Game Six is the do-or-die game for Kansas City Mavericks as they face Allen Americans. If Kansas City wins tonight, they’ll force Game Seven Wednesday night. If they lose, the Mavericks will head home while the Allen Americans face the Idaho Steelheads or Utah Grizzlies in the next round.
The first period got underway with a tie-up, but Allen won the faceoff. Allen’s Jack Combs had a shot in the first but was stopped by a big stick save by Kansas City Mavericks goalie Shane Starrett. There was good pressure by both Allen and Kansas City so far in the game. Kansas City’s Jake Jaremko had good opportunities early but was shut down by Allen’s goalie Kevin Mandolese. Kansas City Mavericks go on their first power play of the night 10 minutes into the game, but Allen successfully killed it off. Allen scores first with a backhand wrap-around goal from Stefan Fournier. Allen leads Kansas City 1-0. That goal would be Stefan’s second of the series. The first period ended with Allen outshooting the Mavericks 16 to Kansas City’s 13 shots on goal.
The second period gets underway with the Mavericks’ faceoff win. Allen goes on their night’s first power play 56 seconds into the period. The Mavericks’ penalty kill unit kills off Allen’s first powerplay of the night. Allen goes back on the powerplay, but like before, the Mavericks’ penalty kill unit kills it off. Former Maverick, now American, Mikael Robidouix butts Kansas City forward Cole Coskey into the boards. Coskey slowly gets back up. Teammate of Coskey, Luke Santerno, puts Robidouix into the boards to repay the hit. Halfway through the second, Allen holds the lead still with a one-goal lead on the Mavericks. The Mavericks go into their second powerplay of the night looking to capitalize with the man advantage to tie this game up but get shut down by the Americans. Both teams so far tonight are 0-2 on their powerplays. The Mavericks go on their third power play of the night from a penalty, with Allen Americans Jakov Novak getting called for hooking on Mavericks Hugo Roy. The Mavericks are looking to tie this game up late in the second on the power play but again get shut down by the Americans PK unit. The period ends with a 1-0 lead still for the Americans.
Third period comes along: Mavericks are looking to tie this game up or even get a lead and force a game seven, while Allen Americans are looking to hold off the Mavericks and move on to the next round in the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Allen wins the faceoff to begin the third period. Allen scores 1:26 into the third, giving themselves a 2-0 lead, but the Mavericks quickly responded with a goal from Elias Rosen to cut Allen’s lead in half. Halfway through the third, Allen still leads 2-1. Coming down to the final minute, Allen was holding onto the slim 2-1 lead. The game comes to an end with Allen winning yet another one-goal game. The Allen Americans will wait to see whether they face the Idaho Steelheads or Utah Grizzlies in the next round.
