ESTERO, FLA — The Missouri Mavericks opened their five-game road trip with an improbable comeback win over the league-leading Florida Everblades on Saturday night. The Mavericks erased a 3-1 third-period deficit and won the shootout 1-0 for a 4-3 final to improve their record to 5-7-1 on the season.
The Mavericks and Everblades endured a “feeling-out” period over the first few minutes of the opening frame, and scoring chances were hard to come by. Florida eventually broke the ice when Brant Harris collected a loose puck low on the left wing and lifted a sharp-angle shot over Josh Robinson’s shoulder. It was Harris’s fifth of the season and third goal in as many games. It took the Mavericks only 74 seconds to respond as Sam Povorozniouk knifed home the rebound of a Dane Fox shot for his fifth goal of the season. Florida had a couple of good looks late in the first, including one with just six seconds left, but Robinson shut the door the rest of the way.
Missouri had chances early in the second to take its first lead of the night thanks, in part, to two power play chances. But Florida killed off both and swung momentum in its favor once back at full strength. There were a handful of odd-man rushes by the ‘Blades against the Mavericks’ defense, and after a number were successfully defended away the Everblades cashed in. Brendan O’Donnell lifted a wrist shot past Robinson for his fifth goal of the year at 15:26. O’Donnell faked a pass on the 2-on-1 to open up a shooting lane. Justin Selman drew a penalty late in the period and allowed Missouri to start the third on the power play.
The Mavericks missed a chance to tie the game at two on the early third-period power play and then saw their deficit double. Levko Koper spiked home his sixth of the season just before the period was halfway over. The Mavericks started their comeback with a little inside of seven minutes remaining. Kevin Tansey, who had an assist in his Mavericks debut on Tuesday, rifled a wrist shot past Peters for his first pro goal, and Povorozniouk followed with his second of the night 4:21 later to knot the score. Darren Nowick was a catalyst for the Mavericks’ attack and assisted on each of the goals.
Florida made a furious effort to end the game in regulation, but Robinson came up big in the final minute. The Mavericks controlled play for much of overtime, but each team only managed a shot on goal so it took a shootout to decide the winner.
Povorozniouk scored in the top of the second to give the Mavericks the lead in the breakaway competition. Robinson followed by stopping O’Donnell and Michael Kirkpatrick to complete the Mavericks’ comeback win.
Robinson stopped 33 of 36 shots through overtime, and three of three in the shootout, to earn his third win of the season. The Mavericks ended the game 0-for-5 on the power play and 4-for-4 on the penalty kill.
Follow us on Twitter @prohockeynews
You must be logged in to post a comment.