Three Observations: Mavericks 2, Rush 1

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – The Kansas City Mavericks topped the Rapid City Rush by a 2-1 final score Saturday at Silverstein Eye Centers Arena.

Here are three observations from the win:

Power Play Comes Through
The Mavericks went on the power play with 3:39 left in regulation and a chance to win the game. Kansas City, which entered the game ranked seventh in the ECHL on the man-advantage, had gone scoreless on the power play in its last 20 opportunities. The special teams unit came through as Jared VanWormer corraled a feed from Shawn Pauly after a defensive breakdown from Rapid City left him all alone in front, and he then turned and roofed a backhand to seal the victory for Kansas City with less than two minutes remaining in the game.

Responding To Adversity
Friday’s setback was disappointing – a loss to last-place Rapid City coming fresh off a series win over the Toledo Walleye. The Mavericks fell behind 1-0 in this game after a shorthanded goal from Dante Salituro early in the second period, but the Mavericks responded with a goal five minutes later to even the game before VanWormer’s late-game heroice.

Americans Lead the Way
It was only fitting that the team’s victory during Military Appreciation Weekend came mostly on the backs of American players as the Mavericks saluted military servicemen and women. The goals came from Minnesota native Eric Freschi and Michigan native VanWormer, while Washington state native Shawn Pauly added an assist in addition to Torontonian Mark Cooper’s helper.