The Missouri Mavericks are becoming the talk of the league as their winning streak reached 14 last week, tying for the fourth-longest winning streak in ECHL history. The all-time longest winning streak in league history is 23 wins in-a-row, set last season by the South Carolina Stingrays. The Mavericks have a light week ahead, with only a Sunday afternoon tilt at Tulsa on tap.
Speaking of Tulsa, Oilers Head Coach Jason Christie is on the brink of ECHL history himself. Tulsa’s 5-1 win over Utah on Friday gave Christie his 491st career win, tying John Marks’ record. One more win and Christie will be the outright record holder.
Looking elsewhere around the Western Conference, all three division leaders from our last recap retain the lead in this week’s edition. Utah now holds a slim margin in the West over Rapid City, while Quad City has opened up a three-point lead over Cincinnati in the Midwest. Missouri remains on top in the Central, with an 11-point lead over Allen.
QUAD CITY MALLARDS (13-7-1-2, 29 points)
The Mallards increased their division lead by one point last week, picking up a pair of road wins against division rivals. Quad City grabbed a 2-1 shootout win at Cincinnati on Tuesday night behind a 27-save effort from Brody Hoffman. Austin Coldwell’s power play goal at 19:28 of the second gave the Mallards a 1-0 lead, before the Cyclones answered in the middle of the third. Sam Warning scored in the shootout, while Hoffman turned aside all three Cincinnati shooters in the victory. Down 5-2 early in the third period of Sunday’s game at Evansville, the Mallards responded with three goals in a span of five minutes to send the game to overtime. Mike Monfredo (1 G, 2 A) went on to net the game winner 2:50 into the extra frame to give Quad City a 6-5 victory.
The week ahead: Friday and Saturday at Rapid City (10-7-1-1)
CINCINNATI CYCLONES (11-5-2-2, 26 Points)
The Cyclones won one out of three games last week, while gaining three out of a possible six points. Down 1-0 to the Mallards at home on Tuesday, the Peter Quenneville scored, sending the game into a shootout. Unfortunately for Cincinnati, all three shot attempts failed and they dropped the game 2-1. A Thursday night contest at Greenville saw Cincinnati playing from behind once again. Trailing 3-0 in the third period, Zach Budish scored twice and Jack Downing added a late goal as the Cyclones ran out of time and fell 4-3. Riley Weselowski scored twice, including an overtime goal, in a 7-6 win at Greenville on Friday. Nick Huard (2 G, 1 A), Andrew Yogan (1 G, 1 A), Steve Weinstein (1 G) and Mike Hammond (1 G) also found the net in a wild game that saw the two teams combine for 13 goals on 80 shots.
The week ahead: Friday at Evansville (6-12-1-0), Saturday home vs. Evansville
FORT WAYNE KOMETS (10-8-0-0, 20 Points)
The Komets made the most of a light schedule last week, claiming a 7-5 road win at Evansville on Friday night. Jamie Schaafsma and Nikita Kashirsky led the way for Fort Wayne, each scoring twice. Cody Corbett, Brett Perlini and Garrett Thompson all added goals in a game that saw the Komets get outshot by the IceMen 32-21. Fort Wayne gets back to a normal schedule this week, playing three games in three days against division foes.
The week ahead: Friday home vs. Indy (9-10-2-0), Saturday at Indy, Sunday home vs. Evansville (6-12-1-0)
INDY FUEL (9-10-2-0, 20 points)
Indy continues to struggle after dropping all three contests last week to extend its losing streak to eight games. Garett Bembridge (1 G, 1 A)Â got the Fuel on the board first in Thursday’s home contest against the Toledo Walleye, scoring at 9:35 of the opening period. Rhett Bly added a power play marker late in the third period, but the damage was already done and the Fuel dropped the contest 4-2. Cody Sharib and Zach Miskovic scored the following night in a rematch with Toledo that saw the Fuel allow two goals while on the penalty kill. Indy went on to lose 5-2. Bembridge’s power play goal in the second period would be the only offense from the Fuel on Sunday, as the South Carolina Stingrays handed Indy a 3-1 home loss.
The week ahead: Thursday home vs. Wheeling (11-9-1-1), Friday at Fort Wayne (10-8-0-0), Saturday home vs. Fort Wayne
EVANSVILLE ICEMEN (6-12-1-0, 13 Points)
It was a rough week for the IceMen as they returned home from a road trip to Alaska and dropped all three home games on their slate last week. Cody Reichard allowed three first period goals to the Missouri Mavericks on Wednesday, and that would be all the damage needed as Evansville fell 3-0. 13 players got on the score sheet against Fort Wayne on Friday night, with Daultan Leveille’s two goal effort leading the IceMen. Evansville produced a three-goal third period, but it would not be enough, as Fort Wayne matched goal-for-goal and cruised to a 7-5 decision. Tyson Fawcett scored twice, while Leveille added a goal and assist on Sunday in a game that saw Evansville holding a 5-2 lead over Quad City early in the third period. The Mallards soon evened the score and forced overtime, where they saddled the IceMen with a 6-5 loss.
