ECHL Western Conference Recap – Week 4

TULSA, Okla. – One month into the 2015-16 ECHL season and things remain tight in the standings. The Missouri Mavericks, with eight wins and 17 points sit atop the conference, but even they have not pulled away from the pack. Four of the five teams in the Midwest Division are separated by one point, while the leaders in the Central (Missouri) and West (Utah) each only have a three point cushion.

Let’s take a look back at last week’s games and preview the week ahead for the ECHL Western Conference.

FORT WAYNE KOMETS (6-3-0-0, 12 Points)

Three weekend games for the Komets resulted in four points as they remain at the top of the Midwest Division. Fort Wayne dropped Toledo 4-1 on Friday as they scored first then added two third period goals to increase their lead. Mike Emback had a goal and assist and Martin Spencer turned back 28 Walleye shots for his second win. With a 2-1 lead in the first intermission at home against Kalamazoo on Saturday, Fort Wayne went on to allow three third period goals and fell 6-4 to the Wings. Shawn Szydlowski and Dean Ouellet had a goal and assist as Fort Wayne outshot Kalamazoo 50-27 in the loss. They answered the following day at Kalamazoo, scoring the first four goals en route to a 5-2 victory. Kyle Thomas had two goals and an assist in the win.

The week ahead: Wed. at Cincinnati (5-1-0-1), Sun. at Quad City (4-4-1-2)

CINCINNATI CYCLONES (5-1-0-1, 11 Points)

Zach Budish scored 42-seconds into the third period to tie Wednesday’s home game with Toledo, ultimately forcing overtime and a shootout before they were turned away by the Walleye 2-1. The Cyclones didn’t waste any time returning to the win column, as they posted a 4-2 victory over the Adirondack Thunder on Friday night. Joe Pendenza (2 G, A) and Jack Downing (2 G, A) each posted a power play goal apiece as the Cyclones scored twice in the final 16-seconds. Garrett Noonan broke a scoreless tie at 2:24 of the third period on Saturday, and then Steve Weinstein scored at 4:55 to lead Cincinnati to a 2-1 home win over Evansville.

The week ahead: Tue. at Wheeling (4-4-0-0), Wed. home vs. Fort Wayne (6-3-0-0), Fri. home vs. Quad City (4-4-1-2), Sat. at Kalamazoo (4-5-1-0)

INDY FUEL (5-3-1-0, 11 Points)

The Fuel opened their week with a 3-0 win at Evansville on Wednesday. Mac Carruth made 22 saves for his first shutout of the season, while Dylan Clarke (1 G, 1 A) and Ben Marshall (2 A) provided the offense. Clarke and Marshall each posted first period goals at Evansville on Friday as Indy took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission. The Fuel then allowed three unanswered goals and they would fall 4-2 to the IceMen. Alex Lavoie had a goal and assist against Quad City on Saturday as five players scored goals for the Fuel and Shane Owen made 23 saves for a 5-2 win.

The week ahead: Fri. and Sat. home vs. Alaska (4-6-0-1)

QUAD CITY MALLARDS (4-4-1-2, 11 Points)

Jake Baker’s power play goal at 13:50 of the third period against Missouri on Wednesday tied the game, but the Mallards allowed a Mavericks goal 37-seconds into overtime to fall 4-3. The Mallards roared back against Wichita on Friday, scoring three unanswered goals for a 4-2 win. Raphael Bussieres (1 G, 2 A) and Mike Monfredo (1 G, 1 A) led the effort for Quad City. Olivier Archambault and Vladimir Nikiforov each scored early in the second period on Saturday, before the Indy Fuel responded with three unanswered goals to hand the Mallards a 5-2 road loss.

The week ahead: Wed. home vs. Alaska (4-6-0-1), Fri. at Cincinnati (5-1-0-1), Sat. home vs. Fort Wayne (6-3-0-0)

EVANSVILLE ICEMEN (2-5-0-0, 4 Points)

The IceMen opened their week with a 3-0 home loss to Indy on Wednesday, despite seeing an even 22-22 shot total on the night. Evansville answered Indy on Friday night as four players scored in a 4-2 win. The IceMen got three goals in an 11-minute span, including Daultan Leveille’s game-winning-goal at 10:31 of the second to give Evansville its second win of the season. Leveille’s power play goal at 19:43 of the third period was too little, too late for Evansville Saturday as they dropped a 2-1 road game at Cincinnati.

The week ahead: Fri. at Kalamazoo (4-5-1-0), Sat. and Sun. at Wheeling (4-4-0-0)

MISSOURI MAVERICKS (8-2-0-1, 17 Points)

The Mavs picked up three wins in three games last week to pull ahead of the Central Division by three points. Jesse Root had two goals and an assist, including the overtime winner, while Tyler Barnes and Kellen Jones each added a goal and two assists in a 4-3 road win at Quad City on Wednesday. Matt Finn scored in the first period and Parker Milner posted 25 saves for his shutout of the season in a 1-0 home win over Wichita on Saturday. Missouri closed the weekend with a 2-1 road win at Wichita on Sunday behind goals from Tanner Fritz and David de Kastrozza.

The week ahead: Fri. and Sat. at Wichita (4-6-0-0)

ALLEN AMERICANS (7-3-0-0, 14 Points)

Justin Baker scored 1:05 into the second period of Allen’s road game at Tulsa on Tuesday, but it would not be enough as the Americans dropped their second of the season to the Oilers by a score of 3-1. The Americans redeemed themselves with two wins during a weekend road trip to Rapid City. Four Americans players scored goals Friday and Joel Rumpel made 24 saves to post his sixth win of the year as Allen beat Rapid City 4-1. The offense came alive during a 7-2 win on Saturday night. Eight players had multiple points as Allen outshot Rapid City 49-23 on the night. Jonathan Parker (2 G, 1 A) and Casey Pierro-Zabotel (2 G) led the charge for the Americans.

