Allen Bounce Back Win in Tulsa, Game Recap, Video Highlights, Costello Comments, Post Christmas Opportunity, Goal Differential Leaders and More

The Allen Americans went into the Christmas break in style last night bouncing back from a loss in Tulsa on Thursday by beating the Oilers 5-2 on Friday. It was a complete game by the Americans from start to finish. Here are some of the highlights:

• Scored first goal of the game
• Took 1-0 lead into the first intermission
• Outshot Tulsa 11-5 in the first period
• Scored two unanswered goals in the second period
• Led 3-0 after the second period
• Outshot Tulsa 12-8 in the second period
• Scored two third period goals
• Allen won special teams battle going 2-6 on the power play
• Allen took just four minor penalties
• Allen outshot Tulsa 34-27

–  Mikael Robidoux scored the first goal of the game and his second goal in as many nights. Robidoux missed two months serving a couple of long suspensions but has scored his first two professional goals the last two nights. Robidoux played 55 ECHL games dating back to 2019-20 before scoring a shorthanded goal on Thursday. He did even better last night with an assist to go along with his goal.

– Jack Combs scored both of Allen’s second period goals, his 14th and 15th of the season to give the Americans a 3-0 lead going into the second intermission. Combs is now fourth in the ECHL in goals and just one behind the leaders.

– After blowing a second period lead in the loss on Thursday, a 3-0 lead did not seem safe, especially when Tulsa scored just 32 seconds into the third period to cut the lead to 3-1. However, the Americans responded with back-to-back goals (Hank Crone with his 13th and Ryan Gagnon with his 3rd) to make the score 5-1 and put the game out of reach. Tulsa scored a power play goal late in the game to make the final score 5-2. Nothing like a win to carry Allen into the Christmas break on a positive note.

– Jack Combs had the game winning goal for Allen. He has been clutch all season. Allen has just seven game winning goals all season and Combs has four of them. Saucerman, Crone and Myllari each have one game winning goal.

–  Here is the game recap from the Allen Americans: https://allenamericans.com/media/game-recap-americans-defeat-tulsa-5-2/

– Here is the game recap from the Tulsa Oilers: https://tulsaoilers.com/americans-top-oilers-in-final-home-game-of-2022/

– Here are the video highlights: https://www.echl.com/en/video/2022/12/allen-americans-vs-tulsa-oilers—dec-23-2022-2bQ6jhBD

CHAD COSTELLO COACH’S COMMENTS

“It was a solid team effort tonight.”

“We came out fighting from the opening puck drop and took control of the game.”

“We needed this type of performance tonight, let’s hope it continues after Christmas.”

“When we have everyone playing and pulling on the rope, we are a good team.”

“We are getting healthy and that really helps our depth.”

“We will continue to improve going forward. It is an uphill climb, and we are aware of exactly where we stand.”

“We will have a one game at a time mentality, but we know we need to go on a winning streak.”

OTHER COMMENTS

– Idaho just keeps on winning at an unprecedented pace, winning its eighth straight game last night with a 6-0 win over Utah. The Steelheads have now won 15 of the last 16 games and are running away with the league title. Idaho has a points percentage of .865, second place is Cincinnati with a .729 points percentage.

– The Mountain Division has four teams with a points percentage under .500. The other three divisions have just two. It means there will likely be quite a scramble for playoff spots in the Mountain Division. Here are the current standings by points percentage:

• .865 – Idaho
• .630 – Wichita
• .521 – Kansas City
• .464 – Rapid City
• .440 – Utah
• .438 – Tulsa
• .354 – Allen

– The Mountain Division remains close because none of the bottom five teams are playing well. Here are the points earned by each team over the last 10 games. Maximum points available would be 20.

• 18 points – Idaho
• 14 points – Wichita
• 8 points – Utah
• 8 points – Kansas City
• 7 points – Tulsa
• 6 points – Allen
• 6 points – Rapid City

– As I mentioned yesterday, Allen has a great opportunity to improve its position after the Christmas break. The Americans playing only three teams (Wichita, Kansas City, Tulsa) through the end of January. A total of 16 games against longtime rivals. Ten of the 16 games will be on the road so it will be a challenge, but if Allen is going to escape the cellar, it will have to play above .500 over the next 16 games. Here is the breakdown:

• Wichita – 1 home, 5 away
• Kansas City – 2 home, 3 away
• Tulsa – 3 home, 2 away

– Defenseman Nick Albano has signed with a team in the second-tier Swedish league (Allsvenskan). The team (Vasteras IK) was looking for a right shot defenseman (they had seven left shot and one right shot defensemen) who could move the puck on the larger rinks in Sweden. Albano fit the bill and was signed to a one-year contract. He is not expected to play until January 4, pending the immigration process.

DID YOU KNOW: The ECHL Stats post today is about goal differential. Allen has scored 69 goals and allowed 88 goals for a goal differential of -19.

13 of 28 ECHL teams have a positive goal differential (goals for minus goals against). Here is the list with a big difference from top to bottom:+64: Idaho+28: Newfoundland+20: Cincinnati+20: South Carolina+20: Indy+20: Worcester+17: Reading+14: Jacksonville+10: Wichita+9: Florida+9: Atlanta+3: Maine+1: GreenvilleHere are the teams with the a minus 20 or more goal differential:-58: Norfolk-25: Iowa-22: Tulsa-20: Adirondack