INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – The Missouri Mavericks have yet to taste defeat on home ice at Silverstein Eye Centers Arena this season, collecting their thirteenth home win of the season, and first of 2016, on New Year’s Day 4-1 over the visiting Allen Americans.
The league-leading Mavericks now own a 25-3-0-1 overall record (51 points) and edge their Central Division opponent 3-1, through 4 games of their 11-game season series against the defending Kelly Cup Champion Allen Americans.
Andrew Courtney, who scored twice for the Mavs in their 7-1 New Year’s Eve victory over the Wichita Thunder, notched the first tally of the night for the home team. Courtney, assisted by Reed Seckel, gave Missouri the 1-0 lead just 2:56 into the game. The Mavericks held the Americans to just 6 shots on goal through the first 20 minutes of play.
Missouri took a big jump on the scoreboard in the second frame, scoring 3 additional goals before Allen could find their way past net-minder Josh Robinson.
Sebastien Sylvestre doubled the Mavs lead 2-0 at 2:20 of the period with the help of Seckel. Then just 29 seconds later, rookie Colin Markison lit up Silverstien Eye Centers Arena with his tenth goal of the season. Tanner Fritz and David deKastrozza were credited with the helpers. The Mavs continued their scoring run and moved ahead 4-0 at 6:04 when Carter Verhaeghe bested Allen goalie, Riley Gill with the help of Tyler Barnes.
The Americans denied Robinson his would-be third shutout of the season when defenseman David Makowski fired a laser of a shot at the Mavericks net, which deflected off the cross-bar and into the goal. Justin Courtnall and Chad Costello assisted on Makowski’s goal.
Despite the disparity in goals scored, the Americans flip-flopped their opportunity count with the Mavericks through the second 20 minutes of play, tallying 13 shots on goal to the Mavericks’ 5.
The Mavericks held their 4-1 lead through the remainder of regulation. Josh Robinson was awarded first start of the game for protecting the Mavs’ perfect home record, and improves to 16-0-0-1 with a 1.58 goals-against average and a .937 SV%.
The Mavericks are on the road for the next two weeks beginning with a 7:15p.m. contest against the Evansville IceMen tomorrow evening on Saturday, Jan. 2nd.
With Missouri Mavericks team release
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