Mavericks: Win Some, Lose Some

When we last checked in with the Flames’ ECHL affiliate in Kansas City, the Mavericks were managing to stay in the hunt for the playoffs. After winning three straight to start their last stretch of six games, the team immediately managed to drop three straight contests. To boot, they’ve dropped their last two by shutout 3-0 and 2-0. This leaves KC four points back of the fourth place spot in the Western Conference, which is the final playoff spot. The good news here is that while they’ll have to leapfrog Rapid City to catch Tulsa, and the Mavs have two games in hand on both teams.

GAME BY GAME:

MAR 21st- KC Mavericks 6 vs Indy Fuel 3 –WIN

MAR 24th- KC Mavericks 1 @ Wichita Thunder 0 –WIN

MAR 26th- KC Mavericks 6 @ Wichita Thunder 4 – WIN

MAR 27th- KC Mavericks 2 vs Wichita Thunder 3 –LOSS

MAR 28th- KC Mavericks 0 vs Wichita Thunder 3 –LOSS

MAR 31st- KC Mavericks 0 @ Tulsa Oilers 2 –LOSS

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 with the team being shut out in back-to-back games the Thunder forward has widened his hold on the top spot. As seen above, Brodie made hay with a hat trick on the 21st against the Indy Fuel. KC Forward Jared Van Wormer also notched a hatty in that game. Reid is five points back of the scoring lead, sitting on three games in hand.

Second and third in the Mavericks team scoring count are forwards Rob Bordson and Darik Angeli (31 and 27 points on the year, respectively) and they both recently hit career milestones in ECHL points!

After an early whirlwind in the blue paint for the Mavericks that saw over a half dozen different netminders signed or played by Kansas City, it seems things are settling down thanks to a February trade. Now leading the charge is goalie Matt Ginn, who pitched a 22 save shutout win on March 24th, thanks in part to a Rob Bordson GWG for the 1-0 victory. This was Ginn’s second SO of the season, and he is now up to fifteen games played on the year since he was acquired in a trade with Greenville on February 12th. He is leading Matt Greenfield in the Save Percentage and Goals Against Average departments with six more games played. As of press time, this puts him in first place league-wide for GAA and SV% numbers.

UP NEXT:

The Mavs will wrap up the remaining three games of their four game set against the Tulsa Oilers, with one more at home and the final two on the road. It’ll be a good opportunity as they continue to chase down the playoff spot that the Oilers are holding. After that, the team will stay out on the road for seven more straight games as part of a season high nine game road trip. The rest of the swing will be four straight against the Allen Americans followed by a trifecta visiting the Utah Grizzlies, both whom the Mavs would love to make up ground on in the race. Keep locked to Matchsticks & Gasoline as we follow Kansas City’s progress!

by MilhouseFirehouse