INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – The Missouri Mavericks haven’t had much success against their opponent in the Northern Conference Semi-finals, the Rapid City Rush.
These two teams met on five different occasions in the regular season. Rapid City won all five games, outscoring Missouri 24-9 in the process. The Mavericks also suffered their worst defeat in the short history of the team, losing 9-2 on their home ice at the hands of the Rush back in December.
However, the two teams had not met since the end of January, and the Mavericks have been playing much better since then. This series would give the Mavericks a chance at redemption, as well as an opportunity to prove that they belong in the same conversation with the best teams in the CHL.
The two teams spent the entire first period feeling each other out. Even though there were a combined 26 shots on goal, neither goalie was really tested. The best chance of the period came on a Mavericks’ power play when Bill Vandermeer had a point-blank chance in the slot. But Rush goalie and CHL Rookie of the Year Danny Battochio turned the shot away with ease. The period would end at a scoreless tie.
The Mavericks were able to skate with Rapid City for the first thirty minutes of the game, but the incredibly high pace would eventually get the best of the Missouri team. The Mavericks looked tired and overmatched for the remainder of the game, and the Rush would take full advantage.
Rapid City’s Jon Pelle notched the first goal of the game at the 11:11 mark of the middle frame when he stuffed home a rebound that the Mavericks’ defense could not clear away from goalie Charlie Effinger, which would turn out to be a common theme in this game. The Rush would take their 1-0 lead into the second intermission.
The third period would belong to the Rush. Rapid City completely dominated the game play over the final twenty minutes. The Rush would continue to wreak havoc in front of Effinger, leading to four goals for the visiting team. Scott Wray, Brendan Cook, and Derek LeBlanc would each light the lamp, while Pelle would add an empty netter for his second goal of the game.
The Mavericks would finally get on the board late in the game when Brett Hammond notched his second goal of the playoffs, but it was too little too late on this night. Rapid City would take Game One with an impressive 5-1 victory.
The two teams will meet again for Game Two on Sunday night at the Independence Events Center.
Contact the author at joe.rozycki@prohockeynews.com
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