Allen Shutout 4-0, Game Recap, Video Highlights, Coach's Comments, Allen to Host 2026 All-Star Classic, Mountain Division Goal Differentials and More

During the game last night ECHL Commissioner Ryan Crelin and Americans team owner LaSonjia Jack announced that the Allen Americans will be hosting the 2026 ECHL All-Star Classic. Here are the details: https://echl.com/news/2024/11/allen-named-as-host-of-2026-warriorechl-all-star-classic

The Allen Americans futility at home continued last night with a 4-0 shutout at the hands of the Tulsa Oilers before a sellout crowd of 6275 at the CUTX Event Center. The game was essentially over midway through the first period when the Oilers built a 3-0 lead which included two power play goals. When the dust settled on the first period, Allen had been outshot 24-9, the most shots allowed in a single period in the ECHL this season.

- Special teams played a big role in the game. The good news was for the first time all season Allen had more power play opportunities (4) than its opponent (3). The bad news is the Americans were 0-4 on the power play and Tulsa was 2-3. If you look at the last six Allen games the Americans have scored 0,0,0,2,0,0 power play goals compared to the opponents who have scored 2,2,1,1,0,2 power play goals. The Allen power play has fallen to #23 in the league (12.0%) and the penalty kill has fallen to #25 (75.7%). A combined power play and penalty kill percentage below 100% is considered poor and above 105% is considered excellent. Allen's combined percentage is 87.7%. The top ECHL combined percentage belongs to Tulsa at 119.0%.

- The shot totals after the first period were much closer though Tulsa had the edge, 13-9 in the second period and 9-8 in the third. The game total was 46-26 which follows the 47-28 shot total in Wichita on Friday. As long as I have been writing the blog coaches have quibbled about shot totals, some arguing under counts and at other times over counts. I have always felt the shot numbers average out over time and team comparisons are valid even if the totals aren't perfect. The fact is Allen has the worst average shots on goal per game and the worst average shots allowed per game in the ECHL. The top teams are averaging 12 more shots per game than Allen and giving up 18 fewer shots per game. That gap has to narrow for the Americans to be a winning team. 

- If you want the blow by blow game recaps here they are from both teams:

• Allen American: https://allenamericans.com/news/2024/11/americans-blanked-by-tulsa
• Tulsa Oilers: https://tulsaoilers.com/news/2024/11/oilers-buteyets-blank-americans-in-road-win   

- Here are the video highlight. In addition to the goals there are some of the 42 saves made by goalie Anson Thornton whose save percentage was .933. 

- Coach B.J. Adams met with the season ticket holders after the game to answer questions. Here is some of what he had to say:

Q: Was fatigue a factor given your team traveled overnight from Wichita and Tulsa hadn't played since last Sunday?

A: I hate using excuses, but Tulsa definitely had a really good jump in the first period. We talked about it before the game. They were getting to pucks first, they were winning the 50-50 battles and the score was 3-0 before we settled in. Once we settled in I thought it is was a pretty even game, but we can't spot them three goals. Yes, they were the fresher team, but we should have been ready to go, so no excuses. I was really disappointed in our start tonight.

Q: Will Seaman get an automatic suspension for his leaving the bench game misconduct?

A: I am not sure, but usually on a change like that, you can't have that stuff happen. I am sure something will be done from the league.

Q: Can you give us an assessment of where your team is at after a couple of good games on the road?

A: We are still trying to understand what our identity is. We do well at times, but sometimes we get away from it. After the first 10 minutes tonight and especially in the second period we had some good offensive zone time and some good opportunities. The third period in the win in Utah we gave up one odd man rush and just eight shot on goal to a team that came hard at us the previous five periods. We stuck to our systems and structures. We just have to be more consistent. Bottom line is we are getting there, we are not there yet and I want to get there quicker.    

Q: Are you worried about all of the shots on goal?

A: Most of them came in the first period and it was pretty close after that. The shots in the last three games have been much different than what he get on our analytics. In Wichita the boxscore had the shots 47-28 but when we got the InStat report in the morning the shots were 32-27. Tulsa is a team that throws everything at the net. I care more about what kind of shots our opponents are getting. Would I like our forwards to block more shots and our defensemen to block out better to avoid rebound shots, sure. I care more about where the shots are coming from than how many shots we face."

Q: Are you looking at guys in Europe to possibly bolster you roster?

A: We always have our tentacles in Europe. We have an European scout that I talk to frequently. We are always looking to improve and get better.   

- Next up for the Americans is a day game (10:30 am) on Wednesday against Utah. Allen will also play the Grizzlies on Friday and Saturday.

OTHER COMMENTS

- Allen's home record is now 0-3-1-0 and the Americans are the only team in the division without a home win. It is not just a matter of losing at home, it is how Allen has lost. The Americans have been shutout three times, been outscored 22-4 and outshot 170-93. No way to sugarcoat those results.

-  Kansas City lost to Rapid City last night (5-2) and Idaho lost to Savannah (4-3). The top two teams in the division do not appear to be running off and hiding in the standings like they did last season. It is still early so that could still change. Here are the standings after last night:

• .722 - Kansas City
• .688 - Tulsa
  
• .667 - Wichita
• .667 - Utah
• .583 - Tahoe
• .556 - Idaho
  
• .313 - Allen
• .250 - Rapid City

- Another proxy for strength of teams is goal differential (goals for minus goals against). Here they are for the Mountain Division:

• +14 Tulsa
• +11 Kansas City
• +9 Idaho
• +6 Wichita
• +3 Utah
• -2 Tahoe
• -17 Rapid City
• -24 Allen

- Prior to last night there were just two hat tricks in the ECHL all season (Tyler Bird - Orlando and Easton Brodzinski - Allen). The number doubled last night. Anthony Repaci (Worcester) and Logan Lambdin (Florida) had hat tricks to lead their teams to victory. Colton Hargrove assisted on two of Lambdin's goals. 

-  Depth goal scoring has been an issue for Allen. Just three players have more than one goal; Brodzinski (5), Crnkovic (4) and Watts (3). These three players have scored 70% of Allen's goals. Four players have one goal and and the other 17 have none. 

- Dylan Wells and Anson Thornton have made 297 saves thus far this season in six games. Compare that to Adirondack's goalies who have 161 saves in six games. It shows you how much defense is a team sport. 

- Couldn't end the blog today without noting the Saturday night, big crowd, specialty jersey curse was on full display last night. Here is Allen's record by jersey type for the 36 home games last season. Allen's home points percentage was .486 so you can see the jerseys that over performed and under performed.

• Texas Jersey: 7-3 (.700)
• Red Jersey: 6-3 (.667)
• White Jersey: 2-6 (.250)
• Specialty Jersey: 2-7 (222)
  

DID YOU KNOW: Talk about some head scratching special teams stats both good and bad, check these out: