With a possible 2-0 series deficit staring them in the face, the Missouri Mavericks issued a strong statement in a 5-0 win over the Wichita Thunder in game two of the opening round of the CHL Playoffs Friday night at Independence Events Center.  The victory by the Mavs evened up the series at 1-1.

Robby Nolan pitched the first postseason shutout of his professional career and Brandon Coccimiglio scored his second hat trick in his last four games in the Mavs’ rout of the rival Wichita Thunder.

Ryan Jardine drew first blood for the Mavericks six minutes into the first period with a breakaway goal. Jardine deked Wichita goaltender Marc-Antoine Gelinas to the right and snuck the puck back behind his left pad giving the Mavericks a 1-0 lead early in the first period. Cole Ruwe was given an assist on the goal. The Mavericks retained the 1-0 lead all the way up until the first intermission. Robby Nolan held strong in net for the Mavs, stopping all 11 shots by the Thunder in the first period. The Mavs racked up 10 shots in the opening frame.

Toby Lafrance doubled the Mavs’ lead just 36 seconds into the second period on a pretty setup from Jardine behind the net. Lafrance put the puck into the wide open goal mouth and the Mavs led 2-0 in the early goings of the middle frame. Jardine got an assist on the goal for his second point of the game. Robby Nolan was once again strong in net, stopping all 10 shots by the Thunder in the period.

The Mavs took a stranglehold on the score six minutes into the final period on a goal from Brandon Coccimiglio on another crisp passing display, this time set up by Todd Griffith. The goal was Coccimiglio’s sixth in his last four games, which includes the final two regular season games. Griffith got the assist on the goal. The Mavs extended their lead to 4-0 on Coccimiglio’s second goal of the game, his seventh in his last four games. The two goals by Coccimiglio tied a Mavericks’ playoff record for most goals in a game by an individual player. Assists on Coccimiglio’s second tally went to Ray DiLauro and Toby Lafrance. Coccimiglio would net his third goal of the game and second hat trick in the last four games with 13.5 seconds left in regulation. Assists on Coccimiglio’s third goal went to Todd Griffith and Nick Sirota. The Mavs would hold on to the 5-0 lead and skate to victory, tying the series at 1-1.

Nolan’s shutout was his first playoff shutout in his professional career and Coccimiglio’s three goals set the new franchise record for goals in a playoff game. The Mavs finished the night three-for-seven on the power play and a perfect six-for-six on the penalty kill. Wichita outshot the Mavericks 30-27 and the Thunder posted at least nine shots in each period.

Story courtesy of MissouriMavericks.com