Mavericks Overcome Two-Goal Deficit In Shootout Win

The Missouri Mavericks again erased a two-goal deficit and defeated the Arizona Sundogs 3-2 in a shootout Saturday night at Tim's Toyota Center. Kellan Tochkin, Trevor Kell and Brian Bicek all scored in regulation for the Mavericks and John-Scott Dickson earned the game-winning goal in a sudden death shootout. Mavericks' goaltender Mike Clemente won his second game of the season by stopping 34 of 37 shots in regulation and overtime and all six shots in the shootout.
Chad Nehring had two goals for the Sundogs for the second straight night, and goaltender Adam Russo had 35 saves on 38 shots for the Sundogs.
"Big two points," said Mavericks' Head Coach Scott Hillman. "That might be the ugliest game of the four we have played. We had a great first period, but we seemed to tire out a little. It was good to see Bicek score, Kenton Miller had great weekend and Tochkin again played well. It was nice to see the young players continue to play well."
The Mavericks and Sundogs finished the first period scoreless and it was the Mavericks who had the edge in shots at 11-6. Missouri also had two power play chances compared to one for the Sundogs.
In the second period, Nehring scored two goals in the first 3:44 of the period. His first goal came only 44 seconds into the period when his shot deflected off the skate of a Mavericks' defenseman and through the legs of Clemente. Nehring made it a two-goal game at the 3:44 mark of the second period on assists from Kyle Chipchura and Cody Purves.
Missouri trailed by two goals for the fourth time in as many games in the young CHL season, but for the third time, the Mavericks came back to tie the game. At the 5:14 mark, Tochkin took a nice cross-ice pass from Sebastien Thinel and buried his shot past Sundogs' goaltender Adam Russo. The Mavericks tied the game when Kell scored his second goal in as many games on a feed from Dickson who was behind the Sundogs' goal line.
Bicek picked an opportune time to score his first goal of the season as he blasted a shot from the left circle past Russo with 2:12 remaining in regulation. The goal gave the Mavericks the lead, but Arizona tied the game with only 13 seconds remaining and forced overtime.
After a scoreless overtime period, the teams went to a shootout. Neither team was able to get a puck past either goaltender through the first five shooters. After Jeff Kyrzakos missed for Arizona, Dickson roofed a shot over Russo to give the Mavericks the win.
The Mavericks first home game is set for Saturday, November 3 at Independence Events Center. Tickets for all 33 regular season games on are sale now via Ticketmaster. For more information on the Missouri Mavericks visit www.MissouriMavericks.com.