Photo Courtesy of the Kansas City Mavericks [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/ff7314e9-a472-4f30-b441-18e40d552f71.png] Photo Courtesy of the Kansas City Mavericks The Kansas City Mavericks [https://kcmavericks.com/]haven’t forgotten the sting of falling in last season’s Kelly Cup Finals to the Florida Everblades in five games. The motivation to get back and erase that bitter taste got a step closer to reality Monday night. KC shut out the Tulsa Oilers [https://tulsaoilers.com/]4-0 at Cable Dahmer Arena in the Mountain Division Semifinals, taking the best-of-seven series 4-2. Jack LaFontaine saved all 24 shots he faced for his second post-season shutout. The Mavericks advance to the Mountain Division Finals. The Mavericks got things going midway through the opening period. At the 9:45 mark, Cade Borchardt scored on a breakaway created off a play along the boards. It was Borchardt’s team-leading fourth tally of the playoffs, with Justin MacPherson earning the only assist on the play. Jackson Berezowski increased KC’s lead to 2-0 on a tic-tac-toe play, finishing off a crisp feed from David Cotton. Landon McCallum picked up the secondary helper. The Mavs’ third goal came late in the second period at 17:59. Damien Giroux scored on a spinning backhander from just outside the crease to extend the Kansas City lead to 3-0. Nolan Sullivan sealed the win with a third-period goal at 13:07, assisted by Nathan Dunkley, capping off a dominant Mavs performance and ending the Oilers’ season. The Mavericks outshot Tulsa 32-24 and controlled the pace throughout the night. The Mavericks’ penalty kill was sharp, going 2-for-2, while the power play finished 0-for-2. As disappointing as the loss is for the Oilers, it doesn’t take away one of the best seasons in team history. They set franchise records in road victories (22) and average attendance (7585). The club reached 40 wins for just the second time since the franchise’s founding in 1992 (2018-19 team) and scored more than 240 goals for only the second time since joining the ECHL in 2014 (2014-15 team). The team’s 88 points earned were also second most in franchise history, trailing only the 2018-19 Mountain Division Champions (90 points). The Mavericks will get a few days of rest as they advance to the Mountain Division Finals to take on the Tahoe Knight Monsters, who swept the Wichita Thunder in their first-ever playoff series in franchise history. Game 1 is Sunday, May 4 at Cable Dahmer Arena. Puck drop is set for 4 Pm CT.