The week ahead: Tue. home vs. Wichita (4-6-0-0), Fri. at Tulsa (4-5-0-0), Sat. and Sun. home vs. Colorado (3-6-1-0)

TULSA OILERS (4-5-0-0, 8 Points)

Jordan Kremyr scored 11-seconds into Tuesday’s home game against Allen and Adam Pleskach added two assists as the Oilers claimed a 3-1 win behind Kevin Carr’s 16 saves. Dan DeSalvo scored his first professional goal at Colorado on Friday, but it would not be enough for Tulsa. The Oilers allowed two power play goals and were outshot 40-12 as they were saddled with a 3-1 loss. Matt Konan’s second period goal was the only bright spot for Tulsa the following night as they allowed a pair of power play goals in a 2-1 loss to the Eagles.

The week ahead: Wed. at Wichita (4-6-0-0), Friday home vs. Allen (7-3-0-0)

WICHITA THUNDER (4-6-0-0, 8 Points)

It was a long week for the Thunder as they dropped all three games they played. Brandon Martell and Mason Baptista’s first period goals gave Wichita a 2-1 lead, but two third period goals from the Mallards would result in a 4-2 road loss at Quad City on Friday night. David Shantz posted 19 saves at Missouri on Saturday, but Missouri’s only marker at 3:32 of the first would be enough as the Thunder fell 1-0. Down 2-0 to Missouri at home Sunday, Baptista broke up the shutout, but the Thunder would be unable to tie it up as they were outshot 46-23 in a 2-1 loss.

The week ahead: Tue. at Allen (7-3-0-0), Wed. home vs. Tulsa (4-5-0-0), Fri. and Sat. home vs. Missouri (8-2-0-1)

UTAH GRIZZLIES (6-3-1-0, 13 Points)

The Grizzlies are at the top of the West Division after sweeping a three game road trip to Alaska last week. Matt Berry scored twice and Charles Sarault added a goal and assist to give Utah a 4-2 win to open the series on Wednesday. Ryan Misiak had a goal and assist on Friday as the Grizzlies broke a 1-1 tie with three third period goals to post a 4-1 win. Down 2-0 entering the third period on Saturday, the Grizzlies roared back with three third period goals, including the game-winner from Sarault at 18:57. Alex Krushelnyski added a goal and assist in the 3-2 win.

The week ahead: Wed. home vs. Colorado (3-6-1-0), Fri. and Sat. home vs. Rapid City (4-5-0-0)

IDAHO STEELHEADS (4-5-2-0, 10 Points)

It was a rough week for the Steelheads, as they dropped a three game home stand to the Atlanta Gladiators. Brandon Magee and Colton Beck each had a goal and two assists Wednesday as Idaho led 4-3 heading into the third period. Unfortunately, two third period Gladiators goals sealed the deal and Idaho lost 5-4. Jefferson Dahl had two goals and two assist while Emil Molin added two goals and an assist as the Steelheads salvaged one point in a 5-4 overtime loss Friday. Cole Martin’s power play goal mid-way through the third period Saturday cut the Atlanta lead in half, but Idaho could not find the equalizer and fell 3-1.

The week ahead: Thu. At Orlando (4-3-1-0), Fri. and Sat. at Florida (8-4-0-0)

ALASKA ACES (4-6-0-1, 9 Points)

The Aces losing streak now sits at four games in a row after dropping a three game home stand to the Utah Grizzlies. Justin Breton scored his sixth goal of the season to give Alaska an early lead Wednesday before they would allow three Utah goals. Joe Perry added a power play goal in the second, but the Aces fell 4-2. Tommaso Traversa tied Friday’s game with his third period goal before Utah went on to score three unanswered goals to win 4-1. Goals from Tim Coffman and Dean Chelios put Alaska ahead 2-0 at the second intermission Saturday before they would allow three third period goals to fall 3-2.

The week ahead: Wed. at Quad City (4-4-1-2), Fri. and Sat. at Indy (5-3-1-0)

RAPID CITY RUSH (4-5-0-0, 8 Points)

The Rush find themselves closer to the bottom of the division standings after dropping a two game home set with the Allen Americans over the weekend by a combined score of 11-3. Down 2-0 in the second period on Friday, Michael Bunting’s goal cut the deficit in half, but it would not be enough as the Rush fell 4-1 and netminder Danny Battochio earned his second loss of the season. James Melindy and Daniel O’Donoghue scored 35-seconds apart in the second period on Saturday to pull within one goal, but Allen answered back with four goals to pull away and defeat Rapid City 7-2. The Rush would be outshot by the Americans 49-23 on the night.

The week ahead: Fri. and Sat. at Utah (6-3-1-0)

COLORADO EAGLES (3-6-1-0, 7 Points)

A two game home stand against a former Central Hockey League rival was just what the doctor ordered for the Colorado Eagles, as they came away with four points and their first back-to-back wins of the season. The power play was very productive for the Eagles over the weekend, as four of the five goals they scored came on the man advantage. Jordan Kwas had a goal and assist on Friday as Colorado outshot the Tulsa Oilers 40-12. With the score tied 1-1, the Eagles scored twice in the final period to win 3-1. Collin Bowman and Ludwig Karlsson’s power play goals would be enough for the Eagles on Saturday night as they pulled off a 2-1 win. Goalie Kris Lazaruk posted 33 saves and allowed two goals on the weekend.

The week ahead: Wed. at Utah (6-3-1-0), Sat. and Sun. at Allen (7-3-0-0)