The Kansas City Mavericks are in the Western Conference Finals for the first time since joining the ECHL after knocking off the Idaho Steelheads in five games. A closer look at how they got it done.
The Kansas City Mavericks are back in the Western Conference Finals for the first time since the 2012-13 season and the first time since joining the ECHL. The Mavericks knocked off the Idaho Steelheads in five games in the Mountain Division Finals.
Kansas City has been picking up steam over the last two seasons, qualifying for the postseason in consecutive years. However, the Mavs have never made the Kelly Cup Finals. They will look to change that.
Before putting a bow on Kansas City's series with Idaho, let's take a closer look at how the series was won.
Shots On Goal
Kansas City won three of its four games in the series by two goals. However, the Steelheads outshot the Mavericks in four games and 193-169 overall.
Kansas City led the way in Game 1, outshooting Idaho 33-26 en route to a 4-2 victory. Idaho evened the series in Game 2, with a 32-29 shots on goal advantage and 3-2 final score.
The Mavericks won the next three games despite being severely outshot, but that can be attributed to Idaho playing catch-up in the third period.
In Game 3, Kansas City won by a 7-5 decision on the scoreboard, despite Idaho winning the shots on goal battle in the third period, 17-4, in which the Steelheads scored four times, underscoring Kansas City's dominance through the first 40 minutes.
Idaho owned the shots on goal game in the third period of Game 4, 18-7, scoring three times but fell by a 5-3 final score.
Timeliness of Goals
Kansas City made the most of the first and second periods throughout the five-game series. The Mavericks outscored the Steelheads 10-3 and 7-1 in the first and second frames, respectively. However, as noted, Idaho made late pushes in nearly every game, outscoring Kansas City 12-4 in the third period.
The Steelheads never led after the first period, only tied 2-2 after 20 minutes in Game 5. Idaho only led once going into the second intermission, resulting in its only win in Game 2 of the series.
Distribution of Goals
The Mavericks saw multiple skaters score multiple goals throughout the series. David Cotton led all skaters with four goals. Meanwhile, Jeremy McKenna, Patrick Curry, and Nolan Walker all scored three times, and Jacob Hayhurst, Cole Coskey, and Cade Borchardt scored twice.
Most games saw contributions from up and down the roster. Cotton and Hayhurst provided all of the scoring in Game 1, and Cotton and Coskey in Game 2.
However, seven different skaters found the back of the net in Game 3. Four different skaters scored the following night—the same for Game 5, including Borchardt's game-winning goal in overtime.
Special Teams
Kansas City converted on four of its 19 power-play chances throughout the series, with a large chunk of those coming in Game 4. The Mavericks scored three power-play markers en route to a 5-3 win over the Steelheads and also lit the lamp on the man advantage in Game 2's only loss of the series.
Kansas City's penalty kill was dialed in against Idaho, allowing just one goal on 12 chances, which came in Game 1. The Mavericks have killed off 96% of their penalties in the Kelly Cup Playoffs thus far, which will be crucial in the Western Conference Finals against Toledo.
Morris-LaFontaine Duo Shines
While other teams rely on a single workhorse in net, Kansas City has found success alternating Cale Morris and Jack LaFontaine.
Morris won all three of his starts against Idaho, turning aside 95 of 105 shots on goal, good for a 0.905 save percentage.
LaFontaine dropped his first start against the Steelheads in Game 2 but responded with a Herculean effort in Game 5. The 26-year-old made 53 saves on 56 shots, which were the most saves by any Kansas City goaltender this season.
Both goaltenders will have a significant test against Toledo in the Conference Finals.
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