Allen Ends Week with a Loss, Game Recap, Video Highlights, Gens Comments, Utah Next Up, ECHL Shutouts and More

It is always difficult to win three games in three days against the same opponent especially when the third game is on the road. The Allen Americans four game win streak came to an end yesterday in a 7-3 loss to the Tulsa Oilers. The game was closer than the final score because of two empty net goals within 31 seconds at the end of the game. However, Tulsa was in charge of this game from the beginning and never trailed after scoring the first goal at the 2:45 mark of the opening period. It was a tough ending to an emotional but successful week that saw the Americans take six of the eight available points (.750).

– I write all the time about three keys to victory. If Allen scores first, out shoots the opponent and wins the special teams battle they will win. It didn’t go well with the keys against Tulsa. The Oilers scored first and outshot Allen 40-31. Both teams scored two power play goals, but the special teams edge goes to Tulsa. Allen’s power play percentage was 33% (2-6) compared to Tulsa’s 40% (2-5)

– The Oilers not only scored the first goal of the game but the second and third, all in the first period. With a 3-0 deficit after the first period, it was an uphill battle for Allen the rest of the game. To the Americans credit they didn’t give up. Kris Myllari got Allen on the scoreboard late in the second period. Myllari took a shot from the goal line that found its way into the net. Tulsa took a 3-1 lead into the second intermission which wasn’t a good sign. Tulsa’s record when leading after the second period is now 8-0-2-0. Allen’s record when trailing after the second period is 3-18-0-0.

– Allen cut the score to 3-2 just 48 seconds into the third period to give Allen hope. Jack Combs scored a power play goal, but Tulsa responded at the 3:13 mark to regain a two-goal lead. Allen cut the lead to one goal again (4-3) at the 4:46 mark with another power play goal, this one from Colton Hargrove. Once again Tulsa responded (8:15) to regain the two-goal lead, 5-3.

– Allen pulled goalie Luke Peressini with 2:04 remaining in the game looking for the same magic when two goals were scored in 43 seconds on Friday to send the game to overtime. Two goals were scored in exactly 43 seconds yesterday, but they were two empty net goals by Tulsa to give the Oilers a 7-3 win.

– Goal scorers for Allen were Kris Myllari (3), Jack Combs (22) and Colton Hargrove (17). Here are the video highlights with all 10 goals: https://www.echl.com/en/video/2023/1/allen-americans-vs-tulsa-oilers—jan-29-2023-YgkRBPsw

– Here is the game recap from the Allen Americans: https://allenamericans.com/media/americans-winning-streak-ends-at-four/

– I had a chance to touch base with coach Gens after the game the game. Here are his comments.

“We came out flat in the first period giving up three goals, two on the power play.”

“We absolutely loved the compete level after trailing 3-0 after the first period. The guys kept coming back but we just couldn’t pull it off.”

“I am proud of the guys for battling but we have to learn from the bad start we had today.”

“The day trip to Tulsa was very difficult with it being our third game in less than 48 hours and fourth game in five days. The guys were tired.”

“I am proud of the guys for a great week. We will take tomorrow off to rest and then get ready for another important week when we travel to Utah for three games.”

– Liam Finlay ended up with an impressive week that could lead to ECHL Player of the Week honors. Liam had points in all four Allen games for a total of seven points (5G, 2A). Allen’s record for the week was 3-1, Finlay had the game winning goal in all three wins. Whether he is selected as the player of the week or not, the rookie had a monster week.

– Colton Hargrove extended his point streak to 15 games (22 points) with a goal and assist in the loss yesterday. He now has the longest point streak in the ECHL this season. Even more impressive than the point streak is Colton’s goal scoring. With his goal yesterday he has now scored 13 goals in the last 14 games. To give you an idea of how ridiculous his goal scoring pace has been over the last month, at that pace over a full season he would score 67 goals.

Hargrove’s 15 game point streak puts him in the rare company of only one other Allen player, his coach, Chad Costello. In 2016-17 Chad had a 15-game point streak, in 2014-15 a 17-game point streak and in 2015-16 Chad set the all-time Allen record with a 19-game point streak.

