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CHL Kansas City Mavericks

Mavs Edge Jackalopes, 4-3, In Home Finale

March 13, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Kansas City Mavericks News Release


INDEPENDENCE, Missouri - The Missouri Mavericks, led by Jeff Christian, defeated the Odessa Jackalopes, 4-3, in a shootout Saturday night in front of the 16th sellout crowd of the season at Independence Events Center. Christian finished with a goal and an assist in the win for Missouri, and the sellout crowd supported him in an auction held throughout the night for his daughter Ryan who is currently undergoing cancer treatment at St. Judes Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Mavericks' forward Toby Lafrance had a pair of goals including the shootout-winning goal as Missouri (30-25-6) moved to within two points of securing a playoff spot. The Mavericks now lead the Tulsa Oilers by four points in the Northern Conference for the fifth and final playoff spot.

The teams skated to a scoreless first period. Missouri killed both of the Jackalopes penalties including a five-on-three for 34 seconds. The Jacks also killed both of Missouri's power plays to keep the game scoreless.

Lafrance gave Missouri a 1-0 lead just 47 seconds into the second period on a nice individual effort. Lafrance took a pass from Karl Sellan, skated down the right wing past the defense, and shifted to a backhand that beat Odessa's goaltender Juha Toivonen. Odessa answered on Mike Ramsay's 30th goal of the season when his slap shot went over the shoulder Mavericks' goaltender Gerry Festa. Ramsay's power play goal was unassisted and came at the 4:33 mark of the second period.

The Mavericks regained the lead on Jeff Christian's 29th goal of the season when he chipped a backhand past Toivonen. The goal extended Christian's scoring streak 10 games and gave Missouri a 2-1 lead. Simon Watson made it 3-1 at the 18:54 mark when he tipped in a shot by Tom Maldonado marking the Mavericks first power play goal of the game on their sixth chance. Missouri took the 3-1 lead into the second intermission and held a 26-22 edge in shots.

Odessa quickly responded in the third period when Jeff Pierce scored his third goal in two nights just 21 seconds into the period. Sebastien Thinel tied the game, 3-3, when he took a pass from Collin Circelli and redirected past Festa at the 8:57 mark of the final period. Less than two minutes later, the Mavericks were forced to kill a full two-minute five-on-three power play for Odessa. Missouri killed both penalties and held on for the remainder of regulation earning a point in the standings by forcing the game into overtime.

Missouri was unable to convert on a power play chance in the overtime period, and the Mavs outshot the Jacks 3-2 in the extra time however neither team was able to score.

Lafrance earned his second goal of the night on the shootout winning goal when he scored on the first attempt for the Mavericks. Festa stopped all four of the Jackalopes chances and Jeff MacDermid scored the second goal for the Mavericks earning the victory.

The Mavericks head out for a three-game road trip to end the regular season starting tomorrow with a game against the Wichita Thunder. Tune into KCWJ 1030-AM to listen to all the action live, or listen live online through www.MissouriMavericks.com. The Mavericks will go on sale for the possible first home game of the playoffs on Tuesday, March 16. Visit the Mavericks website for more information.

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