MAVERICKS HOLD ON FOR 5-4 WIN OVER RIVERKINGS
Christian scores four points in Mavericks’ victory

INDEPENDENCE, Missouri – The Missouri Mavericks defeated the Mississippi RiverKings 5-4 Saturday night in a physical, tight-checking game at Independence Events Center.  Mavericks’ forward Jeff Christian recorded a team-record four points on two goals and two assists, and Bill Vandermeer and Brett Hammond each tallied a goal and an assist in the win.  There was also a record crowd of 5,800 people that witnessed the Mavericks go over the .500 mark for the first time this season.  Missouri is now 17-16-3 on the season and stands alone in fifth place in the Northern Conference.  The Mavericks will host the Allen Americans on Thursday, January 21 in the final game of a six-game home stand.

The teams had some unsettled aggression from Friday night’s contest, and after eight seconds, there were two fights.  Mavericks’ forward Jordan Foreman again dropped the gloves at the opening faceoff when he tangled with defenseman Dave Simoes, and Carlyle Lewis and Adam Smyth went toe-to-toe only eight seconds into the contest.

After the teams settled down, the Mavericks took a 1-0 lead at the 12:18 mark of the opening period.  Mississippi turned the puck over in their left corner, and Christian made a nice backhand pass to Vandermeer who snuck the puck through the padding of RiverKings’ goaltender Kevin Beech.  Missouri quickly made it a 2-0 game just 1:19 later on a two-on-one rush.  Forward Simon Watson carried the puck into the zone along the right wing and made a pass across the slot to Christian who buried his 19th goal of the season.  Christian extended his scoring streak that now sits at a league-high 12 games.

Mississippi didn’t go quietly as Kevin Truelson tipped a shot from Derek Landmesser that went over Mavericks’ goaltender Alexandre Vincent’s shoulder.  The power play goal came at the 2:26 mark of the second period and cut the Mavericks’ lead in half.  The Mavericks answered Truelson’s goal and made it 3-1 on a great individual effort by Hammond.  Missouri was on the penalty kill; Hammond stole the puck at his own blue line and raced toward the RiverKings’ goal.  He fended off a defender and took a shot as he was falling to the ice that went through the Beech’s legs for the shorthanded goal.

Again the RiverKings came back on goals from Anders Strome and Louis Dumont.  Strome’s goal came with 2:22 remaining in the second period and Dumont tied it at the 5:49 mark of the third.

Christian scored his second of the night on another nice effort.  He blasted a shot from the blue line that bounced over the goaltender, but followed his shot and batted it out of mid-air into the net to make it 4-3.  The lead was short-lived again as Ryan Campbell scored his 14th goal of the season at the 14:37 mark of the period to tie it at four.

Missouri earned the game winner on an odd play.  Tommy Lange took a shot from the top of left circle and nobody knew where the puck was except for Tyler Kindle.  Kindle took the puck and buried into the empty net as Beech was out of position looking for the puck.  The power play goal for Missouri was at the 15:44 mark and capped the scoring at 5-4.

Missouri held on in the final moments, but were outshot by the RiverKings for the sixth straight game between the teams.  Missouri finished 1-7 on the power play and Mississippi was 1-6.