– Jack Combs has been Allen’s most consistent scorer all season. Combs has gone two games without a point once all season. Jack had a goal and assist yesterday and now has 50 points (22G, 28A). He is #3 in the ECHL in points (50), #2 in goals (22), #4 in power play goals (8), #8 in assists (28) and 11th in game winning goals (4).

– Allen now must get ready to play three games in Utah. The team will fly to Salt Lake City tomorrow and take on the Grizzlies on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Allen and Utah are battling for a playoff spot and have similar records. Allen’s record is 18-21-1-0, Utah’s is 19-20-1-0. Both teams have been playing great hockey. In the last 10 games Allen is 7-3-0-0, Utah is 7-2-1-0. I will talk more about this in the series preview on Wednesday, but Utah’s record is misleading because it has played Idaho a disproportionate number of times this season. The Grizzlies record against Idaho is 4-11-0-0. Without the Idaho games Utah’s points percentage is .620 (15-9-1-0). The point is Utah is a lot better than its record shows. It will be a challenging road trip for Allen who has to take four of the six available points to keep pace for the fourth playoff spot.

– Gary Steffes is headed back home after flying to Allen to help out after the tragedy that struck Chad Costello last week. Gary brings a positive uplifting spirit to any environment he is in. To see firsthand how engaged he was in helping Aaron Gens this week was something to see. The two of them have such mutual admiration and worked so well together in Costello’s absence. It was obvious Steffes was relishing being neck deep in hockey again.

OTHER COMMENTS

– With the loss in Tulsa yesterday, Allen ended its four-game win streak which is the longest of the season. An indication of just how well the Americans have been playing is their two longest win streaks of the season (4 games & 3 games) happened back-to-back this month. Since January 11 Allen’s record is 7-2-0-0.

– Hank Crone played in his first AHL game last night as his Ontario Reign team lost at home to Calgary by a score of 4-1. Hank’s line score was all zeros. Ontario’s next game is Tuesday. Crone is still top five in ECHL scoring with 48 points. Allen is the only team in the ECHL with two players in the top five in scoring. Jack Combs is #3 with 50 points.

– Here are the current Mountain Division standings by points percentage. The number of games remaining is in parenthesis:

• .813 – Idaho (32)
• .583 – Wichita (30)
• .513 – Kansas City (34)
• .488 – Rapid City (30)
• .488 – Utah (32)
• .463 – Allen (32)
• .436 – Tulsa (33)

– There have been plenty of roster changes in the last month for the Americans and I would expect you will see more to come. Gavin Gould, Colby McAuley, Xavier Bernard, Grant Hebert and Chase Perry all played their first game for Allen in the last month. Jackson Leppard, Lordanthony Grissom, Joe Widmar, Logan Flodell and Kevin Mandolese  played in their last game for Allen.

– When you talk about which ECHL teams are playing the best hockey recently it is not all of the teams at the top of the standings. Utah and Allen arer perfect examples. They are ranked #20 and #21 in points percentage in the league but have won seven of their last 10 games. Toledo is ranked #12 but is 8-2-0-0 in the last 10 games. However, the best teams in the ECHL over the last ten games with records of 9-1-0-0 are #2 ranked Newfoundland and #7 ranked Maine.

DID YOU KNOW: The ECHL post today is about shutouts and goalies that had the most saves in a shutout. Chase Perry not only had Allen’s first shutout of the season on Saturday, he is on the list of most saves in a shutout in the ECHL this season.

There have been 40 shutouts in the ECHL this season ranging from 1-0 (twice) to 7-0 (twice). Saves in a shutout have ranged from a high of 43 to a low of 13. Here are the goalies with the most saves in a shutout:43: Mark Sinclair: Cincinnati (6-0 vs Fort Wayne)41: Henrik Tikkanen: Worcester (7-0 vs Greenville)41: Jake Theut: Adirondack (5-0 vs Newfoundland)39: Evan Cormier: Kalamazoo (2-0 vs Toledo)38: Luke Cavallin: Newfoundland (5-0 vs Maine)37: Chase Perry: Allen (6-0 vs Tulsa)