KC Mavericks beat Allen Americans 1-0, take 2-0 series lead in ECHL Mountain Division finals 

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (KCTV) - The KC Mavericks shut out the Allen Americans 1-0 in Game 2 of the ECHL’s Mountain Division finals on Sunday to take a 2-0 series lead.

The game remained scoreless for most of regulation. In the second period, Allen appeared to score off a rebound, but the referee ruled goaltender interference. The call was upheld by review.

KC’s Jack Randl broke the scoreless tie in the third period with a power play goal to give the Mavericks a 1-0 lead.

Allen then pushed back later in the third period when Colby McCauley took a shot that he thought scored, but the officials ruled the puck never crossed the goal line. The Mavericks held on for the 1-0 win.

“For us to come away [with a] 2-0 [series lead], that’s exactly where we want to be,” Mavericks head coach and general manager Tad O’Had said. “We try not to look too far ahead, we just focus on the next game, and this puts us in a good position.”

The Mavericks, who had the best record in the league this year, said they are comfortable in close games.

“We’re definitely comfortable in those situations and we know what it takes to get those wins and to make the right plays,” Randl said. “We’ve got the right guys in the room to make those right plays at those right times, so try to use that pressure as a privilege and thrive off it.”

The Mavericks have a chance to end the best-of-seven series in Allen and avoid returning to Kansas City for potential games 6 and 7.

“It shifts the tables. Now, we go back to Allen,” O’Had said. “We’ve got the ‘win the next game mentality.’ Our plan of attack is just ‘win the next game. Don’t look too far ahead.’”

Game 3 is Wednesday at 7:10 p.m. in Allen, Texas.