Allen Loses 4-1, Game Recap, Video Highlights, Martinson Comments, Tonight’s Lineup, Alumni Game Details and Player Update Videos

 

Welcome to another version of Allen Americans’ inconsistency. The good was back-to-back wins in Kansas City last weekend, against the best team in the ECHL, which had won 25 of 26 games. The bad was a 4-1 loss at home last night against Tulsa, the worst team in the Mountain Division. 

 

– Lack of scoring has been the hallmark of Allen’s recent play. The Americans have lost five of their last 10 games, by scores of 4-1, 4-3, 3-2, 2-0, and 2-1. Allen’s five wins in the last 10 games include three scores of 2-1, two of which were in overtime. You add it all together, and Allen has scored two or fewer goals in seven of the last 10 games.

 

– In the last three games against Tulsa, the Americans lost 4-1, won 2-1 in overtime, and won 5-1. Allen scored a total of seven goals in the three games in regulation time. Six of the seven goals were power-play goals; just one was scored even strength. Last night, Allen’s only goal was a power play goal. 

 

– It was another slow start that cost Allen last night. For the 31st time in 54 games (57%), the Americans gave up the first goal. Allen’s points percentage when giving up the first goal is .387. Allen fell behind 2-0 in the first period, but cut the score to 2-1 with just 29 seconds remaining. It was a power play goal by Danny Katic, his team’s 24th goal and eighth power play goal of the season. Assists went to Colton Hargrove and Sam Sedley.

 

– The first period has been the Achilles heel for Allen all season. The Americans’ first-period goal differential of -12 is one of the worst in the league (45 goals scored, 57 allowed). Allen entered the second period with the momentum and the knowledge that it had been its best period all season. The second period goal differential is +15 (68 for, 43 allowed), but Allen wasn’t able to score, despite a 15-8 shot advantage. The second period ended with Tulsa leading 2-1, and the odds of a loss for the Americans became very high. Allen’s point percentage when trailing after the second period is .190 (3-16-2-0). Tulsa’s point percentage when leading after the second period is .735 (12-4-1-0).

 

– There was still hope that Allen could come back until the 8:03 mark of the third period when Tulsa extended its lead to 3-1. That was followed (16:54) by an empty net goal to make the final score 4-1. To add insult to injury, goalie David Tendeck, who was traded to Tulsa by Allen earlier this week, assisted on the empty net goal to go along with his .974 save percentage.   

 

– Here are the game recap from Tulsa and the video highlights with the goals and great saves:

 

MARTINSON POST-GAME COMMENTS

 “I was frustrated this week in practice because we weren’t shooting the puck very well, and that carried over to the game. To have 38 shots and one power play goal is all you have to show for it is not good enough.” 

 “I thought their forwards showed more speed at times than ours. Some of our 40+ point guys were non-factors out there tonight.”

“It is pretty disappointing when you have a good week in Kansas City and then come back home and lose to the last-place team.” 

“When you aren’t scoring goals, the defensive mistakes we made on the first two goals were very costly.”

“We scored on our second power play opportunity, and then we didn’t try what was successful again. It seems like when we score on the power play, we think we have to score a different way, rather than doing the same play over and over until they take it away.”

“I think our biggest problem is that we didn’t show much speed, especially outside speed. Some of our defensemen showed speed carrying the puck into the zone. Tomorrow I am going to show the line rushes to show the lack of speed.”

“The NHL trade deadline was today, and the AHL deadline is next Friday. I expect to get some contracted players assigned after the AHL deadline. The number will depend on what trades are made next week. I also expect to sign a college goalie this week.”

“The bottom line is, it will get a lot more competitive around here over the next week or two. The guys I will bring in are not 4th line players.”   

 

TONIGHT’S PREVIEW

– Coach Martinson mentioned this several times in his comments to the STMs after the game. To be successful, the team needs to use its speed, especially through the neutral zone.

 

– It can’t be overstated how important it is to get off to a good start and avoid playing from behind. If Allen can do that tonight, a win is likely. 

 

– Allen had 38 shots last night, and they scored a power play goal. That should be enough to win. However, to go with the positive, the Americans gave up a shorthanded goal and had a 2.6% shooting percentage. Based on their season-long shooting percentage of 10.0%, 38 shots should generate 3 or 4 goals. Allen has one even-strength goal in the last three games against Tulsa. That has to change tonight. 

 

– The game tonight will be a two-referee game, with the same officiating crew as last night. The referees will be
Jamie Pavia (#26) and Logan Gruhl #29). The linesmen will be Daniel
Barnes (#76) and Aaron Schacht. They only called five minor penalties last night in the game without much physicality. I would definitely bet the over 5 on the number of penalties tonight.

 

– Here is the lineup tonight. Only changes are Avery Smith in for Gursoy and Ledonne in for Decker.

 

 

OTHER COMMENTS

– Idaho, Kansas City, Tulsa, and Wichita were the Mountain Division winners last night. The losers were Allen, Rapid City, and Utah. Here are the standings with points earned in the last 10 games in parentheses so you can see who is gaining ground and losing ground to the teams close to them:

•  89 points – Kansas City (17 points)
•  74 points – Idaho (8 points)
•  63 points – Allen (11 points)
•  61 points – Tahoe (11 points)
•  54 points  – Wichita (9 points)
•  49 points – Rapid City (9 points)
•  47 points – Utah (9 points) 
•  41 points – Tulsa (12 points)

 

–  If you look at the points earned in the last 10 games in the list above, a few things stand out:

• 10 games is about a month of play
• It is hard to gain or lose a lot of points in a month. A gap of six or more points will be very hard to make up by the end of the season. 
• The top two teams over the last 10 games are first-place Kansas City (17 points) and last-place Tulsa (12 points).  

 

– Allen gave up its sixth shorthanded goal of the season last night. The Americans have only scored two shorties themselves. Here are the Allen shorthanded goals for (F) and against (A) since joining the ECHL. The net shorthanded goals (shorties scored minus shorties allowed) are in parentheses

• 2025-26: 2F, 6A  (-4)
• 2024-25: 4F, 6A (-2)
• 2023-24: 8F, 9A (-1)
• 2022-23: 6F, 6A (0)
• 2021-22: 7F, 20A (-13)
• 2020-21: 11F, 3A (+8)
• 2019-20: 9F, 3A (+6)
• 2018-19: 8F, 5A (+3)
• 2017-18: 7F, 10A (-3)
• 2016-17: 9F, 13A (-4)
• 2015-16: 9F, 10A  (-1)
• 2014-15: 8F, 8A (0)

 

 

– A light load for a Saturday night with only 20 of the 30 ECHL teams in action. The Mountain Division matchups are the same as last night: Here is the ECHL Today with the previews: https://echl.com/news/2026/03/echl-today-march-7

• Wichita at Indy
• Idaho at Norfolk
• Utah at Bloomington 
• Wheeling at Rapid City
• Tahoe at Kansas City
• Tulsa at Allen

 

ALUMNI GAME

– I haven’t heard of any more changes to the roster. For those planning to attend, here are the times:

• 4:30 pm – doors open
• 4:35 pm – 10-minute warmups
• 4:45 pm –  player introductions
• 5:00 pm – puck drop
•  Format: Three 15-minute periods with one-minute intermissions 

 

– As I ran into the players from the past at the game last night, I asked them for an update on their families. I will load more of them tomorrow. Here is a sample:

Yesterday was a big day for Adam Pineault: