Mavericks win Saturday night

by Bill Althaus

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Justin MacPherson had a question for Kansas City Mavericks director of public relations Ben DeLaForrest after skating off the ice Saturday night at Cable Dahmer Arena.

The Mavericks defender had just scored the game-winning goal in a 5-4 overtime victory and had been selected the No. 1 star of the game; and he wasn't sure where he should sign a specialty shirt that he would throw to fans who waited after the game.

The efficient DeLaForest had a t-shirt and Sharpie ready; MacPherson signed the shirt and returned to the ice where he was greeted by the sold-out crowd of 5,643 on Scout Night.

"This is pretty cool," said MacPherson, who was assisted by David Cotton on the game winner just 2:03 into the overtime period.

"It's the first time I've gone back on the ice with our fans. The crowd was great with all the Scouts in the building, and it was a back-and-forth kind of game and I'm so happy we were able to keep winning."

The win completed a three-game sweep of the Knight Monsters, who are in a neck-and-neck race with the Mavericks for leadership in the Mountain Division.

First-place Kansas City is now 27-11-3-1 (58 points) while second-place Tahoe is 25-15-3-1 (54).

Scout Night started with a bang and finished with MacPherson's goal that gave the younsters and members of the Orange Army plenty to cheer about.

Scouts received a special Mavericks patch before the game, took shots on the ice and met Mavericks players Logan Neaton and Luke Loheit during an autograph session. The excitement from the pregame festivities sat the stage for the overtime thriller.

The Mavericks scored early in the first period, with Jackson Berezowski netting his 17th goal of the season at 2:23, assisted by Landon McCallum and Cotton. 

Tahoe quickly answered back at 5:19, with Troy Loggins slipping the puck past Victor Ostman.

In the second period, the Knight Monsters took a 2-1 lead at 10:41 on a goal by Sloan Stanick, but the Comets answered in a hurry as Cam Morrison tied the game at 1:59 off assists from MacPherson and Marcus Crawford. 

Tahoe reclaimed the lead at 7:48 of the third period when Jake Johnson scored for the Knight Monsters.

But reliable Max Andreev sent the game into overtime when he scored at 8:37 off assists from Casey Carreau and Damien Giroux. That was Giroux's 100th career professional point.

"I look at a three-game series like this the same way I look at a three-game postgame series," Mavericks coach Tad O'Had said. "This is the kind of exciting win you want with a full house. The Scouts were all excited, and our guys fed off that positive energy.

"We get six points and stay atop the Mountain Division. This series the guys really came to play and it's huge to get Ostman back (from the team's AHL affiliate Coachella).

"Jack (Lafontaine) was amazing in our first two wins. He made 52 saves in those two wins, and it was nice to give him the night off and get Ostman back in the net."

Ostman stopped 33 of 36 shots to earn the victory. The Knight Monsters outshot Kansas City 36-33.

The Mavericks hit the road this week for games in Cincinnati Friday and Indianapolis Saturday.

"These last three games have been so big," MacPherson added. "We got great goalkeeping from Jack and Victor comes back from Coachella and is big in the net tonight. This is the time of the season you want to play your best hockey and that's what we're doing right now."

Kansas City defenseman Justin MacPherson celebrates after scoring the game-winning overtime goal at Cable Dahmer Arena. The Comets won 5-4 and swept the Knight Monsters to stay in first place in the ECHL's Mountain Division. Photo credit: Kansas City Mavericks