Mavericks avoid sweep by Eagles

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – The Colorado Eagles overcame a bad start in game three of the Turner Conference Semi-finals to take a second period lead but the Missouri Mavericks were able to steal the 4-3 win with superior special teams play.
Missouri cashed in on the second of two back-to-back power plays 6:03 into the first period when Ryan Jardine put a rebound shot past Eagles goaltender Andrew Penner to go up 1-0.

Just over six minutes later, Simon Watson, whom the Eagles had been able to keep in check in the previous two games, scored the second power play goal for the Mavericks with Joe Grimaldi in the box for a cross checking minor. 
Things were looking good for the home team Mavericks until Daymen Rycroft’s pass into the zone  found Scott May busting towards the net. May deposited the puck behind Robby Nolan for the Eagles’ first goal of the game to make it a 2-1 contest heading into the first intermission.
Colorado came out flying in the second period.  A playoff-record setting 26 seconds after the puck dropped, May scored the even-up goal assisted by Adam Chorneyko and Rycroft.
Adam Hogg gave the Eagles the lead a short time later when he skated the puck into the offensive zone and sent a shot on Nolan that found it’s way through at the 3:32 mark.
The tide turned against the Eagles for the remainder of the middle frame as Jardine scored his second goal of the night at 6:35 to tie the game at 3-3 and just over a minute later the Mavericks were able to re-establish the lead when Nick Sirota converted a pass from Watson to beat Penner for the 4-3 score.
Although the Eagles out shot the Mavericks 13-8 in the third period, no more goals would be tallied for either team. The final score went in the books as a 4-3 win for Missouri, allowing their playoff dreams to live another day.
Game four will be played on Thursday April 21st in Independence, Missouri.
Contact the writer at terry.sanford@prohockeynews.com Contact the photographer at daniel.russell@prohockeynews.com