Allen Turns Setback into Comeback, Game Recap, Video Highlights, Streaks Galore, ECHL Best Goals Differential Teams and More

The Allen Americans have had some great comebacks over the years and the 6-3 win over Utah last night was one of the best. Prior to last night the Grizzlies hadn’t lost a game all season when they led by as few as one goal, let alone the 3-0 lead they had after the first period against the Americans. This Allen team has a belief and confidence in its ability to generate offense no matter how far they fall behind.

– Here is a short list of what the Americans accomplished after scoring six unanswered goals when they found themselves behind 3-0 after the first period:

• Allen remains in third place in the Mountains Division.
• Allen is now just three points from catching second place Wichita who has lost seven of its last 10 games. Second place would earn home ice advantage for the first round of the playoffs.
• Allen has three 30 goals scorers (Crone, Combs, Hargrove) and there are 20 games left in the season.
•  All three lines had goals, just like Friday night.
• Allen scored a power play goal for the sixth straight game against Utah.

– Goal scorers for Allen were Jack Combs (29,30), Colton Hargrove (30), Hank Crone (31). Chad Butcher (6) and Mikael Robidoux (6). Here are the video highlights: https://www.echl.com/en/video/2023/2/allen-americans-vs-utah-grizzlies—feb-25-2023-Tk2OOp9u

– Game recaps:

Allen Americans: https://allenamericans.com/media/americans-rally-to-beat-utah/

Utah Grizzlies: https://www.utahgrizzlies.com/en/grizzlies-news/grizzlies-fall-6-3-to-allen-on-saturday-night

– Allen was 1-4 on the power play and has now moved up to #3 in the league in power play percentage at 23.7%. The best power play percentage in team history was 24.4% in 2016-17.

– In Allen Americans franchise history 12 rookies have scored 30+ points in a season. Hank Crone had a goal and assist last night and now leads the ECHL scoring race with 72 points. Crone leads the rookie scoring race by 13 points. Alex Lavoie and Tyler Sheehy led the league in rookie scoring and were also selected as the league’s Rookie of the Year. Crone will blow away the rookie scoring record and has a legitimate shot at reaching 100 points.

• 76 points – Alex Lavoie (2013-14)
• 72 points – Hank Crone (2022-23, 20 games remaining)
• 70 points – Tyler Sheehy (2019-20)
• 56 points – Spencer Asuchak (2013-14)
• 44 points – Braylon Shmyr (2018-19)
• *41 points – David Strathman (2010-11)
• 41 points – Nick Layton (2011-12)
• *39 points – Alex Breton (2018-19)
• *39 points – Justin Baker (2014-15)
• 33 points – Tobias Whelan (2009-10)
• 32 points – Zane Franklin (2020-21)
• *30 points – Eric Roy (2015-16)

*Defensemen

– Didn’t think three Allen players would make this all-time list with 20 games remaining in the season. You can only imagine how high up the list they will end up. Crone, Hargrove and Combs have joined the 30-goal club:

• 44 goals – Gary Steffes (2014-15)
• 41 goals – Chad Costello (2014-15)
• 35 goals – Greger Hanson (2016-17)
• 34 goals – Bruce Graham (2010-11)
• 34 goals – Nino Musitelli (2010-11)
• 34 goals – Zach Pochiro (2018-19)
• 33 goals – Chad Costello (2016-17)
• 33 goals – Colton Yellow Horn (2010-11)
• 31 goals – Bruce Graham (2009-10)
• 31 goals – Hank Crone (2022-23)
• 30 goals – Jack Combs (2022-23)
• 30 goals – Colton Hargrove 92022-23)
• 30 goals – Corey Mackin (2020-21)

– Lots of streaks continued last night:

• Colton Hargrove extended his goal per game scoring average to 26 goals in the last 26 games and his road point streak to 14 games, second longest current streak.
• Jack Combs extended his points streak to 17 games, his assist streak to six games and his road assist streak to eight games, all three the current longest streak.
• Hank Crone extended his road point streak to 15 games and his goal scoring streak to six games the longest current streaks in the league.

– The team stays in Salt Lake City today and won’t fly back to DFW until early Monday morning. I heard Tommy Daniels say wakeup call is 2:45 am Monday morning.

– Allen has been winning two of every three games consistently over the last couple of months with the one exception when the Americans lost two of three to Fort Wayne at home. Allen has just two game this coming week with home games on Saturday and Sunday against Rapid City. The goal this week has to be taking four points from the Rush. Allen is 0-3-0-0 against Rapid City this season.

DID YOU KNOW: The ECHL Stats post today is about goal differentials. Allen has scored 186 goals and allowed 193 for a goal differential of -7.

ECHL goal differentials (goals for minus goals against) range from +100 (Idaho) to -95 (Norfolk). 12 of 28 ECHL teams (43%) have positive goal differentials. All 12 are currently in playoff positions:+100: Idaho+57: Toledo+52: Newfoundland+39: Maine+35: Cincinnati+31: Indy+29: Reading+27: Jacksonville+27: South Carolina+26: Florida+13: Greenville+7: Wichita