Homestand Starts With Loss, Game Recap, Video Highlights, Martinson’s Comments, Historical Shorty Stats, Rookie Goalies and More

Allen extended its losing streak to four straight last night with a 3-2 home loss to the Rapid City Rush before a big Wednesday night crowd of 3834 at the CUTX Event Center. The Americans have lost eight of their last nine games and it won’t get any easier this weekend when Allen plays three games against the #2 team in the ECHL in points percentage (.692), the Newfoundland Growlers. Newfoundland played in Wichita last night and beat the Thunder 3-0 with a 42-19 shot advantage.

– Last night was similar to many of the games during the Americans losing streak. Allen was outshot 17-4 in the first period, however did much better in the second and third, outshooting Rapid City 15-9 and 15-11. Allen trailed after the first period (1-0) and second period (2-1). If you combine Allen’s record when leading after the first and second period it is 12-2-2-1 but when trailing the Americans record is 3-20-3-0.

– The game turned on yet another shorthanded goal, the 15th allowed by Allen this season. Even worse, it came in the last minute of the second period to give the Rush a 3-1 lead. Another game when Allen was -1 on the power play, going 0-4 and giving up a shorty.

– If you want to look on the bright side, Allen outshot the Rush 30-20 over the last two periods, scored the only goal of the third period to close the gap to 3-2 and had some good chances to tie the score. Allen didn’t take a single minor penalty in the game and has now gone seven straight games without allowing a power play goal.

– Goal scorers for Allen were Tyler Poulsen (5) and Branden Troock (12). Chad Costello assisted on Poulsen’s goal to extend his streak to five games with at least a point. Over the five game streak, Costello has 11 points (4G, 7A). He is #2 in the ECHL in points with 42, three off the lead. Here are the video highlights: https://youtu.be/7hEf9FPUuFU

–  Here is the game recap from the Allen Americans: https://allenamericans.com/media/game-recap-americans-rally-falls-short-2/

– Here is the game recap from Rapid City:  https://www.rapidcityrush.com/en/news/2022/1/chabot-kelley-help-rush-past-americans-3-2

COACH’S CORNER WITH STEVE MARTINSON

“On the first goal we just got out muscled. On the second goal they just threw the puck at the net and it ended up with a goal. We need to do more of that, we haven’t been doing enough to get the puck to the net.”

“We had plenty of chances where we didn’t get the puck in the net. When our top guys have to goalie down, the puck has to be in the net.”

“To play good defense you have to care and take pride in more than scoring.”

“Eric Roy is day to day so we will have to see if he is available this weekend”

“Gavin Gould is having a MRI today and that will dictate how long he will be out.”

“I expect Chad Butcher to miss the next two weekends with his injury.”

OTHER COMMENTS

– The number of shorthanded goals allowed (15) by the Americans is a serious failing and unique to this team, specifically the power play units. Allen has allowed 15 shorthanded goals and the season is only 47% completed. At the current pace Allen would allow 36 shorthanded goals by season’s end. How out of whack are these numbers? The Americans have already set their single season record for allowing shorthanded goals. Here are the number of shorthanded goals allowed in each season since Allen joined the ECHL. The number in parenthesis is the team that led the ECHL in shorthanded goals allowed, with the number allowed:

• 15: 2021-22 (after 34 games)
• 3: 2020-21  (17- Rapid City)
• 3: 2019-20  (16 – Jacksonville) 
• 5: 2018-19  (20 – Greenville)
• 10: 2017-18  (15 – Jacksonville)
• 13: 2016-17  (14 – Utah)   
• 10: 2015-16  (15 – Orlando & Greenville)
• 8: 2014-15  (16 – Wheeling)  

– With Allen’s loss to Rapid City the Americans have dropped below the .500 mark in points percentage. Just nine of 27 ECHL teams have points percentages below .500. Allen is now in sixth place in the Mountain Division. Here are the standings after last night’s action:

• .650 – Utah
• .586 – Tulsa
• .566 – Idaho
• .563 – Rapid City
• .487 – Kansas City
• .485 – Allen
• .397 – Wichita

– Allen now must get ready for a difficult three game series against Newfoundland. The Growlers have just returned to play after a long layoff. They have played four games in a swing through the Mountain Division and split them. Will Allen get the team that lost to Kansas City 4-2 and Tulsa 5-1 or the team that beat Kansas City 9-4 and Wichita last night 3-0 while outshooting the Thunder 42-19.

DID YOU KNOW: The last time an Allen rookie goalie was at the top of the league stats was in 2012-13 when Aaron Dell led the Americans to their first championship. Dell led all CHL rookies goalies in GAA (.2.30) and was #2 in save percentage (.916). Here are the ECHL rookie leaders in wins this season:

ECHL rookie goalies with most wins this season, with save percentage:13 – *Daniel Mannella, @tulsa_oilers, .92910 – Trent Miner, Utah, .92310 – Jet Greaves, Kalamazoo, .90710 – Stefanos Lekkas, Wheeling, .9029 – Lukas Parik, Rapid City, .927*Mannella is #1 in GAA (2.05), #2 in wins (13) and #3 in save percentage (.929) among all ECHL goalies.

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