Allen vs Utah series preview, Anania Returns, Prefontaine suspension voided, Lukas Sillinger player profile, attendance stats and more

It’s game day for the Allen Americans as the Utah Grizzlies invade the CUTX Event Center for two games. Allen has played Utah 10 times this season, with some interesting sequences. The teams played six times in a row between November 26 and December 6 (3 in Utah and 3 in Allen). After the two games in Allen this weekend, the Americans will make the long trip to Utah for two games in late March to complete the 10-game schedule.

– Allen’s turnaround from a slow start to the season began when they played six straight games against Utah around Thanksgiving. The Americans had lost six games in a row (3 against Tulsa, 3 against Idaho) when they entered Utah on November 26. The Americans won two of three in Utah, followed by two of three in Allen, and it started the turnaround.

– Here are some comparison stats between Allen and Utah:

• Allen’s record is 26-18-4-0, Utah’s is 18-25-6-0.
• Allen is 6-4-0-0 over the last 10 games, Utah is 3-4-3-0.
• Allen is 14-7-1-0 at home, Utah is 14-12-2-0 on the road.
• Allen’s goal difference is +18 (167-149), Utah’s is -16 (167-181).
• Allen’s team plus/minus is +20, Utah’s is -167.
• Allen’s team save percentage is .912, Utah’s is .878.

– Here’s the more traditional statistical comparison between the two teams.

• Average goals scored: Allen (3.5) – Utah (3.3)
• Goals Allowed Average: Allen (3.1) – Utah (3.8)
• Shots for average: Allen (33.3) – Utah (31.7)
• Shots against average: Allen (35.3) – Utah (31.2)
• Power play percentage: Allen (21.2%%) – Utah (22.3%)
• Penalty Death Rate: Allen (84.6%) – Utah (77.6%)

– If you look at the overall statistics for Utah, they are very misleading. The Grizzlies have the worst home record in the ECHL, and it’s not even close: 4-13-4-0 (.286). However, Utah has a winning road record of 14-12-2-0 (.536). There is no team in the league with a greater difference between home and road records. Let’s take a look at the home vs. away stats, and you’ll see some of the above differences disappear:

• Goal Differential: Allen +20 at home, Utah +4 on the road.
• Power play percentage: Allen 15.7% at home, Utah 23.9% on the road.
• Percentage of fatalities: All 88.2% at home, Utah 76.1% on the road.
• Lead after 1st period: Allen 4-0-0-0 at home, Utah 8-3-2-0 on the road.
• Lead after 2nd period: Allen 10-0-0-0 at home, Utah 10-1-2-0 on the road.

– Here are some individual stats to help you look at players in this series. Players from both teams rank in the top 5 of the ECHL in the following statistics:

• #1 PP Goals – #59 Tyler Gratton, 9, Utah
• #1 Shots – #26 Danny Dzhaniyev, 204, Utah
• #1 Shooting % – #9 Danny Katic, 27.2%, Allen
• #2 PP assist – #23 Sam Sedley, 21, Allen
• #2 Goals – #23 Reed Lebster, 28, Utah
• #4 assists – #67 Hank Crone, 33, Allen
• #4 assists – #23 Sam Sedley. 33, Allen
• #4 PP Assists – #67 Hank Crone 17, Allen
• #4 PP points – #23 Sam Sedley 22, Allen
• #4 Shots – #23 Reed Lebster 162, Utah

– Scoring first is a big advantage, especially for Allen. The Americans scored first in 46% of their games with a record of 17-2-3-0 (.841). If they give up the first goal, the Americans’ record is 9-16-1-0 (.365). Utah scored the first goal in 51% of its games, with a record of 14-9-2-0 (.600).

– If either game goes to overtime, both teams will have struggled. Allen is 1-4 in overtime, but is 2-0 in shootouts. The Americans’ only victory in overtime came last Sunday in Tulsa. Utah is 1-6 in overtime and has yet to experience a shootout this season.

– I won’t get the lineup until later today, but here’s what I expect:

• Lukas Silinger, just acquired from Florida, is in the lineup.
• Andre Anania, just back from PTO in Iowa, will be in the lineup.
• Ty Prefontaine’s suspension has been voided by the ECHL and he will be in the lineup.
• Matt Register – with the unexpected returns of Anania and Prefontaine, I think Matt will be behind the bench tonight.
• David Tendeck is available, but has only completed a few training sessions. I assume Costantini will get the start in goal.

UPDATE – Allen’s lineup tonight vs. Utah:

PLAYER PROFILE – LUKAS SILLINGER

Lukas Sillinger is a 25 year old, 5”11″, 170 pound, left shot forward from Regina, Saskatchewan. He played his junior hockey in the BCHL, where he had 104 points (43G, 61A) in 146 games. Sillinger played his college hockey at Bemidji State University (2 years) and Arizona State University (3 years). He played in 171 NCAA games and totaled 160 points (51G, 109A). Last season, Lukas had 38 points (8G, 30A) and led his team in assists. He was nominated for the Hobey Baker Award in 2023-2024 and served as an alternate captain for Arizona State from 2023-2025.

To say that Lukas comes from a hockey family would be an understatement. His father, Mike, had an 18-year NHL career with 1,049 games played for 12 different teams. Mike Sillinger still holds the NHL record for being traded nine times in his career.

Lukas’ older brother (28), Owen, plays for the AHL Cleveland Monsters, and his younger brother (22), Cole, plays for the NHL Columbus Blue Jackets. Cole was the Blue Jackets’ first-round draft pick (12th overall) in 2021. As a 22-year-old, he has already played in 341 NHL games.

When you look at Sillinger’s collegiate stats, it is clear that he is more of a playmaker than a scorer. He had twice as many assists (109) as goals (51) in college.

When you look at scouting and other reports on Lukas, you see the same things over and over again, including some version of the following:

• His pedigree is marked by a high hockey IQ and creative puck play.
• A player who creates space through puck control and decision-making instead of explosive skating.
• Effective in tight spots and in one-on-one play. Good vision, quick release and able to find teammates and make smart passes.
• Top skills include vision, passing, awareness and hockey IQ.

Here is a video interview with Lukas just before his senior season at Arizona State. You will notice that he was clearly limping at this point. He ultimately underwent hip surgery and his recovery forced him to start the season late. He signed with the AHL Iowa Wild on a PTO in December and played five games before being released. He then signed with Florida, where he played seven games before being traded to Allen. Coach Martinson has been following Lukas since he was the leading scorer at Arizona State.

OTHER NOTES

– Every week is important as Allen tries to maintain third place in the Mountain Division with Tahoe and Wichita hot on their heels. The Americans will reach the mark of 50 games played this weekend with the prospect of three games in Kansas City next week.

– There are 12 games on the ECHL schedule tonight. The Mountain Division games, in addition to Utah, are at Allen, Wichita is at Kansas City, Worcester is at Rapid City and Idaho is at Tahoe. Here is the ECHL Today with all the previews: https://echl.com/news/2026/02/echl-today-feb-20

– Don’t forget that the Allen Americans alumni game takes place prior to the Allen vs. Tulsa game on March 7. Many players return from the early and championship years.

DID YOU KNOW: Here is today’s ECHL Stats post, which covers attendance. FYI: Allen’s average attendance is currently 4715. Last season, Allen’s average was 4573.