Mavericks: Horses Heating Up

When we last checked in with the Flames’ ECHL affiliate in Kansas City, the Mavericks had shaken off a rough start and won two of three games including back-to-back W’s. The team seems to be building momentum, as they’ve now won five of their last eight contests and fought their way back to a .500 record. That bumps them up a spot from 5th to 4th on the ECHL Western Conference playoff race, which is now dictated by points percentage in the revamped Kelly Cup Playoffs format for the shortened 202-21 season (more on that later).

GAME BY GAME:

Jan 23rd- KC Mavericks 1 vs Allen Americans 2 –LOSS

Jan 28th- KC Mavericks 3 @ Tulsa Oilers 2 –WIN

Jan 29th- KC Mavericks 1 @ Tulsa Oilers 0 –WIN

Jan 30^th– KC Mavericks 2 vs Tulsa Oilers 1 – WIN (OT)

Feb 2^nd– KC Mavericks 3 vs Rapid City Rush 4 –LOSS (OT)

THE SQUAD:

At last look, Mavs forward Brodie Reid was starting to heat up by jumping from 3rd to 1st in team scoring. He’s continued that torrid pace of the last three weeks, now notching seven points in his last five outings from 1G and 6A. He’s currently sitting at a 3PPG pace which has earned him Player of the Month honours for January, and now has Brodie sitting in sole possession of first place in ECHL scoring, with a 3 point lead over Florida Everblades’ Michael Huntebrinker with one less game played.

In the blue paint, Matt Greenfield picked up a 36 save shutout at home against the Tulsa Oilers. Greenfield was signed to a contract on January 9th after Andrew Shortridge was sidelined due to injury. There’s been a few other swaps in the crease, as Mario Vrab was picked up on February 5th. Sean Romeo was signed to a Standard Player Contract on January 28th after Joel Rumpel was loaned to Iowa of the AHL the day before.

UP NEXT:

The ECHL has finally released the details for the Kelly Cup Playoffs, as previously all we’ve heard was that seeding would be based on win percentage. The following is taken directly from the league’s press release yesterday:

“The top four teams in both the Eastern Conference and Western Conference, based on points percentage at the conclusion of the regular season, will earn postseason berths. All three rounds in the 2021 Kelly Cup Playoffs will be best-of-five series, with the higher-seeded team having the option of playing the first two or the final three games at home, unless a mutual alternative series format is determined.

The Conference Semifinals in both conferences will see the first-place team meet the fourth-place finisher and the second-place team taking on the third-place team. The two winners in each Conference will meet in the Conference Finals, with those winners advancing to the 2021 Kelly Cup Finals.”

The Kelly Cup Playoffs are tentatively scheduled to begin on June 7th 2021.

Keep it locked to Matchsticks & Gasoline to follow the Mavericks playoff push!

by MilhouseFirehouse