ECHL Playoffs: Kansas City Ends Toledo's Historic Win Streak; Senden Powers Everblades To Game 1 Win

In a pair of Game 1s, Toledo saw its 22-game win streak ends against Kansas City, while Mark Senden's two goals helped Florida take a 1-0 series lead against Adirondack. A closer look at Friday's two ECHL playoff games.

Recapping Friday's two ECHL playoff games.

Jacob Hayhurst broke a 2-2 tie with 6:32 left in regulation to lift the Kansas City Mavericks to a Game 1 win against the Toledo Walleye, who saw its historic 22-game win streak end on Friday night. For reference, the Walleye last lost on March 13, or better put: 2 months, 5 days or 9 weeks, 3 days or 66 calendar days.

The Walleye and Mavericks traded chances through the first ten minutes of play before Toledo's Brandon Hawkins opened the scoring on an absolute bomb from the top of the right circle with 8:52 left in the first period. The goal marked Hawkins' sixth of the playoffs, and he now has goals in his last three games.

Kansas City controlled the final five minutes of the frame, registering five shots on goal and scoring twice. Jake McLaughlin found the back of the net for the first time this postseason with 4:30 left in the frame. Cade Borchardt followed with his fifth of the playoffs with 15 seconds left to give the Mavericks a 2-1 lead going into the first intermission.

The Walleye responded with a strong effort in the second period. Toledo registered 12 shots on goal and tied the game on Riley Sawchuk's snipe from the high slot, extending his goal streak to four games. Walleye netminder John Lethemon turned aside all seven of Kansas City's shots in the frame to carry a 2-2 tie into the third period.

Toledo tallied four of the first five shots on goal in the final frame before Kansas City responded with six consecutive shots on the Walleye net, scoring on Hayhurst's backhander in the low slot. Toledo emptied its net with over two minutes left in regulation, but Kansas City hung on to secure a win in Game 1.

Mavericks goaltender Cale Morris picked up his sixth win of the playoffs, stopping 24 of 26 shots on goal.

Mark Senden's second goal of the game with 1:52 left in the second period broke a 1-1 tie and was the eventual the game-winner in the Florida Everblades' Game 1 win over the Adirondack Thunder on Friday. Florida registered 31 shots on goal to Adirondack's 22, while Everblades netminder Cam Johnson made 21 saves.

Florida registered the first two shots of the game before committing their first of seven penalties on the night. However, Adirondack could not take advantage, going 0-for-7 on the power play in Friday's Game 1.

Meanwhile, the Everblades broke through with 8:06 left in the first period on Senden's first goal off of Cam Darcy's centering feed from the right-wing circle. Adirondack goaltender Isaac Poulter stopped Senden's initial chance. However, the Florida forward followed up and buried the loose puck. Just over two minutes later, the Thunder responded on Ryan Smith's seventh goal of the playoffs to tie the game up late in the opening frame.

Despite going to the penalty kill three times in the second period, the Everblades weathered the storm and took the lead on Senden's second goal of the night with 1:52 left in the frame. Will Reilly's initial shot on net never made it through the traffic in front of the Adirondack net, but Senden gathered the loose puck and flipped a backhander past Poulter.

Clinging to a 2-1 lead, Florida killed off all four of its penalties in the third period, and Johnson stopped all ten shots sent his way in the frame.