Mavericks Power Past Allen, 5-1, In Game One Of CHL Semifinals

The Missouri Mavericks scored three power play goals en route to a 5-1 win over the Allen Americans in Game One of the Central Hockey League Semifinals at Allen Event Center.  Missouri scored three-third period goals and the had five different goal scorers as they took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.  Goaltender Mathieu Corbeil stopped 36 of 37 shots in the win and kept his postseason record perfect at 3-0.  Mavs’ forward Sebastien Thinel led all scorers with three points on a goal and two assists and his linemate Kellan Tochkin scored a goal in his fifth straight game.

“The guys stay disciplined tonight,” said Mavericks Head Coach Scott Hillman.  “Special teams were huge getting three power play goals and not giving them any.”

It took less than two minutes for the Mavericks to open the scoring.  Sebastien Thinel’s shot from the top of the left circle went through traffic and beat Americans’ netminder Aaron Dell at the 1:55 mark.  Allen had a quality chance to tie the game when Jim McKenzie was awarded a penalty shot, but Mavericks’ goaltender Corbeil stopped McKenzie’s attempt.  Missouri held the 1-0 lead through the opening 20 minutes.

Allen tied the game late in the second period when Kale Kerbashian buried the Americans only goal at the 16:41 mark, but Missouri quickly answered and regained the lead with just over a minute to go in the period.  Dave Pszenyczny’s shot from the point got through traffic in front of the net and marked the Mavericks first of three power play goals.  Again, Missouri took a one-goal lead into the intermission.

After an early power play to the Americans in the third period, it was all Mavericks.  Kenton Miller gave the visitors a 3-1 lead on the power play when he buried a shot from the slot on a nice pass from Tochkin.  Then Missouri took advantage of multiple penalties on the Americans and Andrew Courtney buried a backdoor feed from Thinel for a five-on-three power play goal.  Finally, at the 10:59 mark of the final period, Tochkin scored a goal in his fifth straight game to make it 5-1.  Allen goalie Aaron Dell was pulled from the game following the Mavericks’ fifth goal and Steve Silverthorn replaced him.  It marked the third time in seven post-season games in which the Mavericks have forced a goaltender change.

Missouri finished 3-for-8 on the power play and the Mavericks killed all four of the Americans chances.  Allen finished with 57 minutes in penalties after three misconducts were called in the third period.  Allen outshot the Mavericks 37-24.

Central Hockey League Semifinals – Series “E” (best-of-7)

Missouri Mavericks (5) vs. Allen Americans (1) – Missouri Leads 1-0

All times Central

Game 1 – Missouri 5 at Allen 1

Game 2 – Mon., Apr. 15 – Missouri at Allen, 7:05

Game 3 – Wed., Apr. 17 – Allen at Missouri, 7:05 – Round Two, Game A – Independence Events Center

Game 4 – Fri., Apr. 19 – Allen at Missouri, 7:05 – Round Two, Game B – Independence Events Center

*Game 5 – Sat., Apr. 20 – Allen at Missouri, 7:05 – Round Two, Game C – Independence Events Center

*Game 6 – Mon., Apr. 22 – Missouri at Allen, 7:05

*Game 7 – Tue., Apr. 23 – Missouri at Allen, 7:05

*-if necessary

The Mavericks encourage fans to stop by Independence Events Center on Monday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to witness the ice being installed at the events center.  Fans are requested to enter through the Top Shelf Team Store.

Refunds will only be given for games not played.  The Mavericks encourage all fans to wear orange for all playoff games.