Gems Fall to Mavericks 2-1 Saturday Night

December 3, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Dayton Gems News Release


Independence, MO - Coming down to the final seconds of regulation, the Missouri Mavericks would rely on clutch goaltending to hold on for a 2-1 win over the Dayton Gems inside the Independence Events Center in suburban Kansas City, Missouri on Saturday night. Scoring for the Gems was Matt Larke.

With the intensity and physical play expected between two clubs growing weary of playing each other, the game would begin featuring an exciting end to end flow, with the Mavericks trying to establish their presence on the ice with several big hits early on. Despite the hometown crowd, the Mavericks would meet a flawless Gems netminder in Bryan Hogan in the first forty minutes of play, while the Gems offensive machinery would strike first for the third straight night at the 15:15 mark when Matt Larke blasted in a rocket from the far circle past the glove of Missouri goalie Brian Mahoney-Wilson for Larke's fifth goal of the season. At the horn, the Gems would skate their 1-0 lead into the dressing room, while the Mavericks would outshoot the Gems 14-9 in the first stanza.

Missouri would control the flow through most of the middle period, posting 19 shots on goaltender Bryan Hogan to pressure the Gems offensively. Catching the Gems on a defensive miscue, Mavericks forward John-Scott Dickson crashed the net and tipped in a centering pass from the far corner to light the lamp and tie the game 1-1 at the 15:49 mark. Hogan would make key saves in the closing moments of the period to keep the score deadlocked into the second intermission, with the Mavs outshooting the Gems 33-17 through forty minutes of play.

Setting up a thrilling conclusion to the weekend series, the Mavericks would cash in for the go-ahead goal at the 14:33 mark of the third period, making it 2-1 into the final minutes of regulation. Trailing by a goal, the Gems would pull Hogan in favor of the extra attacker, and would set up several chances in front of Mohoney-Wilson but would be unable to find the back of the net as time ran out to end regulation with the Mavericks counting on their goaltending late to secure the 2-1 win over the Gems after a full sixty minutes. Final shots again favored the Mavs 45-28. Dayton went 0 for 1 on the powerplay, while Missouri earned one extra attacker goal in their three chances.

With the loss, the Gems end the weekend series picking up two wins out of the possible three against the Mavericks, and see their record stand at 8-6-4.

The Gems are back in action on Friday night at Evansville before making their return on Cassano's Italian Ice inside Hara Arena on Saturday night to host the Quad City Mallards at 7pm. Tickets are still available by calling the Gems ticket office at 275-7777.



Central Hockey League Stories from December 3, 2011


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