Mavericks Fall Into 2-0 Series Hole

The Missouri Mavericks lost to the Rapid City Rush, 3-1, Saturday night in Game Two of their opening round series at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.  Rapid City now has a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series which shifts to Missouri for Game Three on Wednesday night.  Rush goaltender Tim Boron was stellar in net again stopping 36 of 37 shots.  Missouri scored their lone goal of the game and the series off the stick of Colt King, but Rapid City scored a pair of goals in the third period to take the victory.

“The boys did everything except solve their goalie,” said Mavericks’ Head Coach Scott Hillman.  “We will stay the course.  We will dig deep and we will push this series very deep.”

Missouri pressured the Rapid City zone for a majority of the first period and the Mavericks outshot the Rush 18-12 in the period.  Rapid City scored in the final minute of the period to take a 1-0 lead on a shorthanded goal by Jared Brown.  He lifted a backhand over the shoulder of Mavericks’ goaltender Mike Clemente and the Rush held a 1-0 lead through the first 20 minutes.

The Mavericks finally broke through and beat goaltender Tim Boron at the 13:47 mark of the second period.  Defenseman Dave Pszenyczny sent a slap shot on goal and Colt King redirected the puck past Boron, but it was the only goal the Mavericks would get past Boron.

Rapid City broke the 1-1 tie on a power play goal by Taggart Desmet at the 11:01 mark of the third period.  It marked the first goal on the man-advantage for either team in the series.  Then Jesse Schultz closed the game out with a goal on a two-on-one with 3:29 to go in regulation.

The fifth-seeded Mavericks will host games three, four and five (if necessary) at Independence Events Center on April 3, 5 and 6.