Mavericks reach the .500 mark

INDEPENDENCE , Missouri — The Missouri Mavericks first home game in 2010 gave them a chance to reach the .500 plateau for the first time this season, as well as the first time in team history. Missouri faced the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs this past Saturday, a game in which the Mavericks rallied back from a 3-0 deficit to win 4-3.
 

Missouri looked impressive in the first period of play. With a strong fore-check, and constant pressure on the Mudbugs defense, the Mavericks created several scoring opportunities. The pressure finally paid off, when Mudbugs defenseman David Pszenyczny was tagged for a holding penalty at the 9:29 mark. It took the Mavericks only 15 seconds to take advantage of the extra attacker, when forward Brett Hammond tallied his sixth goal of the season. 
 
The Mavericks kept the pressure on, out shooting the Mudbugs 15-8 in the opening session, but Mudbugs goalie Ken Carroll, who was recently named to his 6th CHL All-Star team, would hold strong. The Mudbugs would tie the score at the 18:35 mark, when a shot from forward Joe Blaznek ricocheted off Missouri goalie Alexandre Vincent directly to Mudbugs forward Mark Johnson who buried it for an easy goal.
 
The action remained intense, and the hitting picked up in the second period. The Mudbugs seemed to have made some adjustments, and were able to break the fore-check of the Mavericks with more frequency. The Mudbugs took the lead when center Brett Smith beat Vincente at the 4:22 mark. 
 
The Mavericks would come charging back.  Bill Vandermeer made several moves in and around the Mudbugs defense and Chad Hinz banged home a rebound from Vandermeer’s effort. That’s when things started to get a little chippy. The hitting picked up, which was proven when Missouri forward Simon Watson, who is typically known for his speed and finesse, took a hit away from the play and a skirmish ensued. The hitting was so intense that at one point, players crashing into the boards almost knocked a panel of glass onto some fans sitting in the front row. 
 
There was a scary moment when Mavericks defenseman Andrew Davis was blindsided by Mudbugs forward Shawn Limpright, and had to be helped to the locker room. Consequently, Limpright was given a five minute major for charging and a game misconduct. The second period ended with the score tied at two.
 
The third period was a back and forth battle as both teams mounted numerous offenses, but both net minders held their ground. It looked as though the Mavericks shot themselves in the foot yet again, when Bill Vandermeer was tagged with a hooking penalty at the 12:22 mark. The Mudbugs would take full advantage and score on the ensuing power play, when Mudbugs forward David Rutherford scored a highlight reel goal to put Bossier-Shreveport on top with less than seven minutes left in the game. 
 
Vandermeer would make up for his mistake, only 18 seconds later, when he tied the game at three for his twelfth goal of the season. That score would hold into overtime.
 
In the extra session, both teams traded odd-man rushes, with the only real threat coming when the Mavericks were awarded a power play. The Mavericks registered a few shots during the power play, but could not find the back of the net and the game would go to a shootout. Alexandre Vincent stopped all but one of the Mudbugs attempts, while Chad Hinz, Bill Vandermeer, and Tommy Lange all scored for the Missouri to give them the 4-3 win.
 
Game Notes:
 
– The Mavericks finally reach the .500 mark, improving their record to 15-15-2.
 
– The Mavericks improve to 6-0 in shootouts.
 
– The Mavericks are currently three points out of the final playoff spot, but Saturday’s game only marked the halfway point in the season.
 
– Mavericks forward Jeff Christian was appointed to the CHL All-Star team, to be played next week.  This is Christian’s fourth All-Star appearance.
 
Contact the author at joe.rozycki@prohockeynews.com