Playoffs clinched, KC Mavericks will honor NHL affiliate Seattle Kraken Saturday
The Kansas City Mavericks continued their winning ways this past week with a playoff spot in hand.
With their third straight weekend featuring three games in three days, the Mavericks completed their final three-in-three of the season, going 2-0-1 against two division rivals.
The weekend began with a trip to Texas for two games against the Allen Americans.
Friday’s was a low-scoring affair that saw Kansas City in control all the way. A scoreless game for the first 39 minutes, 55 seconds saw KC’s Nolan Walker find the back of the net with five seconds remaining in the second period.
Allen answered midway through the third, but Jacob Hayhurst scored 90 seconds later to give the Mavericks a 2-1 lead. Rookie Max Andreev scored an empty-net insurance goal as time was winding down.
The two teams met again the following night with a drastically different scoreline.
Trailing 3-1 early in the second period, Kansas City went on to outscore Allen 4-1 for the remaining 15 minutes of the middle frame. Goals from Hayhurst, Jeremy McKenna and rookies Bradley Schoonbaert and Andreev gave the Mavericks a 5-4 lead entering into the third period.
David Cotton, Walker and defenseman Marc-Olivier Duquette put the game out of reach in the third period and sent KC back up I-35 with an 8-4 win.
A quick turnaround awaited the Mavericks as they traveled to Wichita for their last of 15 regular-season games against the Thunder on Sunday afternoon.
Trailing 4-3 late in the third period, David Cotton sent the game to overtime with his 14th goal of the season with less than two minutes remaining in regulation.
Wichita scored a goal more than halfway through overtime and Kansas City’s weekend ended by picking up a point in the standings with a 5-4 overtime loss.
Continuing a streak, Kansas City has picked up at least one point in the standings in an ECHL-leading 18-straight games, eight more than the next-closest team. The Mavericks have not lost a road game in regulation since Dec. 1.
With one of the top two seeds in the division already clinched with five weeks remaining in the regular season, the Mavericks sit alone atop the ECHL standings at 43-10-5 (91 points), nine more points than the next-closest team.
MILESTONES
Saturday’s 8-4 victory was a big statistical night for the Mavericks.
With Bradley Schoonbaert’s second-period goal, they broke their franchise record for most goals in a single season, topping the mark of 238 set in 2013-14.
Kansas City has 14 regular-season games left.
Also, Nolan Walker’s third-period goal on Saturday night was his 100th point in pro hockey.
AFFILIATION NIGHT
The Mavericks are home Friday and Saturday night, and Saturday is Affiliation Night.
KC will wear special Seattle Kraken-themed jerseys in honor of their NHL affiliate. And hype videos from the Kraken and the Mavericks’ AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, will be played throughout the game.
UP NEXT
For the first time in two weeks, the Mavericks return to Cable Dahmer Arena this weekend. They’ll play host to the Rapid City Rush on Friday and Saturday.
Seven home games remain before the postseason begins. Tickets are available by calling (816) 252-7825 or visiting kcmavericks.com.