via the Stingrays
In front 3,804 faithful, the Allen Americans dominated the South Carolina Stingrays from start to finish to win the game, 5-2, and tie the Kelly Cup Final series, 1-1. Dyson Stevenson would score in the first and the Americans would not relinquish the lead.
The night ended early for Jeff Jakaitis, who allowed three goals on 14 shots. Gary Steffes of Allen scored his 12th goal of the playoffs and 2nd of the night with 17 seconds left in the second on the power play and at that point, it was time for Clay Witt. Witt would go on to make 6 saves on 8 shots, allowing one goal to Spencer Asuchak for his 11th of the playoffs.
Riley Gill made 22 saves to backstop the Allen victory. Goals from Sean Dolan and Scott Ford in the third period gave the Stingrays life, but Konrad Abeltshauser’s empty netter in the last minute sealed the result.
Tim Spencer did not help the Stingrays cause as he took a roughing minor and a misconduct penalty for continuing the altercation late in the third period. No Americans player was implicated, making Spencer’s misconduct that much more detrimental. Granted, there were less than two minutes left, but on a night where the Allen power play went two-for-three, penalties like this cannot happen.
Game three will be Wednesday night at the Allen Event Center, 8:05 ET puck drop. That will be the last in Allen until game 7 (if necessary); the series will shift back to North Charleston for Sunday’s Game 4.
