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CHL Kansas City Mavericks

Mavericks Fall in Game Three, 4-1 to Rapid City

March 31, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Kansas City Mavericks News Release


RAPID CITY, S.D. - The Rapid City Rush took a commanding 3-0 series lead in the Northern Conference Semifinals Wednesday night with a 4-1 victory over the Missouri Mavericks at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center (RPCC). Rush goaltender Danny Battochio continued his stellar play in net stopping 29 of 30 shots, and Blaine Jarvis had a goal and an assist for the Rush who will look to close out the series Friday night in Game 4. The Rush took control with a three-goal outburst in just two minutes at the end of the second period. Mavericks' forward Brett Hammond scored the lone goal for Missouri, his fourth of the playoffs, and he is tied among all scorers in the CHL in goals. Missouri has been held to just one goal in each of the first three contests.

For the third straight game, the Mavericks and Rush did not score in the opening period. Missouri controlled throughout the period and outshot Rapid City 14-8. Just over 10 minutes in, Bill Vandermeer's backhand bid got past Rush goaltender Danny Battochio, but the puck slid across the mouth of the goal and didn't cross the line. The Rush earned the first power play of the game on a hooking call to Hammond at the 12:37 mark. Missouri killed the ensuing power play, and earned a four-minute man-advantage directly following the Hammond penalty. Despite a number of quality chances on the power play, the Mavericks were unable to score, and the teams went into the first intermission with a scoreless tie.

Hammond gave Missouri their first lead of the series in the second period. His power play goal came at the 13:59 mark on a partial breakaway and marked the Mavericks' first power play goal of the series. The Mavericks' leading goal scorer of the playoffs gained possession of the puck just before he reached Battochio, and then shelved a shot over the goalies' right leg to give Missouri a 1-0 lead.

The lead was short-lived however, as the Rush bounced back and tied the game on Jon Pelle's shorthanded goal just over three minutes after the Hammond goal. Pelle took possession of the puck just inside the blue line along the left wing, and went forehand to backhand to beat Mavericks' goaltender Charlie Effinger.

Les Reaney scored 59 seconds later to give the Rush a 2-1 lead when he jammed a loose puck into the back of the net in a scrum in front of the net. Rapid City took a 3-1 lead at the 19:06 mark when Rich Hansen shoveled the puck behind Effinger along the near post. The three goals for Rapid City were exactly two minutes apart, and the Rush took the two-goal lead into the final period.

The Rush controlled the final period and didn't give the Mavericks a chance to get back into the game. Rapid City outshot Missouri 15-6 and scored their fourth of the game at the 11:44 mark of the final period. Blaine Jarvis banged home a rebound on a shot by Colt King on a two-on-one to secure the victory for the Rush.

Missouri finished 1 for 6 on the power play and killed both of Rapid City's man advantages. Effinger stopped 32 of 36 shots for his fourth loss of the playoffs. The Mavericks now face a 3-0 series deficit, and will look to become the first team in CHL history to win a seven-game series after trailing 3-0.

Game 4 of the Northern Conference Semifinals is Friday night at the RPCC at 8:05 p.m. CDT. Tune in live to all the action on KCWJ 1030-am or listen live online via www.MissouriMavericks.com.

Northern Conference Semifinal - Series "E" (best-of-7) Missouri Mavericks vs. Rapid City Rush Rapid City Leads 3-0

Game 1 - Sat., Mar. 27 - Rapid City 5 - Missouri 1 Game 2 - Sun., Mar. 28 - Rapid City 2 - Missouri 1

Game 3 - Wed., Mar. 31 - Rapid City 4 - Missouri 1 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, Independence Events Center, 7:05 *Game 7 - Wed., Apr. 7 - Missouri at Rapid City, 6:35

*if necessary, All Times Local

Should the series return to Missouri for Game 6, tickets are available and start at only $14. Visit the Independence Events Center Box Office, call (866) 443-8849, or go online to www.GetTIX.net. At this time only credit card purchases will be allowed for this game, and should Game 6 not be played, all credit cards will be refunded less any applicable service fees.

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