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CHL Kansas City Mavericks

Mavericks Advance With 3-1 Win Over Mississippi

March 26, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Kansas City Mavericks News Release


SOUTHAVEN, Mississippi - The Missouri Mavericks defeated the Mississippi RiverKings, 3-1, Thursday night in a decisive Game Three at DeSoto Civic Center to move on to the Northern Conference Semi-Finals. Brett Hammond scored just 1:14 into the game for the Mavericks and they didn't look back as Missouri won their first playoff series in franchise history. Bill Vandermeer and Nick Sirota scored the final two goals for Missouri and Charlie Effinger stopped 36 of 37 shots for his second victory of the post-season.

Missouri will face the Rapid City Rush in the Northern Conference Semi-Finals in a best-of-7 series starting this Saturday and Sunday, March 27 and 28 at Independence Events Center. Both games will begin at 7:05 p.m. and tickets are on sale now by calling (866) 443-8849, visiting www.GetTIX.net or going to the Independence Events Center Box Office.

Hammond gave the Mavericks a 1-0 lead on the second shift of the game for the Mavericks. Just 1:14 into the opening period, the Mavericks' forward took a feed from Blake Forsyth, skated into the RiverKings' zone along the left wing and blasted a slap shot that was blocked by goaltender Kyle McNulty. Hammond quickly regained the rebound and wristed the puck into the open net from a sharp angle.

The Mavericks killed a penalty midway through the opening period when Hammond was sent to the box for high-sticking. Missouri killed the ensuing power play then earned a power play late in the period. During the Mavericks' man advantage, Mississippi stole the puck and had a two-on-one odd-man rush on Effinger. The RiverKings hit the pipe on their shot and Missouri came back on a four-on-one the other way. Vandermeer carried the puck into the zone and beat McNulty with a slap shot to give the Mavericks a 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission.

Only three minutes into the second period, the Mavericks extended their lead to 3-0 when Nick Sirota followed a shot by Braden Walls and backhanded the puck over the leg of McNulty. At that point, the Mavericks held a 16-8 edge in shots, but the RiverKings didn't go lightly. Stephen Margeson scored his first goal of the post-season to cut the Mavs' lead to 3-1 at the 12:50 mark of the second. The Mavericks took the two-goal lead into the final period and outshot the RiverKings 25-20 through the first 40 minutes.

Mississippi gave everything they had in the final period, but Effinger and the Mavericks were equal to the task. Effinger stopped all 17 shots in the final period to secure the first series victory in Mavericks' history.

Missouri finished 1-4 on the power play and again killed all of the RiverKings changes (5-5).

Northern Conference Semifinal - Series "E" (best-of-7)

Missouri Mavericks vs. Rapid City Rush

Game 1 - Sat., Mar. 27 - Rapid City at Missouri, 7:05

Game 2 - Sun., Mar. 28 - Rapid City at Missouri, 7:05

Game 3 - Wed., Mar. 31 - Missouri at Rapid City, 6:35

Game 4 - Fri., Apr. 2 - Missouri at Rapid City, 7:05

*Game 5 - Sat., Apr. 3 - Missouri at Rapid City, 7:05

*Game 6 - Mon., Apr. 5 - Rapid City at Missouri, 7:05

*Game 7 - Wed., Apr. 7 - Missouri at Rapid City, 6:35

Round 2 tickets start at just $14, and are on sale by visiting the Independence Events Center Box Office, calling (866) 443-8849, or visiting www.GetTIX.net.

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