net.”

“The way we have the lineup set up with all of the injuries, if the top line isn’t producing, we will struggle.”

“We will have the same lineup today as last night with the exception of the goalie.”

“We will leave at the normal time (1:00pm) as the roads are fine.”

“I expect to have several players, that are out injured, back next week.”

OTHER COMMENTS

– Allen is back to a .500 points percentage. They have been going back and forth across the .500 line for a while now. The Americans are 4-6-0-0 in the last 10 games.

– Another 12 ECHL games on the schedule tonight. Here is the ECHL Today with the previews: https://www.echl.com/en/news/2022/2/echl-today-feb-5

– Who’s hot and who’s not? Here are the ECHL teams with streaks of five or more games:

• Greenville: 5-0-1-0
• Idaho: 5-0-0-0
• Indy: 0-6-0-0
• Newfoundland: 0-4-0-1

– Jackson Leppard has a goal in the last three home games. That is tied for the current longest home goal streak in the ECHL.

– Costello leads the Americans in goals (18), Troock is second (13), with Asuchak, Combs and Leppard tied for third with 12 goals each.

– The San Diego Gulls recently signed Tulsa goalie, Daniel Mannella, to an AHL deal and then sent another of its contract goalies, Frank Marotte, back to Allen. Mannella leads the ECHL in GAA at 2.04. You have to assume San Diego has decided Mannella will be the depth goalie that will get called up over Marotte. Bottom line is Marotte will likely be in Allen long term. Frank had a tough outing in his last start in San Diego giving up three goals in seven shots in the first period and was pulled. However, if you look at his prior five starts his save percentage was .906, .950. .933, .844 and .900. He will have to prove himself in Allen to get playing time, with three goalies on the roster.

– DID YOU KNOW: ECHL Stats post today is about penalty shot conversion rates. Allen hasn’t had a penalty shot this season. Last season the Americans accounted for two of the four successful penalty shots in the 14 team season that saw a total of 14 penalty shots. Spencer Asuchak and Les Lancaster scored penalty shot goals while Tyler Sheehy missed one late in the season.

7 of 29 penalty shots this season have been successful. The first 12 were missed, but 7 of the last 17 (42%) were converted. Penalty shot conversion percentage by season:2021-22: 24% (7/29)2020-21: 21% (4/19) – only 14 teams playing2019-20: 28% (11/39) – shortened season2018-19: 37% (16/43)2017-18: 31% (15/48)2016-17: 26% (10/38)2015-16: 23% (8/35)Some years past show they awarded more penalty shots back in the day:2006-07: 27% (15/55)2008-09: 29% (21/73)2010-11: 28% (14/50)2012-13: 16% (9/58)

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