KC Mavericks update: Mavs settle for split on road trip, return home for pair of games
The Kansas City Mavericks hockey team just wrapped up one of their busiest weeks of the season, playing four road games in five nights against Western Conference foes, and now return home locked in a tie for third place in the division.
First up last week was a trip to Cincinnati to face the Cyclones on Wednesday. The Mavericks got the scoring started with a goal from defenseman Theo Calvas, who found the back of the net for his fourth goal of the season.
After trading goals, KC trailed as the third period was winding down. But forward Hugo Roy scored with less than three minutes remaining to force overtime; then, with under a minute to play in OT, forward Pascal Laberge scored his second game-winning goal in as many matches for KC’s second win over Cincinnati in a matter of days.
The Mavericks visited the Toledo Walleye on Friday night. Laberge scored first for the Mavericks early in the opening period. From there, however, Toledo ran away with this one, the Mavs losing 5-1.
Saturday was the first of back-to-back games at the Indy Fuel. Dillon Kelley got the start in goal for KC, and it was his first time on the ice since mid-November. Indy jumped out to an early 3-0 lead before two Mavericks defensemen made their presence known. Jordan Sambrook and Nate Knoepke each scored their third goals of the season to bring KC to within one.
Indy scored back-to-back goals before Luke Stevens added a third for the Mavericks early in the final frame. KC had a fighting chance, but Indy added a late insurance goal and won 6-3.
The Mavs came out firing Sunday. Roy, Laberge, Stevens and Ryan Harrison all scored to make it 4-0 at the first intermission. Two goals by Indy halved the visitors’ lead, but Mavericks veteran John Schiavo scored and KC led 5-2 entering the third period.
Defenseman Jay Powell’s first goal in a KC uniform rounded out the scoring in a 6-3 victory as the Mavericks finished the road trip 2-2-0.
At 19-18-5 (43 points), the Mavericks are tied for third place in the ECHL’s Mountain Division of the Western Conference.
LABERGE’S HOT WEEK
Pascal Laberge was the Mavericks’ star on the weeklong road trip. The Quebec native had at least one point in each game and finished the week with three goals and six assists. Laberge (15 goals, 26 assists) leads all Kansas City skaters with 41 points this season.
NEXT UP
Now it’s time for a week of matchups against the Wichita Thunder.
KC plays host to division-rival Wichita on Tuesday and Saturday nights and travels to Wichita for a Friday night showdown. Saturday is First Responders Night at Cable Dahmer Arena. All first responders can purchase tickets for $20 at the box office. There will also be a postgame skate with the Mavericks players.
Visit kcmavericks.com or call 816-252-7825 for tickets.