KC Mavericks update: Starrett nets Goaltender of the Week honors as Florida trip begins

The Kansas City Mavericks’ season-high four-game winning streak ended with a 3-2 overtime loss to the ECHL-leading Idaho Steelheads at Cable Dahmer Arena.

Idaho entered the Friday contest with a two-game lead on the second-place team in the ECHL.

KC held its opponent scoreless in the first period for the second straight game, but the Steelheads struck first midway through the second period.

Mavericks defenseman Marc McNulty tied it with his first goal of the season (and second point in his last three games). But a Jordan Sambrook interference penalty put Idaho on the power play late in the second period and led to the visitors’ second goal.

In the third period, KC forward Cole Coskey scored his 13th goal of the season to send the game to overtime and give the Mavs one guaranteed point in the standings. But Idaho scored 1:59 into the extra frame and the Steelheads had their 37th victory in 48 tries this season.

Saturday was the Mavericks’ Miracle on Ice game, with the home squad wearing special Team USA-themed jerseys to pay tribute to the 1980 U.S. Olympic team. The opponent, again, was the Idaho Steelheads.

Idaho attempted 21 shots on goal — the most in one period against the Mavs this season — but KC goaltender Shane Starrett stood tall. He saved all but one of them.

Idaho doubled its lead to 2-0 midway through the third period before Mavericks captain Nick Pastujov scored his 12th goal of the season with less than four minutes remaining. And that was the final score: 2-1 Steelheads.

Starrett saved 38 of 40 shots he faced, the second-most saves by a Mavericks goaltender this season.

The Mavericks (22-19-6, 50 points) are in third place in the Mountain Division with 25 games left — 19 against division foes.

GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK

Starrett earned ECHL Goaltender of the Week honors (Feb. 6-12) after going 3-0 against Wichita and earning his second shutout of the season. The Bellingham, Mass., native is the only ECHL goaltender to win the weekly award twice this season.

NEXT UP

The Mavericks hit the road for a weeklong road trip against the defending ECHL champion Florida Everblades. After playing three games in South Florida this week, KC returns to Cable Dahmer Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 28 for another matchup with division rival Wichita.

Visit kcmavericks.com or call 816-252-7825 for tickets.

This story was originally published February 20, 2023 at 11:16 AM.