ECHL Western Conference Recap – Week 3

TULSA, Okla. – Three weeks into the 2015-16 ECHL season and all three divisions in the Western Conference are still tightly contested. In fact, just three of the 14 teams in the conference currently have a winning percentage below .500. With plenty of hockey ahead of us this week, let’s take a look at how each team fared last week.

FORT WAYNE KOMETS (4-2-0-0, 8 Points)

The Komets struggled last week, and now find themselves in the midst of a two-game losing streak. Fort Wayne dropped a 4-2 decision Friday at Indy, followed by a home loss to Cincinnati on Saturday. Down 2-0, goals by Drew Daniels and Jordon Southorn tied Friday’s game with the Fuel early in the second period. The Komets, however, then allowed two unanswered goals late in the second to drop their first game of the year. Garrett Meurs scored on the power play and Pat Nagle made 15 saves for his first loss on Saturday, despite outshooting the Cyclones 37-20.

The week ahead: Fri. home vs. Toledo (3-2-0-1), Sat. home vs. Kalamazoo (2-4-0-0), Sun. at Kalamazoo.

QUAD CITY MALLARDS (3-3-0-2, 8 Points)

The Mallards took to the road last week, dropping three games while picking up a single point out of a possible six. Tanner Eberle scored a power play goal and Zach Pochiro added a shorthanded goal at Missouri on Tuesday, but Quad City would lose 5-2 while allowing two power play goals on four chances. Olivier Archambault and Guillaume Gelinas each scored in the last six minutes of regulation at Norfolk on Friday, overcoming a 2-0 deficit to force overtime. After a scoreless three-on-three overtime, the Mallards fell to the Admirals 2-1 in a shootout, making the final score 3-2. The Mallards ended their road trip with a 2-1 loss at Wheeling on Saturday. Quad City allowed two goals in the opening period, before Matt Neal’s power play goal in the second cut the lead in half. The Mallards were outshot 38-24 as they dropped their third straight game.

The week ahead: Wed. home vs. Missouri (5-2-0-1), Fri. home vs. Wichita (4-3-0-0), Sat. at Indy (3-2-1-0).

INDY FUEL (3-2-1-0, 7 Points)

Down 4-1 entering the third period at Kalamazoo on Tuesday, Dylan Clarke scored on the power play and Peter Schneider added a goal at 18:07 to pull within one, but it wouldn’t be enough as the Fuel fell 4-3 to the Wings. Indy outshot Kalamazoo 50-34, including a 16-6 shot advantage in the final period as they dropped their third game in a row. Indy returned home on Friday and broke back into the win column with a 4-2 decision over Fort Wayne. Josh Brittain scored twice, while Cody Sharib and Schneider each added a goal as Indy pulled away late in the second. Shane Owen posted 27 saves for his second win of the season.

The week ahead: Wed. and Fri. at Evansville (1-3-0-0), Sat. home vs. Quad City (3-3-0-2).

CINCINNATI CYCLONES (3-1-0-0, 6 Points)

The Cyclones earned a weekend split and two points as they played two games in a row for the first time this season. Garrett Noonan scored a second period goal for Cincinnati at Kalamazoo on Friday, but the Cyclones fell 3-1 for their first loss, despite outshooting the Wings 17-4 in the third period. Cincinnati was 0-for-4 on the power play on the night. A Saturday trip to Fort Wayne saw improved results for the Cyclones as they converted 2-of-3 power play chances. Eric Robinson scored twice; while Jack Downing, Zach Budish and Mike Ratchuk each added a goal and Brad Thiessen made 36 saves to give Cincinnati a 5-1 win.

The week ahead: Wed. home vs. Toledo (3-2-0-1), Fri. home vs. Adirondack (6-0-0-0), Sat. home vs. Evansville (1-3-0-0).

EVANSVILLE ICEMEN (1-3-0-0, 2 Points)

The IceMen spent the weekend in the Eastern Conference, and came away with their first victory of the season. Down 2-0 at the first intermission Saturday at Greenville, Evansville got third period goals from Vincent Dunn, Matthew Zay and Ryan Penny as they claimed a 3-2 win. Daulton Leveille and Joe Zarbo each scored Sunday at South Carolina, but it would not be enough for the IceMen. Evansville was 0-for-1 on the man advantage while allowing two power play goals as they fell 5-2 to the Stingrays.

The week ahead: Wed. and Fri. home vs. Indy (3-2-1-0), Sat. at Cincinnati (3-1-0-0).

MISSOURI MAVERICKS (5-2-0-1, 11 Points)

The Mavs picked up three points out of a possible six during a three game week. The Mavericks got three second period goals, two on the power play, on nine shots to claim a 5-2 home win over the Quad City Mallards on Tuesday. Kellen Jones had a goal and three assist, Tyler Barnes had a goal and two assists and Jesse Root added a goal and assist while Parker Milner posted 25 saves to give Missouri its fifth win in a row. Root scored twice at Tulsa on Friday night, including the game-tying-goal in the third period to send the game to a five round shootout. Unfortunately for the Mavericks, they would not find the net and suffered a 4-3 shootout loss to the Oilers. Tyler Barnes scored the only goal for Missouri late in the third on Saturday in a 2-1 loss at Allen.

The week ahead: Wed. at Quad City (3-3-0-2), Sat. home vs. Wichita (4-3-0-0), Sun. at Wichita.

ALLEN AMERICANS (5-2-0-0, 10 Points)

The Americans made the most of a light schedule last week as they came away with a 2-1 home win on Saturday over the Missouri Mavericks. Johnathan Parker and Chad Costello each scored their second goals of the season while Greger Hanson added two assists in the winning effort. Joel Rumpel made 22 saves for his fifth win of the season while Allen picked up its fourth win in a row.

