KC started the 2nd period with a great feed from Hollon to Buscher through the neutral zone, a goal that
stretched its lead to 3-0. Brown and O’Bryant kept the 2nd period momentum going to make it 5-0
heading into the 3rd period.
The sixth and final goal of the contest was the first goal of the season for Phillips. A hard shot from the
left point beat the goalie on the low right side, and the Mavs were on their way to another solid win.
Not only was it a win, but with continued solid play from Stutzer between the pipes, the Mavs had
another shutout under their belt. One more game remained for pool play, and then the Mavs would
learn their fate for bracket play.
YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wr3YmHqaVqk
Date: 2-12-2022
Game 4: Pool Play vs. Phoenix Jr. Coyotes (Phoenix, AZ)
Result: KC Mavs 4
Phoenix Jr. Coyotes 3
Recap:
The Mavs didn’t know it heading into the game vs. Phoenix, but this would be their toughest test of the
weekend. The Jr. Coyotes were a formidable opponent, and the Mavs had their work cut out for them.
KC opened the scoring by capitalizing on a neutral zone turnover, with O’Bryant burying a wrister from
the faceoff dot to make it 1-0 KC. In a funny twist of fate, while the arena announcer was finishing the
announcement of his goal, O’Bryant picked up a tripping penalty and headed off the ice to serve his
time. O’Bryant tapped in another rebound in the last three minutes of the 1 st period to put the Mavs up
2-0, with Dungey tacking on another in the final 30 seconds of the frame. KC took a 3-0 lead into the 2nd
period, but the contest was far from over.
The Coyotes got on the board with a hard wrist shot, top shelf, right side, and cut the lead to 3-1 just
after the first minute of the 2nd period. A controversial Jr. Coyotes goal halfway through the period (that
appeared to be a save/no-call goal at first glance) cut the lead to 3-2, and the tension began to rise. A
loss in pool play would guarantee the Mavs would miss the top bracket on Sunday, so the pressure was
on for a strong finish. And with five minutes remaining in the 2nd period, Phoenix tied the game with a
tough shot in the top left corner. But it didn’t stay tied for long, as Hargadine put the Mavs back on top
shortly afterwards to make it 4-3 KC.
A tense 3rd period included lots of back-and-forth action, power plays, penalty kills, great goaltending,
and near misses... but zero goals in the period. The Jr Coyotes went with an empty net in the last 90
seconds, but the Mavs fought off a 6-on-5 mismatch and a barrage of shots in the final minutes,
preserving the 4-3 victory, and securing a berth into the championship bracket for Sunday.
YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDpDe57uEMQ