WICHITA, Kan. – The Missouri Mavericks edged the Wichita Thunder 3-2 in a fourth-round shootout decision on Saturday night, improving to 6-0 over their long-time rival and earning their twelfth point in the Independence Cup Series, presented by Independence Tourism.
The Independence Cup Series title will be claimed by the team with the highest point total through the fifteen-game regular season series of the Mavericks and the Thunder. The winner will also be given a monetary donation towards their youth hockey program by their opponent. The Mavs lead the series with twelve (12) points to the Thunder’s one (1) point earned in Saturday night’s shootout contest.
Wichita took an early lead over the Mavericks when team captain, Ian Lowe, scored only 1:18 into play with the help of Peter Sakaris and Dalton Reum.
It would not be until the second frame when the Mavericks would answer back, but in an unexpected way asDavid deKastrozza took a short-handed opportunity to even the scoreboard at 1:58 on a Missouri penalty kill. The goal was scored unassisted.
Reum took back the lead for the Thunder midway through the period at 11:35, assisted by Joey Sides and Sakaris.
Then Kane Lafranchise, scored with a huge blast past net-minder David Shantz just under three minutes into the third period.  Jesse Root and Kellen Jones were credited with the helpers on Lafranchise’s first goal of the season for the Mavs.
When sixty minutes of regulation hockey and a five-minute overtime period could not determine a winner, the decision moved to a shootout. Goaltenders Parker Milner and David Shantz each turned away the efforts of Sakaris, Baptista, Lowe, and Jones, Root, and Barnes respectively.
It was Missouri’s fourth-round shooter, Andrew Courtney, who bested Shantz to secure the Mavericks win and extra point just before Milner kicked away Joey Sides attempt.
Milner made nineteen (19) saves through just under sixty-five total minutes between the pipes for Missouri.
The Mavericks travel home to host the Allen Americans on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at Silverstein Eye Centers Arena. The game is scheduled for 7:05p.m.
With Missouri Mavericks team release
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