Game Recap, Schaafsma Streak, Goal Differential Chart, December Disaster, 30 Goal Scorers

Seems like the most over used words when talking about the Allen Americans these days are disappointing and frustrating. It happened again last night as the Americans took a two goal lead heading into the third period only to have Tulsa score four unanswered goals in a 4-2 victory before a crowd of 4246 at the BOK Center.

- Neither team was able to score on the power play as Allen was 0-3 and Tulsa was 0-2. Tulsa was credited with a shorthanded goal as Todd Robinson scored an empty net goal with eight seconds left in the game.

- Plus/minus has been an issue with Allen all year which proved to be the case again last night. For the game Tulsa was +8 while Allen was -10. For the season here is how Allen ranks with the teams ahead of them in the standings.
Rapid City -   +184
Missouri -      +108
Tulsa -            +57
Allen -            -27

- Shots on goal were telling as Allen had 14 in the first period as they built a 2-0 lead on goals by Garrett Klotz (2) and Phil Fox (7). In the second period the Tulsa defense limited the Americans to just six shots and in the third period Allen could only manage four shots. Totals for the game were Allen 24, Tulsa 34.

- Jamie Schaafsma has quietly become the leading scorer on the team over the last five games with five points (1 goal 4 assists). He had a point in four of the five games.

- Immediately after the game the team boarded the bus for the trip to St. Charles. The team arrived around 4:00 am and will face off with the Chill tonight at 7:05.  St. Charles is on a three game losing streak and has only scored two goals in their last three games.

- With three games still to play this month the Americans are assured of their worst December record in team history. Here is the December record by year:
2013-2014:     2-7 (three game remaining)
2012-2013:     9-3
2011-2012:     8-6
2010-2011:     7-2
2009-2010:     7-4


- In the only other game in the CHL last night, the first round of the three round battle between the top teams in the league, Missouri beat Rapid City 4-2 in what by all accounts was a great game. “Special teams played a big role — we got two (power play goals), they got one, and that was the difference in the end,” Missouri head coach Scott Hillman said. “We bussed all night, about 12 hours to get here, and played a couple men short, so I’m really proud of the guys’ effort. (Rapid City) is the first place team for a reason, and obviously our goal coming in is to try to narrow that gap if we can.”

- Is goal differential (difference between goals scored and goals allowed) a good predictor of success? Before the games last night I looked at goal differential and winning percentage. Here is how the teams ranked by winning percentage with their goal differential in parenthesizes.
1. Rapid City (+37)
2. Missouri    (+26)
3. Quad City  (+11)
4. Allen          (+5)
5. Denver       (+2)
6. Tulsa          (+2)
7. Brampton   (-8)
8. Wichita      (-15)
9. Arizona      (-26)
10. St. Charles (-34)
At least for this one day goal differential was a perfect correlation to winning percentage.

- The difference between fourth place and seventh place in the CHL standings is a scant one point. All 10 CHL teams will be in action tonight.



DID YOU KNOW: There have only been four 30 goals seasons in franchise history and the top three happened in the same year. Here they are:
34 - Bruce Graham (2010-2011)
33 - Colton Yellow Horn (2010-2011)
33 - Nino Musitelli (2010-2011)
31 - Bruce Graham (2009-2010)