The Kansas City Mavericks could have been reeling after giving up a three-goal third period lead on Friday, but the team showed a lot of resilience, forcing overtime before Brodie Reid delivered the skate-off goal in a 3-2 victory over the Wichita Thunder on Saturday. Adam Brady had two assists for the Mavericks and Bryan Lemos scored two goals. The Thunder have the most points in the ECHL with 72.

Kansas City got off to a fast start, taking the lead 1:55 into the contest. Lane Scheidl dumped the puck behind the Wichita net where Brady scooped it up, then dishing it out in front to Lemos. Lemos fired a quick wrist shot that beat Thunder netminder Hayden Lavigne for his 10^th goal of the season.

After giving up four goals on six shots on Friday, Lavigne looked like he was going to have another tough night, but the Thunder goalie was outstanding, stopping the next 15 shots he faced.

Matt Greenfield was equally as good, stopping all seven shots he faced in the first period, but the Thunder would finally break through 58 seconds into the second period. Anthony Beauregard gained control of a loose puck behind the Mavericks goal, moved up the boards to the blueline before passing the puck to Charlie Combs in the slot. Combs fired a wrist shot that beat Greenfield for his third goal of the year, tying the score at one.

The Thunder continued to pressure Greenfield and that helped to give them the lead at the 11:23 mark of the second. With Wichita on the power play, Jay Dickman had the puck just below the right faceoff circle. He made a great feed into the slot to Beau Starrett, who got a piece of the puck, but could not redirect it on net. That worked out fine, as the puck continued onto Dean Stewart, who fired it in for his sixth goal of the year to put the Thunder on top, 2-1.

Wichita looked like they would head to the locker room on top by a goal, but Kansas City used the power play to tie the score with 43 seconds left in the second. It was a great tic-tac-toe play that led to the goal. Tommy Muck had the puck at the point, passing it to Darik Angeli at the right faceoff circle. He quickly passed it to Lemos at the opposite circle, who blasted it by Lavigne for his second goal of the game.

Neither team was able to gain the lead, forcing overtime where Reid won it 5:36 into the extra session. Reid was able to gain control of the puck behind the net, moving in front where he put a backhander between the legs of Lavigne for his team leading 21st goal of the season.

Despite taking the loss, the Thunder still earned a point, moving to 33-15-6. Their .667 winning percentage is second in the Western Conference.

The Thunder return home after going 3-0-1 last week on the road. They will take on the Utah Grizzlies on Wednesday. The puck drops at 7:05.

Gamesheet

By Robert Pannier