Mavs Take Close One in Game 1 of Opening Round


Box Score | Game Live

Charlie Effinger played as well as any goaltender in the league during the second half of the season and in Game 1 of the Missouri Mavericks Opening Round series against the Evansville IceMen he picked up where he left off making 35 saves and helping his team to a 3-2 victory taking a 1-0 series lead.

The IceMen, the higher seed in the series but still having to play Game 1 on the road due to building issues with both clubs, pushed the offense outshooting the Mavs 37-32 but they could never get on top as they never held the lead at the independence Events Center.

Pier Pelletier was good in net for the IceMen stopping 29 shots but he takes the tough luck loss.

Missouri went 4-1-1 during the regular season against the IceMen winning four straight (that streak now runs to five consecutive wins against Evansville).

Playoff veteran Ed McGrane (playing in his 61st CHL playoff game) was a key part of the Mavs offense as he got the team on the board at the 8:30 mark of the opening period with the first goal of the post-season.  Ryan Jardine and Tristin Llewellyn earned the assists on the even strength goal.

Evansville would tie the score about three minutes later with Matt Pierce finding the back of the net off a helper for Nicklas Lindberg.

Defenseman Dave Pszenyczny would get the lead back for the Mavs scoring his first of the playoffs at the 16:11 mark of the opening period with McGrane and Jardine drawing the assists giving each of the veterans two point opening frames.

Missouri added to their lead in the second period with Brandon Smith striking for a goal making the score 3-1.  The lone assist went to Sebastien Thinel (playing in his 58th CHL playoff game) but Evansville appeared to grab momentum after 40 minutes when Todd Robinson made it a one-goal game with less than 20 second remaining in the period.

Evansville, trailing by one, would fire away at Effinger and the Mavs in the third period rattling off 16 shots on goal but they could not get through the orange wall as Missouri secured the Game 1 win.

Both teams received four power play chances but neither was able to score.

Game 2 is set for Friday night at the Ford Center in Evansville.







| Back to index...

Search Archive »





Browse by Month »

May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004
September 2004
August 2004
July 2004
June 2004
May 2004
April 2004
March 2004
February 2004
January 2004
December 2003
November 2003
October 2003
September 2003
August 2003
July 2003
June 2003
May 2003
April 2003
March 2003
February 2003
January 2003
December 2002
November 2002
October 2002
September 2002
August 2002
June 2002
May 2002
April 2002
March 2002
February 2002
January 2002
December 2001
October 2001
September 2001
July 2001
May 2001
February 2000