ECHL Game Recap: Kansas City Mavericks vs Tahoe Knight Monsters | 01/31/2025

The Kansas City Mavericks faced off against the Tahoe Knight Monsters at Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence, Missouri, for their fifth-season matchup. Following Wednesday’s victory, the Mavericks sit atop the Mountain Division, with the Knight Monsters close behind, eager to reclaim the top spot. The Mavericks hold a record of twenty-five wins, eleven losses, three overtime losses, and one shootout loss, while the Knight Monsters stand at twenty-five wins, fourteen losses, two overtime losses, and one shootout loss. Both teams are battling for the top position. Starting in goal for the Mavericks was Jack LaFontaine, with a 2.57 goals-against average (GAA) and a .90 save percentage (SV%) going into Friday’s game. The starting goalie for the Knight Monsters was Jesper Vikman, with a 3.30 GAA and an .888 SV%.

First Period

The game started with the Mavericks striking first with an unassisted goal by Nolan Sullivan at 1:27. The second goal came at 16:21, also unassisted, by Max Andreev. The Mavericks’ Cam Morrison received the only penalty of the first period for boarding, but the Knight Monsters were unable to capitalize on the ensuing power play. The Mavericks shut out the Knight Monsters in the first period, maintaining a 2-0 lead.

Second Period

The second period began with a cross-checking penalty on Troy Loggins of the Knight Monsters, leading to a Mavericks power play goal by Max Andreev at 8:34, assisted by Cade Borchardt and Casey Carreau. Max Andreev now has eleven goals and twenty-seven assists for the season. Shortly after, the Knight Monsters got on the scoreboard with a goal from Bear Hughes at 12:08, assisted by Sloan Stanick. The Mavericks’ Jackson Berezowski and the Knight Monsters’ Adam Pitters traded roughing minors at 15:35, resulting in two minutes of four-on-four play, during which neither team scored. At 16:49, the Mavericks’ Cam Morrison took a hooking penalty, giving the Knight Monsters a power play. However, the Mavericks successfully killed the penalty and finished the period with a 3-1 lead over the Knight Monsters.

Third Period

The third period began with another goal by Nolan Sullivan at 3:39, assisted by Marcus Crawford and Justin MacPherson. Nolan Sullivan now has six goals and eleven assists for the season.

At 9:17, a slashing penalty on the Knight Monsters’ Brennan Kapcheck led to a power play goal for the Mavericks’ Casey Carreau, assisted by Marcus Crawford and Cade Borchardt.

Casey Carreau now has seventeen goals and eighteen assists for the season. Later, a kneeing penalty on the Mavericks’ Daniel Amesbury at 15:28 and a hooking penalty on the Mavericks’ Jimmy Mazza led to a successful power play goal by the Knight Monsters’ Sloan Stanick at 17:29, assisted by Brennan Kapcheck and Simon Pinard.

The Mavericks’ Jack LaFontaine made twenty-seven saves on twenty-nine shots, securing a 5-2 victory for the team. With their twenty-sixth win of the season, the Mavericks maintained their lead in the Mountain Division.

Three Stars of the Game

1. Kansas City – Nolan Sullivan (2 goals)
2. Kansas City – Max Andreev (2 goals)
3. Kansas City – Jack LaFontaine (27 saves on 29 shots)