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Tonight's sellout is game 2/3 against Toledo that puts Rangers prospect, Chris Nell between the pipes. It was expected that he would be in tonight to give McDonald a night off before he likely gets the start again tomorrow. Danny Smith (only Smith in the lineup at the moment) gets on the board first for the Mavs. This is only his second game with the team. It comes from beautiful set up by Eric Freschi. Freschi is finally given a point for his efforts in the last two nights. Definitely good to see. KC takes a hooking penalty 12 minutes in and their biggest difference maker in the penalty kill was between the pipes. Chris Nell makes a point blank pad save and a tricky glove save that gets the crowd going wild. Newbie, Nick Miglio draws a roughing penalty but Mark Cooper gets sent to the box 20 seconds into their power play, taking away that chance almost immediately. The rest of the period plays out with the same intensity that it started with and the Mavericks hold their 1-0 lead through 20 minutes.

Toledo ties the game 4:33 into the second when Nell is screened by his own players and the puck flips off the top of his glove. Not the type of goal that represents the night he had been having. They get a power play opportunity and keep a lot of zone pressure yet are unable to register a single shot. Eric Freschi is just centimetres from making it a 2-1 game where he gets a one timer set up and just barely nicks it off the post. From my angle it looked like it was in. Not quite though. No score change through the rest of the 2nd but Kayle Doetzel took a seat for high sticking and his penalty will carry over to the third. Mavericks are outshot through two 19-14.

The Mavericks kill off the rest of the Doetzel penalty in the start of the third and are in pretty good control of the rushes for a good stretch. The game stays even however. Shawn Pauly takes a holding penalty 9 minutes into the third. The Mavericks put up a great penalty kill and keep the score even. With 6:06 to go in the game, Patch Alber rips a shot from the point that finds the back of the net. Eric Freschi gets another assist on the night with the set up on this goal as well. Toledo clears their net with 90 seconds to go in the game and calls a timeout with 1:06 to go. Shawn Pauly takes advantage of this and scores and empty netter with 32 seconds to go. Eric Freschi gets the assist on this one too. He ends the night with 3 points with assists on every goal. This secures the game similarly to last night and they win it 3-1. Great beginning and end to this game. Tomorrow should be interesting between these two teams.