Kansas City Mavericks welcome Rapid City on Tuesday with ECHL playoffs approaching
The Kansas City Mavericks secured two huge points over the weekend in their push for the playoffs ahead of a pivotal Tuesday night game this week.
The first game of the series did not go the Mavericks way as the Steelheads scored 38 seconds into the game and did not look back. Idaho took game one of the series 6-0.
The Mavericks got their revenge Friday against the team that was one game away from securing the best record in the ECHL.
Idaho got on the scoreboard first with less than three minutes remaining in the first period. A scoreless second period followed, with just nine combined shots between the two teams.
In his biggest moment since returning from the AHL, Mavs forward Cole Coskey tied the game just over a minute into the third period. Luckily for KC, Coskey was not done: He scored again two minutes later to give the Mavericks a 2-1 lead. Coskey has five points in five games since his return from the AHL.
With less than two minutes to play in regulation, Idaho pulled its goalie to add another attacker ... and Kansas City’s Mathieu Foget — acquired in a deadline trade from Orlando — took full advantage with an insurance goal.
Idaho scored with three seconds left, but the Mavericks left the arena with a 3-2 victory, their second over Idaho this season. KC is one of just five teams with multiple victories against the Steelheads in 2022-23.
Goaltender Dillon Kelley had one of his best performances of the season, stopping 20 of 22 shots faced Friday night. In his last six starts, Kelley is 5-0-0-1 and has lowered his goals-against average (GAA) by more than 1 1/2 points.
Idaho got out to a quick 1-0 lead in Saturday’s game with a first-period goal. That was the extent of the scoring as Idaho goaltender Adam Scheel stopped all 36 shots he faced from the Mavs.
The Mavericks are currently tied for second place in the ECHL Mountain Division at 30-28-6-2 (68 points) with six games remaining. Second and sixth place in the division are separated by just five points.
With the top four teams in each division making the postseason, the final two weeks of the season will be huge for all involved.
ROOKIES STEPPING UP
With five players called up to Coachella Valley, the Mavericks’ AHL affiliate — as well as two of the team’s top scorers on injured reserve — KC has relied on its depth all season.
Rookies have been arguably the most important asset to the roster with five first-year players in the regular rotation — and four of those rookies signed directly out of college in recent weeks.
Former Minnesota State-Mankato captain Cade Borchardt, making his professional hockey debut, assisted on Foget’s game-winning goal Friday. And Casey Carreau has recorded a point in each of his first five games as a pro.
KEY TUESDAY MATCHUP
On Tuesday, the Mavericks play host to Rapid City at Cable Dahmer Arena in the biggest game of the season to date.
Kansas City is looking for its first playoff appearance since the 2018-19 season, and Tuesday evening’s game will go a long way toward securing that postseason berth. Tickets are available via 816-252-7825.
The team then travels to Tulsa for games Friday and Saturday.
PLAYOFF TICKETS ON SALE
Tickets for the first four potential Mavs home playoff games are on sale at Ticketmaster or by calling the team’s ticket office at 816-252-7825.
Fans who purchase single-game tickets via Ticketmaster will be refunded automatically for any games not played. Current season-ticket members who purchased rounds in full can use leftover funds to opt in for further rounds, season-ticket renewals or single game tickets for the 2023-24 season.