Mavericks Defeat Fort Wayne 5-2, Take 3-2 Series Lead

The Missouri Mavericks took a 3-2 series lead in the best-of-seven Turner Conference Finals with a 5-2 victory over the Fort Wayne Komets Saturday night at Independence Events Center. Sebastien Thinel and Ed McGrane notched two points each with a goal and an assist in the win and Charlie Effinger made 24 saves on 26 shots by the Komets. The series now shifts back to Fort Wayne for Game Six of the series on Tuesday evening. If necessary, Game Seven will be on Thursday. Faceoff for Tuesday’s game will be 6:30pm Central Daylight Time.
The Mavs jumped out to an early 1-0 lead 39 seconds into regulation on a goal from John-Scott Dickson. Dale Mahovsky assisted on the goal. The Komets responded halfway through the period on Jean-Michel Rizk’s fifth goal of the series, scored unassisted. The Mavs regained a lead with a shorthanded goal of their own two minutes later, when Sebastien Thinel and Ed McGrane broke in on goal on a two-on-one. Thinel flipped the pass over the defender to McGrane who put it home to give the Mavs the 2-1 lead. Missouri doubled their lead just less than two minutes to play, as Brandon Smith collected a loose puck in the crease and put it in the back of the net. Ryan Jardine and Kris Hogg were given assists on the net. The first period ended with the Mavs leading the Komets 3-1 and owning a 16-6 advantage in the shot column.
The Komets drew closer eight minutes into the second period on a power play goal from Frankie DeAngelis. The Mavs regained their two-goal lead three and a half minutes later on an unassisted goal from Sebastien Thinel. No other scoring occurred in the period and the Mavericks took a 4-2 lead into the final 20 minutes of regulation.
Missouri sealed their Game Five victory with five minutes remaining in regulation, as Kris Hogg buried a pass from Andrew Courtney in front of the goal. McGrane received his second point of the game with an assist on the goal. The 5-2 score stood up as the final.
The Mavs now take their 3-2 series lead to Fort Wayne for Game Six on Tuesday and if necessary, Game Seven on Thursday.