The week ahead: Tue. at Tulsa (3-3-0-0), Fri. and Sat. at Rapid City (4-3-0-0).

WICHITA THUNDER (4-3-0-0, 8 Points)

The Thunder picked up a pair of wins during a two-game home stand against former Central Hockey League rivals Colorado. Todd Fiddler scored 18-seconds into the game on Friday as the Thunder outshot the Eagles 12-7 to take a 3-1 lead into the first intermission. Peter Sakaris scored a goal and added two assists while David Shantz made 24 saves to record his second win, stopping Wichita’s three-game skid with a 5-2 final. Sakaris remained red hot on Saturday, as he scored twice and netminder Grant Rollheiser posted 34 saves to beat Colorado 2-1, despite being out-shot by the Eagles 35-14.

The week ahead: Fri. at Quad City (3-3-0-2), Sat. at Missouri (5-2-0-1), Sun. home vs. Missouri.

TULSA OILERS (3-3-0-0, 6 Points)

The Oilers had a light week, as they hosted the Missouri Mavericks on Friday night. Brandon Wong and Darian Dziurzynski each contributed power play goals and one assist, while Ben Walker added two assists in a 4-3 shootout win. The Oilers were 2-for-2 on the power play after previously scoring just one power play goal in their first five games. Jussi Olkinuora made 29 saves and Wong netted the only goal in a five round shootout as Tulsa beat Missouri for just the eighth time in 26 games on home ice. After a Tuesday game with Allen the Oilers will prepare to take on the Colorado Eagles for the first time since 2011.

The week ahead: Tue. home vs. Allen (5-2-0-0), Fri. and Sat. at Colorado (1-6-1-0).

ALASKA ACES (4-3-0-1, 9 Points)

The Aces came away from their first road trip of the season with a split and two points. On Friday night at Rapid City the Aces jumped out to a 3-0 lead through the early second period behind two goals from Stephen Perfetto and another from Ben Lake. Justin Breton added a late empty net goal and Troy Redmann made 26 saves as Alaksa won 4-1. Lake scored once again on Saturday, but it would be the only goal for the Aces as they would fall 5-1 to the Rush. The Alaska penalty kill went 1-for-2 and the power play unit was 0-for-5 as Steven Sumerhays made 32 saves to be saddled with his second loss of the year.

The week ahead: Wed., Fri. and Sat. home vs. Utah (3-3-1-0).

IDAHO STEELHEADS (4-3-1-0, 9 Points)

The Steelheads came out of a three-game set with the Utah Grizzlies with two wins and four points. The lone loss of the series came at home on Friday night by the score of 4-1. Daniel Johnston scored Idaho’s only goal and goalie Eric Hartzell was chased from the game after allowing three goals on 13 shots in the first 40-minutes. The loss came despite the Steelheads outshooting the Grizzlies 48-15. Rob Linsmayer scored twice; Carson McMillan added a goal and Colton Beck contributed two assists on Saturday while Philippe Desrosiers posted 34 saves during a 3-1 win at Utah. Emil Molin and Brandon Magee each scored in the third period and Desrosiers made 47 saves on Monday night as the Steelheads closed out their series at Utah with a 2-1 win.

The week ahead: Wed., Fri. and Sat. home vs. Atlanta (3-2-1-0).

RAPID CITY RUSH (4-3-0-0, 8 Points)

The week got off to a bumpy start for Rapid City, but ended with a convincing home win on Saturday. The Rush was blanked 4-0 at Colorado on Wednesday, as they were outshot 23-19 by the Eagles. Spencer Pommells’ power play goal mid-way through the second period would be the only highlight at home on Friday night, as the Rush dropped a 4-1 decision to the visiting Alaska Aces. The Rush found their stride once again on Saturday, scoring three goals in the second period, one on the power play, one shorthanded and another at even strength. Daniel O’Donoghue scored twice, while Pommells, Taylor Doherty and Winston Day Chief each added a goal each and Danny Battochio made 32 saves to defeat the Aces 5-1.

The week ahead: Fri. and Sat. home vs. Allen (5-2-0-0).

UTAH GRIZZLIES (3-3-1-0, 7 Points)

Matt Berry scored twice, while Charles Sarault and Corey Fienhage added one goal each as the Grizzlies picked up a 4-1 road win at Idaho on Friday. Utah’s four goals came on just 15 shots, while goaltender Ryan Faragher posted 47 saves. Down 3-0 on Saturday, Ryan Walters scored mid-way through the third period, but it would not be enough as the Grizzlies fell 3-1 at home to the Steelheads. Utah was 0-for-7 on the power play in the loss. The Grizzlies closed out the week with a 2-1 loss to the Steelheads at home on Monday night. Berry’s fourth goal of the season at 9:47 of the opening period gave Utah a lead that stood until the middle of the third period when they allowed two Idaho goals within three minutes.

The week ahead: Wed., Fri. and Sat at Alaska (4-3-0-1).

COLORADO EAGLES (1-6-1-0, 3 Points)

The Eagles continue to struggle on the young season after dropping a pair of games at former Central Hockey League rival Wichita over the weekend. After allowing a goal just 18-seconds into the game on Friday, Trent Daavettila’s goal tied it before the Eagles allowed four Thunder goals. Patrick D’Amico added a goal with three seconds remaining as Colorado lost 5-2. Daavettila scored his second goal of the season 5:50 into Saturday’s game, as Colorado held a lead for just over six minutes. The Thunder then scored twice to take the lead and never look back. Jacob DeSerres made 12 saves as he suffered his sixth loss of the season and the Eagles fell 2-1, despite outshooting Wichita 35-14.

The week ahead: Fri. and Sat. home vs. Tulsa (3-3-0-0).