Mavericks Score Four In The Third To Defeat Rapid City And Take 3-2 Series Lead

The Missouri Mavericks used a four-goal third period to defeat the Rapid City Rush, 5-2, in Game Five of their Opening Round series at Independence Events Center.  The Mavericks now hold a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series which shifts back to Rapid City for Game Six on Tuesday, April 9.  Mavericks’ forward Colt King had a pair of goals in the third period including the game-winner against his former team, and Kellan Tochkin extended his goal-scoring streak to three games for the Mavericks.  Rush forward Rusty Masters had both of Rapid City’s goals as they head home in need of two wins to take the series.  For the first time since Game One, neither team was able to score on the power play.  Missouri finished 0-for-2 while the Rush went scoreless in five chances.

Masters scored the first of his two goals early into regulation when he lifted his shot over the shoulder of Mavericks’ goaltender Mike Clemente.  Scott Brannon and Taggert Desmet had the helpers on the play and the Rush would take the one-goal lead into the intermission.

At the midway point of the game, the Mavericks finally struck when Tochkin lifted a backhand behind Rush goaltender Danny Battochio.  The goal was a two-on-one goal and CHL MVP Sebastien Thinel made a perfect feed to Tochkin for the goal.  Masters gave the visitors a 2-1 lead at 17:53 of the period when he batted a backhand over the shoulder of Clemente, but that was all the offense the Rush could muster.

It was all Mavericks in the third period.  Ryan Jardine was sprung on a breakaway on a perfect pass from Blake Forsyth and Jardine beat Battochio to tie the game at two.  It remained tied until the 14:34 mark of the third period when King found a loose puck and shoveled it past Battochio from the doorstep.  King added another goal on an odd-man rush and a nice pass from Andrew Courtney at the 18:18 mark which gave the Mavericks a 4-2 lead.  Finally, with their goalie pulled, the Mavericks scored on an empty netter in the final minute on Kenton Miller’s third goal of the post-season.

Missouri scored four goals on eight shots in the third period.  Shots came at a premium in the contest as only a total of 36 shots were taken combined.  The Mavericks have killed 15 straight penalties and 25 of 26 overall in the series.

The fifth-seeded Mavericks will travel to Rapid City for Game Six on Tuesday, April 9.  All Mavericks road games are available to watch live at the Brewtop in Lee’s Summit.