Allen vs Idaho Preview, Playoff Race is Tightening, Net Power Play Percentage and Rookie Scoring Leaders

It is game day for the Allen Americans as the team has the luxury of playing just two games this week. With so many players sidelined with injuries and others nursing nagging injuries, it is an opportune time for a light schedule. Allen will have a full lineup for the game tonight. Frank Marotte is expected to get the start in goal. Marotte won his only start against Idaho which was back in November. He won the game 4-2, stopping 25 of 27 shots for a .926 save percentage.

– It is Allen vs Idaho tonight and Saturday (7:05 pm puck drop) and both teams are looking to get things turned around. The Americans are in last place in the division, Idaho is in second place, but both teams have struggled over the last month. Here is what both teams are dealing with:

• Allen has lost nine of the last 13 games
• Idaho has lost seven of the last 11 games
• Allen has lost five straight, the longest losing streak of the season
• Idaho has lost three of the last four with the only win in OT
• Allen has allowed four goals in five of the last six games
• Idaho has scored two or fewer goals in five of the last six games
• Allen’s home points percentage is just .500
• Idaho’s road points percentage is just .400
• Allen is 5-5-0-0 in the last 10 home games
• Idaho is 3-6-1-0 in the last 10 road games

– The two games against Idaho this weekend will end the season series with the Steelheads. Allen has a better record against Idaho (4-1-1-0) than any other Mountain Division foe. The Americans swept Idaho three straight the last time the Steelheads were in Allen at the end of 2021.

– Here are the totals in the six head to head games with Idaho this season:

• Allen leads in goals 20 vs 15
• Idaho leads in shots 181 vs 155
• Allen has more penalties (40 vs 34) and penalty minutes (97 vs 87)

– Here is a comparison of overall stats:

• Allen averages more goals (3.2 vs 3.0)
• Allen allows more goals (3.2 vs 2.5)
• Idaho averages more shots (32.2 vs 28.7)
• Allen allows more shots (34.5 vs 28.3)

– As always special teams will play a vital role in this two game series. Both teams have been successful on the power play in the six head to head games. Allen is 5-25 (20%) and Idaho is 6-29 (20.7%). However, there is a difference in how each team scored on the power play. Allen had a power play goal in only three of the six games but had two power play goals twice. Idaho had a power play goal in all six games but never more than one.

– Overall special teams stats give Idaho the edge when you compare home and road percentages. At home Allen is ranked #18 on the power play (18.3%) and #22 on the penalty kill (76.1%). On the road Idaho is ranked #14 on the power play (19.6%) and #4 on the penalty kill (84.8%).

– Shorthanded goals can always be a factor since the Americans since lead the league in shorthanded goals allowed (17), compared to Idaho, who has allowed six. Allen has scored seven shorthanded goals, Idaho has scored five. In the six head to head games each team has scored one shorthanded goal. Spencer Asuchak for Allen and Will Merchant for Idaho.

– Leading scorers for Allen in the six games against Idaho have been Chad Costello (2G, 8A) and Spencer Asuchak (3G, 3A). Idaho’s captain, A.J. White has seven points (2G, 5A) against Allen.

– The referee scheduled for the game is Riley Yerkovich (#7). Coincidentally, he was the referee for the three games in Idaho in November. In those three games he called 10, 18 and 18 penalties for a total of 26, 42 and 54 minutes.

OTHER COMMENTS

– There are 11 games on the ECHL schedule tonight and all seven Mountain Division teams are in action:

• Tulsa at Kalamazoo
• Idaho at Allen
• Kansas City at Wichita
• Utah at Rapid City

Here is the ECHL Today with a short preview on all 11 games: https://www.echl.com/en/news/2022/3/echl-today-march-4

– With the Mountain Division standings so close for second place and also for fourth place, one win or loss can move a team up or down in the standings. Here are the current standings;

• .613 – Utah
• .575 – Idaho
• .565 – Rapid City
• .519 – Tulsa
• .509 – Kansas City
• .500 – Wichita
• .490 – Allen

– If Allen wins tonight while Tulsa and Kansas City lose, the points percentage for the four teams battling for the final playoff spot will range from .500 to .509 or just one game.

– There are five ECHL teams with power play percentages above 22%. If you look at net power play percentage by subtracting shorthanded goals allowed from total power play goals here is the result for the top five teams. The net power play percentage is in parenthesis:

• 27.7% – Maine (23.9%)
• 27.2% – Newfoundland (24.9%)
• 23.7% – Iowa (20.7%)
• 22.3% – Idaho (19.4%)
• 22.3% – Toledo (18.7%)

Worcester has allowed the fewest shorthanded goals (2) and has a net power play percentage 20.7%.

DID YOU KNOW: The ECHL stats post today is about the rookie scoring leaders. Gavin Gould is still far and away Allen’s rookie scoring leader despite not playing since January 22. Gould is out for the season and finished with 26 points (9G, 17A) in 23 games with the Americans. His points per game average (1.13) is top five among ECHL roolies with 20+ games.

ECHL Rookie Scoring Leaders with roughly 30% of the season remaining:47 points, 22G, 25A, Kris Bennett, Iowa45 points, 22G, 23A, Jack Doremus, Tulsa42 points, 11G, 31A, Kaid Oliver, Iowa40 points, 17G, 23A, Mason Mannek, Utah40 points, 13G, 27A, Jake Jaremko, FloridaRookie scoring leaders last five ECHL seasons:2020-21: 52 points, Matthew Boucher, Utah2019-20: 70 points, Tyler Sheehy, Allen (shortened season)2018-19: 66 points, Myles Powell, Cincinnati2017-18: 62 points, Grant Besse, Norfolk2016-17: 76 points, Mike Cazzola, Fort Wayne                76 points, Tylor Spink, Toledo