WICHITA, KS – Hugo Roy scored 3:33 into overtime to give the Kansas City Mavericks a 4-3 victory over the Wichita Thunder on Friday. It was the third straight victory for Kansas City (21-18-5), who moved within seven points of Wichita (25-17-4) for second place in the Mountain Division. Roy finished with two goals for the Mavericks and Michal Stinil and Quinn Preston each had two assists for Wichita.

Kansas City took command of this game right off, as Jeremy McKenna scored 32 seconds into the contest. Keeghan Howdeshell took a shot that Evan Buitenhuis saved, but McKenna scooped up the rebound, putting it past the Thunder netminder for his 21st goal of the season.

The Mavericks extended their lead to two nine minutes later. Luke Stevens led a 2-on-1 into the Wichita zone, opting to take the shot himself. He beat Buitenhuis with a wrist shot for his eighth goal of the year and Kansas City looked like they were in complete control of this contest.

However, Dylan MacPherson cut the deficit to one when he scored his eighth goal of the season at the 12:49 mark. Stinil took a shot that MacPherson tipped past Shane Starrett to make it 2-1.

That was the score heading to the first intermission, as Kansas City outshot Wichita, 17-12. The Thunder were being outplayed for the most part, but tied the score when the red-hot Jay Dickman scored his 17th goal of the season 1:20 into the second. Dickman took a pass from Preston near the crease, then lifted it over the shoulder of Starrett. It was his seventh point in the last four games.

The score was tied, but not for long as Kansas City retook the lead 17 seconds later. Cole Coskey took a shot that Buitenhuis saved, but no one cleared out Roy, who pushed the puck past the Thunder netminder for his first goal of the contest.

The Thunder looked like they were going to fall short in this contest, but Mark Liwiski tied the score with his seventh goal of the season at 15:29. Jake Wahlin blasted a shot that Starrett saved, but the rebound deflected about 20 feet from the net, where Liwiski blasted it home to make it 3-3.

That sent the game to overtime where Kansas City dominated, outshooting the Thunder, 7-2. Roy delivered his second goal of the game about halfway through the extra session, entering the Wichita end on a 2-on-2 rush. Roy carried the puck, opting to shoot where he beat Buitenhuis on the short side to give the Mavericks a 4-3 victory.

Despite taking the loss, Buitenhuis was very solid between the pipes, stopping 46 shots. It was his third game out of the last four where he has saved at least 44 shots and has stopped at least 30 shots in 10 straight games.

These teams travel back up the road to Independence on Saturday. The puck drops at 7:05.

Gamesheet

by Robert Pannier