The week ahead: Wednesday at Toledo (11-5-1-3), Friday home vs. Cincinnati (11-5-2-2), Saturday at Cincinnati, Sunday at Fort Wayne (10-8-0-0)
MISSOURI MAVERICKS (19-2-0-1, 39 Points)
The Mavericks posted a pair of wins last week to extend their winning streak to 14 games. Kane Lafranchise put the Mavs up 1-0 just 8:58 into Wednesday’s game at Evansville, then Tyler Barnes added a pair of goals less than five minutes apart and Parker Milner stopped 18 shots to help Missouri cruise to a 3-0 shutout win. Colin Markison and Carter Verhaeghe each contributed a goal and assist and Josh Robinson added 20 saves on Saturday night as the Mavericks downed the Wichita Thunder 5-2 at home. Bryce Aneloski, Andrew Courtney and Kyle Burroughs also found the net in Missouri’s eighth win over Wichita this season.
The week ahead: Sunday at Tulsa (8-9-1-1)
ALLEN AMERICANS (14-8-0-0, 28 Points)
The Americans got back into the win column last week, coming away with a pair of home wins after dropping a two-game set at Utah the previous week. Vincent Arseneau and Dyson Stevenson scored goals two minutes apart in the opening period Friday to give the Americans a 2-0 lead over Rapid City in the first intermission. The Rush answered back just 35-seconds into the middle frame, but Ian Schultz netted a third period goal to push the lead back to two and Riley Gill stopped 28 shots as the Americans defeated the Rush 3-1. The Americans got their revenge on the Grizzlies on Saturday, scoring seven times on just 18 shots to hand Utah a 7-3 defeat. Chad Costello led the way for Allen with a hat trick and two assists, while Chris Crane (2 G), Schultz (1 G, 2 A) and Gary Steffes (1 G) added goals of their own. Joel Rumpel posted 39 saves in 54-minutes of play for Allen.
The week ahead: Wednesday and Sunday home vs. Idaho (7-12-4-0)
TULSA OILERS (8-9-1-1, 18 Points)
The Oilers picked up two points after hosting two West Division teams last week. Christophe Lalancette put Tulsa on the board first on Wednesday, scoring at 7:13 of the first against Rapid City. The Rush would tie the game 10 minutes later and the two teams would remain deadlocked until a Rapid City goal with six minutes left in the third. Rapid City would go on to add two empty net goals before Brandon Wong added his fifth goal of the year, making the final score 4-2 in Rapid City’s favor. Tulsa’s offense took off the following night, as the Oilers scored four times in the opening period of Thursday’s 5-1 win over the West Division leading Utah Grizzlies. Dan DeSalvo led the way for Tulsa with a goal and assist while Kevin Carr posted 25 saves to move head coach Jason Christie into a tie for first place on the ECHL coaching wins list.
The week ahead: Thursday and Friday home vs. Idaho (7-12-4-0), Sunday home vs. Missouri (19-2-0-1)
WICHITA THUNDER (6-13-0-1, 13 Points)
The Thunder fell in its only contest last week, dropping a 5-2 decision at Missouri on Saturday. Down 2-0 in the opening period, Ian Lowe scored on the power play to cut the deficit in half heading into the first intermission. Wichita would then allow three Missouri goals in the second period before Donnie Harris netted a power play marker at 17:54 of the second. David Shantz stopped 20-of-25 Mavericks shots as he suffered his eighth loss of the year. Wichita looks to snap out of a three game skid as they travel to former CHL rivals Rapid City and Colorado this week.
The week ahead: Tuesday at Rapid City (10-7-1-1), Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at Colorado (8-12-2-0)
UTAH GRIZZLIES (11-7-2-0, 24 Points)
The Grizzlies remain in first place in the division, despite dropping a pair of road games last week to Central Division foes Tulsa and Allen. Alex Krushelnyski provided the only offense for Utah on Thursday night, scoring at 15:02 of the second period at Tulsa. Unfortunately for the Grizzlies, it was too little, too late after allowing five Oilers goals in the first 31 minutes of play. Chris Rawlings was chased from the game after allowing three goals in the first 14 minutes of the 5-1 loss. Jon Puskar contributed a goal and assist at Allen on Saturday night, but it would not be enough as the Grizzlies found themselves attempting to fight back from a 4-0 deficit just four minutes into the contest. Rawlings was pulled for the second-straight game after allowing three goals on three shots in the first 3:14.
The week ahead: Wednesday, Friday and Saturday home vs. Alaska (8-12-1-2)
RAPID CITY RUSH (10-7-1-1, 22 Points)
The Rush picked up two points last week to move within two points of the division lead. Rapid City ‘s Kale Kerbashian netted the game-tying goal 17:13 into Wednesday’s contest at Tulsa, then Taylor Doherty scored a power play goal with six minutes remaining before Destry Straight and Cody Ferriero added empty net goals to power Rapid City past Tulsa 4-2. Marek Langhammer posted 26 saves in the win. Zach Cohen scored his fifth goal of the season 35-seconds into the second period at Allen on Friday to cut the deficit to one goal. However, the Rush could not find the equalizer and they would go on to fall to the Americans 3-1.
