Nick Schneider gets another shot at Wichita at home tonight. The first period starts out with him getting the most action out of any Mav. Wichita jumps right on him and about 5 shots on goal are registered in the first couple of minutes. Wichita gets on the board and interestingly enough, Texeira, the scorer, has only scored against Kansas City all year. This goal being his 4th on the season. Soon after a Mavs PK expires, C.J. Eick nets one and the Mavericks get their first goal in 3 games. Darian Dziurzynski gets a goal of his own later in the period and this one comes unassisted. Mavs finish the 1st killing 1/2 penalties on a Wichita 5 on 3 and will start the 2nd period with 30 seconds of penalty killing to do.
Darian Dziurzynski gets another on the night and Jared VanWormer follows that up, putting the Mavericks up 4-1. Later in the period, Wichita gets a pair of their own and end the period with the Mavericks ahead 4-3. Play gets a little rougher and former Captain Tyler Elbrecht appears to do what he did best and instigate a fight with Joey Sides but Sides shuts him down and skates off. One of the Thunder goals that period came on a Mavs power play. Special teams for the Mavericks has drastically plummeted since the first couple months of the season and that even shows tonight. The 3rd period will start with a 4 on 4 for 1:50. Shots sit at 22-19 in favour of the Mavericks.
4 on 4 hockey doesn't change anything and both sides end up even strength with no score change. Wichita finds a way to get one back with a wraparound goal that gave me flashbacks to Gaudreau's wrap around on Fleury a couple seasons ago. Twice tonight Schneider has been beaten on the wrap around. An adjustment that should definitely be noted going forward. In the last 10 minutes of the game the Mavericks are not very smart with penalties and as a result, the Thunder score a power-play goal with less than 5 minutes to go. Mavericks get a penalty on that play but Darian Dziuzynski scores a short-handed goal with 44 seconds to go to tie this game up. No score change in regulation. The game goes to overtime.
Mavericks get 3 or 4 quality breakaways but can't place their shot. The Thunder ultimately gets the final say and flicks one over Schneider to secure the win. Mavs lose 6-5 in overtime. Shots end 29-27 for the Mavericks.
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