It is gameday for the Allen Americans as they are in Kansas City where they will play the Mavericks tonight (7:05 CST), Sunday (4:05 CST) and Monday (1:05 CST). Allen then returns home to play the Mavericks twice more (February 19 & 20).
- Allen and Kansas City have played just once this season but have 10 more games to play (5 home, 5 away). On January 23 in Kansas City the Americans beat the Mavericks 2-1 with Conner Bleackley scoring both Allen goals.
- Allen's record is 14-5-1-0 with a point percentage of .725 which is #2 in the Western Conference. Kansas City's record is 7-9-2-1 with a points percentage of .447 which is #6 in the Western Conference. The Americans are 7-2-1-0 in their last 10 games but have lost three of their last five games. Allen beat Utah 2-1 in a shootout in their last game. The Mavericks are 5-4-1-0 in their last 10 games and have lost three straight. They lost to Utah 3-2 in their last game. Allen's record in Kansas City over the last five seasons is 9-10-1-0.
- When you compare Allen's road and Kansas City's home special teams stats a small advantage goes to the Americans. On the power play Allen is 9-44 (20.5%) and Kansas City is 6-34 (17.6%). On the penalty kill Allen is 6-38 (84.2%) and Kansas City is 5-28 (82.1%).
- If you look at recent performance the Allen special teams have not performed well. The Americans have allowed a power play goal in seven of their last eight games. The penalty kill percentage over that time is just 70.8%. The Americans have not scored a power play goal in the last three games.
- Coach Martinson has added a forward to the roster as the Americans are very thin up front and will be missing a forward this weekend. Martinson has been rotating goalies each game so Justin Kapelmaster will get the start in goal tonight.
- If any of the games this weekend go extra time, advantage Allen. The Americans are 3-1 and the Mavericks are 2-3 in overtime/shootout games.
- As always the first goal will be key. Allen scored first and won the game when these teams played in January. Their combined record when scoring first is 17-2-0-1.
OTHER COMMENTS
- Fort Wayne opened its season last night with a 3-2 shootout loss in Wheeling. The other game of interest was Wichita winning 3-2 in a shootout in Utah. Former Allen forward, J.C. Campagna, playing in his first game for Wichita was the second player out for the Thunder in the shootout and he converted. With the win Wichita took over the Western Conference lead with a points percentage of .735.
- There are six games in the ECHL tonight. Here is the ECHL Today with a preview of all of them: https://www.echl.com/en/news/2021/2/echl-today-feb-13
- Orlando is the only team (excluding Fort Wayne who hasn't scored a first goal) remaining that has not lost when scoring first. The Solar Bears have scored the first goal in just six of their 18 games and won them all.
DID YOU KNOW: The best record when scoring first the last five seasons:
2019-20: 7-0-0-1 Newfoundland
2018-19: 26-4-2-0 Orlando
2017-18: 36-3-2-1 Toledo
2016-17: 35-2-0-1 Colorado
2015-16: 35-4-2-2 South Carolina
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