For the second year in a row, the Western Conference Finals started in Missouri on Thursday. Game one of the possible seven-game series saw the Kansas City Mavericks and the Toledo Walleye rematch. KC was last season’s Mountain Division and Western Conference Champion; They look to repeat this series. Toledo was last season’s Central Division Champion. With a powerhouse selection of goalies in the net, the Mavericks’ Jack LaFontaine and Walleyes’ Jan Bednar start the series.
First Period
The puck drops, and the game’s intensity is palpable as the players engage in a full-on battle. With their history, these teams are not holding back, as evidenced by the scrums that start breaking out three minutes in. 7:36, and Maverick’s Jimmy Mazza gets called for hooking, putting Toledo on the Power Play. Both teams escalate their physicality, hitting harder, shutting down the power play with three shots taken. Those emotions would continue to rise, leading to Maverick David Cotton and Walleye Jalen Smereck catching roughing penalties. The period ends scoreless with shots 12-10 favoring the Walleye.
Second Period
Faceoff, the puck heads to Toledo’s offensive zone, and Brandon Kruse gets called for tripping. Toledo is so evenly matched with KC that they cannot make anything of the man advantage. The Walleye dominate the first half of the second period with 11 shots on goal by the time the clock hits ten. With four minutes left in the period, Jalen Smereck gets his second penalty of the night with a call for holding the stick. Mavericks go on the power play for the second time this period, but cannot make anything of it. Kansas City controled more of the second half of this period, only allowing Toledo to get four more tries on goal. Bednar makes nine saves to LaFontaine’s 14.
Third Period
The third period for both teams has been explosive in previous playoff games. This game was no different. 2:51, with a blind backhand feeder, Matt Anderson puts the Toledo Walleye on the board. Twenty seconds later, Cole Gallant makes it 2-0 Walleye. With an offside play hindering the Mavericks further, they caught a break when Dylan Mouton sent them on a power play with an interference call. With nothing produced on the power play, Jack LaFontaine headed to the bench for the extra man advantage for the first time this playoff run. Keeping it in Toledo’s defensive zone most of the last two minutes, the game ends 2-0 Toledo. Jan Bedar makes 25 saves to Jack LaFontaine’s 32.
Stars of the Game (all Toledo Walleye)
First Star- Jan Bednar
Second Star- Matt Anderson
Third Star- Cole Gallant
Upcoming
Even with the roughing penalties handed out in the first period, this game continues to have a high outbreak of scrums and gloved jabs, but no fights. With League MVP Brandon Hawkins leading the charge into game two, Toledo wants to carry on this forward movement. Both teams must control their urges to give in to the chirping and goading on the ice. The team that can do that and play hard will have the most success in this well-matched pair. The anticipation for game two is high, and it’s set to be a thrilling match.
Game two of this series takes place Saturday, May 17th, at 6:05 CDT. Both teams dominate their divisions, promising that this would not be an easy win. Toledo’s massive offensive pressure shows that Kansas City has met its match. This is the third loss of the playoffs, and the third time of the year that the Mavericks have been shut out. The Walleye are now on a four-game winning streak with their first postseason shutout.
ITR 44: We Have A Champion…Again – Inside The Rink
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