The Mavericks are back at home to host the Wichita Thunder once again. They go into this game sitting #7 in the league with 21 points and a 13-10-2-1 record. They also have the 2nd best winning percentage in the league with a 0.808. Mason McDonald will start in tonight's game.
The first period plays with fairly few whistles. Both teams playing like they are used to each other as it is the 5th matchup this season. Lloydminster native, David Dziurzynski opens up the scoring from a feed from his brother Darian. The Mavericks get the first penalty but it is cut short from a Thunder power play. Neither team produces on that but Wichita evens up the scoring with 2:30 to go in the period. Shots finish up 11-10 in favour of the Thunder after 20 minutes of play.
Another fairly slow start to the 2nd. Halfway through a fight breaks out between David Dziurzynski and a contending Thunder player. Dziurzynski gets an additional 2 minutes for a self-defence elbow that the refs were not happy with. With 4 seconds to go in the penalty, Pierre-Cedric Labrie puts Wichita up 2-1. The same player then throws the puck up to the blue line minutes later and sits on the bench for closing the hand on the puck. Mavs get a power play goal from that opportunity courtesy of Corey Durocher who gets his first point in his first game of the season. Mason McDonald looking pretty solid up to this point and keeps the Mavericks on top. Time expires and the Mavs hold a 3-2 lead and a 19-14 lead in shots.
Early in the 3rd, Cliff Watson gets dealt a cheap shot hit near the Wichita bench and Riley Sweeney decides to be a good teammate and deal with the player responsible. Both sides take a seat for fighting. Wichita keeps things a little chippy with some chirps and harder checks than before. The Mavericks score their 4th on the power play from Matt Robertson. Mavs power play unit gets another shot but does not make a whole lot happen on that opportunity. They hold their lead throughout the third and win it 4-2 keeping a perfect 7 win home record. Shots end 33-24
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