TULSA GAME RECAP-FT. WAYNE GAME PREVIEW 

While Barry is on vacation, the views contained in this blog do not represent Barry, or those of the Allen Americans Organization.

Whether you took the trip to Tulsa, watched ECHL TV, or listened to the game Tuesday night, you ended the night scratching your head, wondering where Allen was in the first two periods when they played so well in the third.  Coach Martinson, after a long drive from Illinois had to be truly disappointed in our performance through the first 40 minutes.  It should be realized that although we have a talented team, we are playing other talented players who are going to come out and play tough against the league champions.  Allen needs to buckle down and come out strong to avoid coming from behind and play all 60 minutes.  With the Colorado win last night, Allen moves to 2nd place in the Mountain Division with 6 pts..

Tulsa Game Recap:

• Tulsa earned all 3 stars of the game, however, consideration should have been given to Chris Crane who scored both goals for Allen.
• Congratulations are in order for Aaron Gens for attaining his 100th professional career assist.
• Allen continues to be solid on the penalty kill stopping all 3 power plays against Tulsa, and now are 29 for 29 
• Tulsa's goaltender, Jamie Phillips, has now recorded 5 straight wins 
• Phillips stopped 42 of 44 goals, 24 being in the 3rd period
• Tulsa's 5 consecutive wins is their best start since 2002-03 
• Former Allen player Reid Halabi was 1 assist away from a Gordie Howe hat trick scoring 1 goal and losing his fight against Derek Mathers.

Coach Martinson's Post Game Comments:

• bad start, 2 goals in just over 2 minutes
• didn't skate until the 3rd period
• our power play isn't doing anything, which really hurts in these close games

Fort Wayne Game Preview:

• Both teams are tied with 6 points, (Allen 3-2-0-0), Komets (3-1-0-0)
• Both teams are undefeated when leading after the 1st and 2nd periods. 
• Players to watch in Ft. Wayne - Mike Cazzola leads Ft. Wayne with 5 pts. Jamie Schaafsma, Brady Vail, and David Friedmann lead the team in goals with 2 each
• Komet goalies are averaging a 2.00 GAA (same as Allen), and their SV% of .932 (Allen is .944)
• Tough guys for the Komets are Brent Tate with 16 PIMs, and Taylor Crunk with 12 PIMs.  Both are rookies.
• Ft. Wayne averages 19.2 PIMs vs. Allen 21.6 PIMs
• Allen continues their PK efficiency (29-29) and are at 100%
• Ft. Wayne's PK is at 88.9% (2-18)
• On the power play, Allen is a paltry 2-23 (8.7%) while Ft. Wayne is second in the league with 3-11 (27.3%)
• Ft. Wayne should be well rested (or rusty, we hope).  Their last game was a 4-1 losing effort in Kalamazoo on 10/22.

These writers will be on the road supporting our Americans in Ft. Wayne, Indy, and Kalamazoo and will attempt to continue the blogs although they may be abbreviated versions.

Did you know: The only other regular season meeting between Allen and Ft. Wayne was Feb. 18, 2011 when Allen won a 3-2 shootout in Ft. Wayne in a CHL game.   These two teams last met on May 22, 2016 when the Americans eliminated the Komets 4 games to 1 in Allen during the ECHL Western Conference finals.