The week ahead: Tuesday home vs. Wichita (6-13-0-1), Friday at Saturday home vs. Quad City (13-7-1-2)
ALASKA ACES (8-12-1-2, 19 Points)
The Aces were the big movers in the division this week, picking up five points out of a possible six during a three game home stand with the Colorado Eagles. Down 1-0, Tommaso Traversa netted his eighth goal of the season 2:54 into the third period of Wednesday’s game to force overtime. Despite out-shooting the Eagles 5-2 in the extra period, and 40-25 on the night, the Aces ran out of steam with 41-seconds remaining when Colorado scored to take a 2-1 win. Alaska jumped back into the win column on Friday night, posted two power play goals on three chances for a 6-4 win over Colorado. Garet Hunt, Collin Valcourt and Tim Coffman all scored to give the Aces a 3-0 lead 1:41 into the middle frame. The Aces went on to add three third period goals to secure the win. A three goal second period propelled the Aces to a 4-3 win on Saturday. Justin Breton and Traversa each scored their ninth goals of the season and Stephen Perfetto scored the game winner with 4:35 remaining.
The week ahead: Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at Utah (11-7-2-0)
COLORADO EAGLES (8-12-2-0, 18 Points)
The Eagles sit in a tie for fourth place in the division after picking up one win out of a three game set at Alaska. Derek Rodwell gave the Eagles a 1-0 lead in the first period, then Collin Bowman netted the game winner in overtime as Colorado claimed a 2-1 win. Tate Maris stopped 39 Aces shots as Alaska posted a 4-25 shot advantage over Colorado. Down 5-1 mid-way through the third period on Friday, Colorado roared back to score three times on goals from Bowman, Darryl Bootland and Giffen Nyren, but the Eagles could not find the equalizer and fell 6-4. The Eagles found themselves with a 2-0 lead entering the second period on Saturday, before allowing Alaska to score three goals in the second period. Trent Daavettila’s power play goal at 2:15 of the third, his second power play goal of the game, tied the game before Alaska scored the game winner with less than five minutes remaining to end Colorado’s trip with a 4-3 loss.
The week ahead: Wednesday, Friday and Saturday home vs. Wichita (6-13-0-1)
IDAHO STEELHEADS (7-12-4-0, 18 Points)
The Steelheads gained two points last week out of a possible six during a three game home stand with the Florida Everblades. Zack Kamrass scored a shorthanded goal in the second period on Wednesday, but that would be all the offense that Idaho could provide and they would drop the game 4-1. Idaho’s offense responded on Friday, scoring three goals, including a power play marker by Jefferson Dahl to jump out to a 3-0 lead mid-way through the game. Following a Florida goal the Steelheads would go on to add two more goals to claim a 5-1 win. Dahl (1 G, 1 A), Gemel Smith (1 G, 2 A) and Emil Molin (1 G, 1 A) all provided multiple points in the victory while Maxime Lagace made 23 saves. Brandon Magee netted a power play goal 39-seconds into the second period on Saturday, with assists coming from Dahl and Cole Ully, but Idaho’s offense would once again stall as Florida would go on to claim a 3-1 decision.
The week ahead: Wednesday and Sunday at Allen (14-8-0-0), Thursday and Friday at Tulsa (8-9-1-1)
GOALS: Jesse Root (MO) 13; Tyler Barnes (MO) 12; Daultan Leveille (EVN), Tyson Fawcett (EVN), Jesse Mychan (COL), Jack Downing (CIN) 10.
ASSISTS: Chad Costello (ALN) 21; Rob Linsmayer (ID), Jesse Root (MO), Mike Monfredo (QC) 15; Tyler Barnes (MO), Rocco Carzo (MO) 14.
POINTS: Chad Costello (ALN) 30; Jesse Root (MO) 28; Tyler Barnes (MO) 26; Olivier Archambault (QC), Trent Daavettila (COL), Rob Linsmayer (ID) 20.
*From players on active ECHL rosters as of December 8, 2015
WINS: Josh Robinson (MO), Joel Rumpel (ALN) 11; Parker Milner (MO) 8; Steve Michalek (QC), Brad Thiessen (CIN) 7.
GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE: Parker Milner (MO) 1.40; Josh Robinson (MO) 1.65; Kevin Carr (TUL) 1.77; Kris Lazaruk (COL) 1.97; Brad Thiessen (CIN) 2.00.
SAVE PERCENTAGE: Parker Milner (MO) 0.944; Marek Langhammer (RC) 0.936; Brad Thiessen (CIN) 0.932; Josh Robinson (MO) 0.931; Kevin Carr (TUL) 0.925.
*From players on active ECHL rosters as of December 8, 2015
Check out our previous ECHL Western Conference Recaps:
Week 1 / Week 2 / Week 3 / Week 4 / Week 5 / Week 6 / Week 7
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Contact the writer: john.hall@prohockeynews.com
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