Mavericks: Keeping It Close

When we last checked in with the Kansas City Mavericks, the Flames’ ECHL affiliate was still in the hunt for the final fourth place playoff spot. They’ve only slipped slightly, dropping one spot down to sixth place behind the Tulsa Oilers. KC lost three straight games to Rapid City in this last stretch, but only one of them was in regulation time which prevented the Rush from really stretching the standings gap. RCR also has no games in hand on any other Western Conference team, which bodes well for the Mavs to keep the push alive.

GAME BY GAME:

MAR 5th- KC Mavericks 5 @ Indy Fuel –WIN (OT)

MAR 7th- KC Mavericks 1 @ Wichita Thunder 0 – WIN (SO)

MAR 12th- KC Mavericks 1 @ Rapid City Rush 3 – LOSS

MAR 13th- KC Mavericks 2 @ Rapid City Rush 3 –LOSS (OT)

MAR 14th- KC Mavericks 3 @ Rapid City Rush 4 –LOSS (SO)

MAR 19th- Indy Fuel 2 @ KC Mavericks 1 –LOSS (OT)

THE SQUAD:

Mavs’ star forward Brodie Reid has been heavy in the chase for the ECHL scoring title this year! Brodie was named ECHL Player of the Month for January to start the year, and has spent most of his time since leading the points race. He has only recently relinquished the top spot to Wichita’s Anthony Beauregard and only by a single point! Like his team, Reid also has games in hand on the chase for first as he’s played five less than Beauregard (and four less than 3rd place Tyler Coulter of the Rapid City Rush). Brodie recently snapped a goal-less drought (seen above) but has tacked on six assists in his last six games.

In the blue paint, it seems the whirlwind personnel changes are starting to settle down. There’s been no shortage of news in the blue paint since 2021 began. Matt Greenfield was signed to a contract on January 9th after Andrew Shortridge was sidelined due to injury. Mario Vrab was picked up as an emergency backup on February 5th, but released on February 8th. 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. Matt Ginn was acquired in a trade with Greenville on February 12th, and has seen five games of action so far with his new team. Goalie Angus Redmond was signed to a Special Player Contract on Valentine’s Day but loaned to the AHL Toronto Marlies only two days later. Andrew Shortridge has also been called up to the Stockton Heat as of February 25th.

Matt Ginn is now up to eight games played on the season since the Greenville trade, and is slightly edging Matt Greenfield in the Save Percentage and Goals Against Average departments with a two-game smaller sample size.

UP NEXT:

The Mavs will round out the final two games of their set hosting the Indy Fuel before they hit the road for two, as they’ll visit Wichita for a pair before they do the favors and host them for a pair. It’s then a huge four game set against the Tulsa Oilers that will kick off April as the playoff race intensifies in the ECHL Western Conference!

Keep it locked to M&G to follow the Mavericks in their playoff chase!

by MilhouseFirehouse