Hank Crone led the Allen Americans in the regular season, and in Game One of the Kelly Cup Playoffs, they would lean on him once again as he had three assists en route to a 3-2 win by the Americans. Allen would get on the board early in the first as Colby McAuley fed Colton Hargrove in front, putting one past Shane Starrett just 2:21 after the opening puck drop. The Americans would double their lead as some great PP work in the offensive zone paid off as Jack Combs found the back of the net just before the horn sounded on the first period. At the end of the period, Allen would use that goal as momentum as they would score just 1:24 into the second as Hargrove picked up his second goal of the night as Allen had a commanding 3-0 lead.
Kansas City wouldn’t go quietly as the Mavericks were able to pick up two goals in 1:36 to put the game back in reach, despite being able to make it a one-goal game; that’s as close as they’d come as Kevin Madolese made 27 saves in his first start for the Americans since January 3rd. The 22-year-old goaltender saw time at all three levels of the Ottawa Senators organization, putting up a 1-2 record at the NHL level; most of his season was spent in Belleville, where he played 17 games, where he had a 6-8-3 record with a 3.33 GAA and sub .900 save percentage. His best numbers came with the Americans, where he put up a 5-1 record with a 2.64 GAA and a .927 save percentage. Game Two is tonight from Cable Dahmer Arena at 7:05 CDT.
