Missouri just one point from clinching playoff spot after victory in Evansville

The Missouri Mavericks moved one step closer to a playoff berth Saturday night and dropped the Evansville IceMen, 5-2, at Ford Center. The Mavericks need just one more point or a loss by the Quad City Mallards to punch their ticket to the post-season for the third time in as many years.  Dale Mahovsky had a goal and two assists and John-Scott Dickson had three assists as the Mavericks improved to 36-21-6 with just three games remaining in the regular season. Goaltender Charlie Effinger also stopped 28 of 30 shots for his 30th win of the season and five different players scored in the Mavericks’ win.
“A balanced three-line attack tonight was key to the victory,” said Mavericks’ Head Coach Scott Hillman.  “We scored on the power play and disciplined hockey kept a very dangerous Evansville power play on the bench all night.”
Missouri finished 1-for-5 on the power play and Evansville did not have one power play chance in the game.
Mahovsky started the scoring just 1:34 into the opening period when his shot from a sharp angle deflected off Evansville’s goaltender Bryan Gillis and into the back of the net.  Sebastien Thinel and Dickson assisted on the play but the IceMen answered at the 13:15 mark. Sean O’Connor scored an unassisted goal after a Mavericks’ turnover, but Missouri answered and never relinquished the lead. Brandon Coccimiglio scored on the power play at the 15:54 mark to give the Mavericks a 2-1 after one period.
It was all Mavericks in the second period as Thinel and Kris Hogg scored to give the visitors a 4-1 lead through the first 40 minutes. Hogg’s goal was assisted by Andrew Courtney and Ed McGrane who extended his point streak to 10 games. McGrane’s streak marks the longest point streak of the season by any Mavericks’ player.
Evansville scored in the first minute of the third period when Maxime Boisclair sent a slap shot home just 19 seconds into the period, but Missouri would not let the IceMen back into the game.  Mavericks’ forward Patrick Schafer scored just 51 seconds later to regain the Mavericks’ three-goal lead, and Missouri held on to win 5-2.
The Mavericks outshot the IceMen 35-30 in the game and won their fourth straight game over Evansville. 
Missouri finished 4-1-1 against the IceMen this season. The Mavericks need just one more point or a loss by the Quad City Mallards to earn a berth in the 2012 CHL playoffs.
Individual tickets for the 2012 Ray Miron President’s Cup Playoffs are now on sale. All non-season ticket holders are now able to purchase tickets for the first two games of the first round of the CHL playoffs through Ticketmaster. If the Mavericks do not play the game for which the ticket has been bought, a full refund will be issued.