Mavs Advance To Conference Finals With Sweep

The Missouri Mavericks are in the Turner Conference Finals for the first time in their three-year history after completing a four-game sweep of the Evansville IceMen in the Turner Conference Opening Round with a 3-1 victory Monday night at Independence Events Center. Mavericks’ goaltender Charlie Effinger was spectacular in net, stopping 39 of 40 shots by Evansville, including a sprawling save in the final moments of the game to prevent a game-tying goal by Evansville. John-Scott Dickson registered two points on the night with a goal and an assist in the win and Tristin Llewellyn notched his team-leading fifth postseason point with the game-winning goal in the second period. The Mavs now head to the Conference Finals and will face either the Rapid City Rush or Fort Wayne Komets for a chance to advance to the Ray Miron President’s Cup Finals.
John-Scott Dickson opened up the scoring two minutes into regulation, taking a pass from the corner and shooting it past Pier-Olivier Pelletier, putting the Mavs up 1-0. Ryan Jardine and Brandon Coccimiglio were given assists on the goal. Tristin Llewellyn continued his playoff points tear, doubling the Mavs lead with 8:03 remaining in the first period. Sebastien Thinel and Dickson assisted on the goal. The Mavs and IceMen finished the period all even in the shot total with 12 a piece.
The two teams went scoreless in the second period, with the Mavs outshooting Evansville 16-13.
The IceMen drew within one goal with nine minutes remaining in regulation, on a goal from Todd Robinson. Evansville nearly tied the game when Matt Gens collected a loose puck on the right side. With a wide open net, Gens fired it towards the cage, but goaltender Charlie Effinger sprawled out, kicking his left leg out and prevented the potential game-tying goal with less than five minutes to play. The IceMen pulled Pier-Olivier Pelletier with a minute and a half remaining in regulation and peppered Effinger with shots in the waning moments. Sebastien Thinel collected a loose puck in the neutral zone and swept the puck into the empty cage, sealing the 3-1 victory and series victory for Missouri.
Effinger finished the night with 39 saves on 40 shots and improved his playoff save percentage to .957. Tristin Llewellyn notched his team-leading fifth postseason point with the eventual game-winning goal.
Single-game tickets for the Turner Conference Finals will go on sale Wednesday at noon and start at just $17 dollars. The Mavericks will play the winner of the Rapid City Rush/Fort Wayne Komets series, which is currently tied at 1-1 and it is unknown what date the Conference Finals will start. All playoff tickets will be refunded in the event the Mavericks do not play a game in which tickets are purchased.