A Final Loss to Idaho, Game Recaps, Video Highlights, ECHL Attendance and More

The Allen Americans season series against Idaho ended last night the same way it started back in November and in the six games in between, with a multi goal loss. Last night it was a 6-3 loss before a disappointed crowd of 4326 at the CUTX Event Center. Allen ended the season series against Idaho with a record of 0-8-0-0. Since joining the ECHL in 2014-15 the Americans have never gone winless in a season series of more than two games against any team.

– When you lose eight straight games against the same team, all by multiple goals, it is not about bad officiating, puck luck, bad bounces, poor goaltending, inconsistency, one bad period or any other reason. It is because the other team is better. Here are the final stats in the eight games against Idaho this season, all one-sided in the Steelhead’s favor:

• Record: 0-8-0-0
• Goals: 42-18
• Shots: 313-227
• Allen was outscored 16-3 in the first periods and never had the lead after the first period.

– Last night was a familiar script. Lots of optimism going into the game with Colton Hargrove and Jack Combs returning to the lineup after missing the last two games. The optimism quickly dissipated when Idaho out shot Allen 15-6 in the first period and scored two power play goals on questionable calls. Idaho took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission which was not a good sign considering the Steelhead record with a first period lead is 28-3-1-1. 

– If anything, the second period was worse for the Americans. Two even strength goals gave Idaho a 4-0 lead before Allen finally scored a power play goal (Eric Williams) at the 15:12 mark. The final tally for the second period was a 22-13 shot advantage for Idaho and a 4-1 lead going into the third period. At this point the game was over when you consider Idaho’s record with a second period lead is an astounding 43-1-0-0.

– To the Americans credit they did not throw in the towel given they had been outscored 4-1 and outshot 37-19 in the first two periods. Allen won the third period, scoring two goals (Stefan Fournier & Hank Crone) to get the Americans within one goal (4-3) before Idaho struck back to take a two-goal lead with less than four minutes remaining. An empty net goal with 14 seconds left in the game made the final score 6-3. Each team scored two goals in the third period, but Allen clearly played better outshooting Idaho 18-9, but it was too little, too late.

– There is no shame in losing to Idaho who is likely to have the best season in the history of the ECHL unless the Steeelheads collapse over their remaining nine games. Allen fans will be cheering for Idaho to continue its stellar play since the Steelheads play Kansas City, Utah and Rapid City down the stretch, all teams Allen is competing with for a playoff spot. The best scenario for Allen would be for Idaho to win its final nine games and blow away the all-time ECHL records.

– Goal scorers for Allen were Eric Williams (5), Stefan Fournier (10) and Hank Crone (42). Here are the video highlights with the Allen goals and Robidoux fight:  https://www.echl.com/en/video/2023/3/idaho-steelheads-vs-allen-americans—mar-25-2023-P4co4iOh

– Game recaps:

Allen Americans:  https://allenamericans.com/media/idaho-completes-the-season-sweep/

Idaho Steelheads:  Here is a game recap which also summarizes the many records Idaho is about to break in its amazing season: https://www.idahosteelheads.com/en/articles/jordan-kawaguchi-scores-hat-trick-in-6-3-victory-at-allen      

– Next up for Allen is three games in Rapid City on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Rapid City has been playing great hockey recently. The Rush had a six-game winning streak snapped last night in Fort Wayne. Allen’s record against Rapid City this season 2-3-0-0. It will be another critical series for the Americans.

OTHER COMMENTS

– Hank Crone scored his 42nd goal last night. The last time a rookie had 42 goals was Justin Donati in 2009-10 with a Steve Martinson coached Elmira Jackals. Donati is also the last rookie to score 100 points (104).

– Allen’s 0-8-0-0 record against Idaho is first time since joining the ECHL the Americans have played a team more than two times and not win a game. While researching that stat I also looked at how many times Allen has played a team more than two times in a season and went undefeated. I found four examples:

• 3-0-0-0: Newfoundland (2021-22)
• 4-0-0-0: Utah (2016-17)
• 6-0-0-0: Indy (2016-17)
• 13-0-0-0: Wichita (2015-16)

– Fort Wayne Goalie Ryan Fanti scored an unassisted empty net goal last night in the Komets 6-3 win over Rapid City. It was the first goal scored by a goalie in 71 years of the Fort Wayne franchise. It is the 15th goalie goal in ECHL history. https://youtu.be/ws825IHmMN0

– Allen got some help last night despite losing because Rapid City and Kansas City also lost. The Mountain Division is very competitive but very highly ranked compared to the rest of the league with the exception of Idaho who will be the regular season champion. Here is where the seven Mountain Division teams rank in the ECHL by points percentage. If past is prologue Idaho is the only team in the division with a shot at the Kelly Cup. No teams finishing below #7 in the regular season has won the Kelly Cup in 20 years.

• #1 – Idaho (.833)
• #15 – Kansas City (.516)
• #16 – Wichita (.516)
• #19 – Allen (.500)
• #20 – Utah (.492)
• #21 – Rapid City (.492)
• #26 – Tulsa (.393)

– Here is the latest on the “five for three” group vying to make the playoffs. Here is how they stand today but this could change because three of the five play today. Kansas City is at Tulsa, Rapid City is at Fort Wayne and Cincinnati is at Utah. If Allen doesn’t get some help from the Central Division (Fort Wayne & Cincinnati) the Americans could be in sixth place by the end of today.  Here is the group by points with games remaining:

• 66 points – Wichita (8)
• 64 points – Kansas City (10)
• 62 points – Allen (10)
• 61 points – Utah (10)
• 61 points – Rapid City (10)

– If you haven’t been tracking the Frozen Four, things are going much better than in March Madness for the top seeds. Of the top four seeds in the tournament three are still alive. The #4 seed (Denver) lost in the first round. Boston University won that region and will play #1 seed University of Minnesota who has also advanced to the Frozen Four.  In the other half of the bracket #3 Michigan plays Penn State and #2 Quinnipiac plays Ohio State with the winners advancing to the Frozen Four to play each other.

DID YOU KNOW: The ECHL Stats post today is about attendance. Here is Allen’s average attendance over the same period:3488 – 2022-233220 – 2021-221859 – 2020-214001 – 2019-204073 – 2018-19The ECHL reached the 4,000,000 mark in attendance last night for the first time since 2018-19. Here is the ECHL total attendance, average attendance, high and low teams since 2018-19:2022-23 (4,022,972)*Average: 4566High: 7751 (Fort Wayne)Low: 1782 (Iowa)2021-22 (3,801,941)Average: 3935High: 7358 (Toledo)Low: 1681 (Wheeling)2020-21 (1,105,921 – COVID restricted)Average: 2275High: 3493 (Florida)Low: 987 (Wheeling)2019-20 (3,449,348)Average: 4327High: 8090 (Toledo)Low: 2267 (Wheeling)2018-19 (4,320,570)Average: 4445High: 7932 (Fort Wayne)Low: 2265 (Wheeling)*Average attendance thus far in 2022-23 (4566) is the highest since the 2014-15 season (4598).