ECHL Kansas City Mavericks

Gameday Report: Mavericks vs. Thunder

Published on March 20, 2018 under ECHL (ECHL)
Kansas City Mavericks News Release


INDEPENDENCE, Mo. - The Kansas City Mavericks and Wichita Thunder clash Tuesday night in the last Independence Cup game of the season.

The Thunder enter tonight's game with a 5-3 advantage in the season series, ending the Mavericks' string of consecutive Independence Cup titles.

The Matchup

Kansas City Mavericks (31-28-2-2) vs. Wichita Thunder (33-24-5-2)

7:05 p.m.

Silverstein Eye Centers Arena | Independence, Mo.

Mavs Minutes

Offense Explodes

The Mavericks filled the net on Sunday against Quad City, scoring a season-best eight goals in their final meeting with the Mallards. Seven Mavericks claimed multiple points in the game, three with three-point efforts. The eight-goal onslaught was the most the Mavericks have scored in a game since Nov. 5, 2016 when the team hung 10 on Tulsa in a 10-3 victory.

Home Sweet Home

The Mavericks have made themselves at home of late at Silverstein Eye Centers Arena, winners of five of their last six games on home ice. In that span, the Mavericks have swept Allen (Feb. 23 and 24) and Fort Wayne (March 2 and 3) and most recently defeated Quad City by an eight-goal margin.

Carlson's Run

Adam Carlson has provided strong play in the blue paint for KC recently, leading the team to at least one point in his last six starts (4-0-2-0). In that time, Carlson has registered wins over Fort Wayne, Colorado and Quad City and salvaged a point in two OT losses at Idaho. Over his last six starts, Carlson has stopped 162 of 174 shots for a .931 Save Percentage and most recently claimed his first shutout of the season.

Thunderstruck

After starting the season 0-3 against their rivals across State Line, the Mavericks have won three of the last five contests with the Thunder. Two of the Mavericks' wins over Wichita have come in overtime, one on the road with Darren Nowick scoring the game-winner and once at home in which Shawn Pauly beat Shane Starrett in the five-minute, three-on-three period. The Mavericks won the last meeting between the clubs, a 7-4 decision on Dec. 23 at Wichita.

Playoff Picture

The Mavericks enter play on Tuesday tied with the Kalamazoo Wings for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Central Division, knotted at 66 points apiece. Kansas City will leave the game with two more games played than the Wings, adding to the importance of the two available points tonight. The Wings own the tie break over KC by virtue of more regulation and overtime wins on the season (30-28). The Mavericks' magic number to clinch a playoff spot stands at 21 points - a number that will decrease with every point KC earns (W, OTL, SOL) and every time the Wings leave a point on the ice (L, OTL, SOL).

How To Follow

For lines, goals and period recaps, follow the Mavericks on Twitter at @KC_Mavericks. For play-by-play updates, follow @KCMavsGameday. Bob Rennison's radio call alongside Ryan Gibson is available via the Mavericks' free mobile app, Kansas City Mavericks, on KCMavericks.com and on 100.1 FM radio in Kansas City.

Up Next

The Mavericks hit the road for a pair of games at Allen this weekend and will next return home for back-to-back games on Monday, April 2 and Tuesday, April 3 to close out the regular season home slate.

Check out the Kansas City Mavericks Statistics

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