The Missouri Mavericks were welcomed back to home ice by a sold out crowd at Silverstein Eye Centers Arena following the Christmas break. But the party was spoiled by the visiting Utah Grizzlies who picked up a 5-3 win on Wednesday night. The loss moved Missouri’s record to 11-14-5 on the season.
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Before many fans at Silverstein Eye Centers Arena had a chance to find their seats, the Mavericks had jumped out to a 1-0 lead. Kevin Tansey used a curl-and-drag move at the point to find an open shooting lane before zipping a wrist shot on goal. Utah’s Troy Redmann made the initial save but Rocco Carzo slammed home his eighth goal of the campaign 43 seconds in. Utah battled back to tie the score at 8:10 of the first when Michael Pelech camped out in front of Josh Robinson and deflected Mathieu Aubin’s slap shot across the line. The Grizzlies took their first lead of the night 90 seconds later thanks to an Aubin power play goal and extended the lead to two when Jon Puskar netted a shorthanded marker at 17:35.
The second period was a tug-of-war for control of momentum that saw each team generate quality opportunities. Redmann made two particularly notable stops; one a lunging left-pad save to deny a Mavericks odd-man rush and the other a reaching glove save against Sam Povorozniouk. Robinson settled in during the second period for the Mavericks and matched Redmann save-for-save to keep the Mavericks within two headed into the third. Tyler Elbrecht brought the fans to their feet just past the midway point of the period when he dropped the gloves with Brad Navin and landed several right hands.
Missouri’s bid for a comeback took a hit 2:14 into the third when Pelech netted his second of the night to push Utah’s lead to 4-1. Bradford, who had assisted on each of Utah’s first three goals, upped his point total to four on the night by picking up the primary helper on the goal. A little over five minutes after Pelech’s goal, the Mavericks’ power play went to work chipping away at the deficit. Carzo potted his second of the night from just above the crease at 7:49 and Matt Finn followed with a one-timer from the right wing circle that beat Redmann top shelf. It was Finn’s second goal of the season and came with 11:08 to play. Missouri continued to throw pucks to the net in a bid for the tying goal, but Mike Banwell’s unassisted marker with just over a minute to play salted away the Utah victory.
Robinson earned 24 saves on the night for the Mavericks while they went 2-for-6 on the power play and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill.
Mark your calendar! The Mavericks return home on Saturday, Dec. 31 at 7:05 p.m. to face the Quad City Mallards.
