Late Game Comeback Ends in Record Overtime Loss, Game Recap, Video Highlights, Steve Martinson’s Comments, Two Goals in Two Seconds, ECHL Top Scorers and More

It was the good, the bad and the ugly last night for the Allen Americans as they lost to Toledo 6-5 in overtime before another standing room only crowd of 7772 at the Huntington Center. To the Americans credit they fought back late in the third period to force overtime and earned a critical point to retain a playoff spot in the Mountain Division.

• THE GOOD
• Allen scored first
• Allen had a 1-0 lead after the first period
• Allen had leads of 1-0 and 2-1 in the game
• Allen won the special teams battle, 1-3 on the power play and 0-2 on the penalty kill
• Allen scored twice in 39 seconds late in the third period to force overtime

• THE BAD
• Allen was outshot 42-29 in the game
• Allen was outshot 17-8 in the second period
• Allen allowed four goals in the second period
• Allen allowed more than five goals for only the second time in the last 29 games

• THE UGLY
• Allen didn’t manage a shot in overtime, outshot 3-0
• Allen lost its seventh overtime game, most in franchise history
• Allen is now 1-7 in overtime games this season, worst record in the ECHL

– Just like Friday night, Allen got off to a great start with Jack Combs scoring the first and only goal of the first period. It looked like another great night for Allen given its record when leading after the first period was 12-2-1-1. Toledo tied the score 1-1 early in the second period but Allen responded on a Spencer Asuchak power play goal to take a 2-1 lead. Then the wheels came off for the Americans. Toledo tied the score 20 seconds after Allen took the 2-1 lead, outshot Allen 13-3 over the next 11 minutes and took a 4-2 lead. Jackson Leppard scored a goal with 32 seconds remaining in the second period to close the gap to 4-3.

– It didn’t look good with Allen trailing 4-3 at the second intermission given the Americans record when trailing after the second period is 3-20-4-0. It got even more bleak when the Walleye increased their lead to 5-3 at the 8:53 mark of the third period. With less than three minutes remaining in the game the Americans made a comeback. Spencer Asuchak scored his second goal of the game at the 17:16 mark and just 39 seconds (17:55) later Josh Winquist score to send the game to overtime.

– Brandon Hawkins scored the game winner for Toledo at the 3:49 mark of overtime. It was his third goal of the game and first hat trick of the season. It was disappointing to lose yet another overtime game, but the point Allen earned with the late third period comeback is critical in the tight race with Idaho and Tulsa for a playoff spot.

– Goal scorers for Allen were Jack Combs (20), Spencer Asuchak (23,24), Jackson Leppard (17) and Josh Winquist (11). Here are the video highlights. The FloHockey live stream went down for part of the game so not all goals are included: https://youtu.be/vH1nLcC4B_0

– Game recap from the Allen Americans: https://allenamericans.com/media/asuchaks-big-night-spoiled-by-overtime-loss-in-toledo/

– Game recap from the Toledo Walleye: https://www.toledowalleye.com/en/news/hawkins-completes-hat-trick-with-overtime-game-winner-as-walleye-defeat-americans-6-5

COACH’S CORNER WITH STEVE MARTINSON

“It was a frustrating game for sure but when you get a point after trailing 5-3 with less than three minutes left in the game, it was better than it could have been.”

“When it comes to overtime, to be successful in three-on-three hockey you need speed, skill, good defensive players and patience.”

“Our even strength offensive zone time was about half of Toledo’s (7 minutes vs 13 minutes). Too often we have just one forechecker in our offensive zone and don’t pressure the puck.”

“We have been good at capitalizing on their mistakes, but we don’t create enough mistakes. We need more puck pressure, especially in the offensive zone.”

“Too often we try to contain rather than pressure and we contain until they get a shot on goal.”

“Frank Marotte will get the start in goal today.”

“I will make some other lineup changes today to get some fresh legs in the game. I will decide who sits out after I check in with the players this morning.”

OTHER COMMENTS

– Allen’s overtime loss was the seventh of the season which is by far the worst overtime record since the Americans joined the ECHL. Here is the OT record by season:

• 1-7   (2021-22)
• 5-3   (2020-21)
• 12-6 (2019-20)
• 3-4   (2018-190
• 3-6   (2017-18)
• 7-4   (2016-17)
• 3-3   (2015-16)
• 3-6   (2014-15)

– The third game in three days is always a challenge with an early start time on Sunday, especially for veteran teams. You often hear a game like today is more about will than skill. Allen has to find a way to cut down on shots allowed. One way to do that is having more offensive zone time with a better forecheck. It is hard to see Allen winning today if they surrender 40+ shots on goal again.

– Today Allen gets back one of the four games it has in hand over Idaho and Tulsa who are both idle. With a win Allen can improve its points percentage from .533 to .541. With a loss it will be .525. Win, lose or draw the Americans will be in fourth place at the end of the day. With a win the Americans will be in a battle for third place with Idaho. With a loss they will be battling Tulsa for the final playoff spot.

– The three way race for two playoff spots changed last night with Idaho winning, Allen losing in overtime and Tulsa losing in regulation time. Here are the updated standings with games remaining in parenthesis. Remember, the top two make the playoffs:

• .555  Idaho (8 games)
• .533  Allen (12 games)
• .523  Tulsa (8 games)

– Norfolk set an all time ECHL record last night for fastest two goals by one team. Norfolk scored with 13.7 seconds left in the game against Reading to give the Admirals a 4-3 lead. Norfolk took the lead on a goal that was scored from the corner behind the goal line, on a shot that was just lobbed toward the net that somehow got past the goalie. On the ensuing faceoff, Norfolk scored into an empty net with 11.3 seconds remaining in the game. Here are the game highlights with the two goals in two seconds at the very end: https://youtu.be/3dGdNi7TmLQ

–  Who will win the Kelly Cup this season? It is almost a certainty the winner will come from one of the teams that are in top two in each division. The four #1 teams are Reading, Atlanta, Toledo and Utah. The four #2 teams are Newfoundland, Florida, Fort Wayne and Rapid City.

DID YOU KNOW: An exclusive club, ECHL players with 25+ goals and 35+ assists this season:28G, 41A – Patrick Watling, Wheeling25G, 42A – Chad Costello, Allen28G, 36A – Darik Angeli, Kansas City25G, 39A – A.J. White, Idaho28G, 35A – John McCarron, Florida27G, 35A – Blake Winiecki, Florida

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