The Missouri Mavericks live to fight another day in the 2011 CHL Playoffs after a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Colorado Eagles Tuesday night at Independence Events Center in game three of the Turner Conference Semifinals. A near-sellout crowd of 5,021 fans watched as Ryan Jardine and Simon Watson each scored three points in the victory, as the Mavericks drew closer in the series, 2-1.

All throughout this series, the team scoring the first goal of the game has gone on to win the game and the same would hold true in game three of the series. Ryan Jardine got the Mavs on the board first with a rebound goal that came on the power play for the Mavs at the 6:03 mark of the first period. Simon Watson and Toby Lafrance were given assists on Jardine’s tally. Watson put his name on the scoresheet once again just six minutes later with another power play goal for the Mavericks. Jardine and Ray DiLauro added the assists on the goal. Scott May drew the score to one goal, ripping a shot over Robby Nolan’s left shoulder, making the score 2-1 in favor of Missouri at the 16:18 mark of the opening period. The 2-1 Missouri lead held up until the first intermission. The Mavs outshot the Eagles 11-10 in the first period.

The Eagles struck back with two quick goals in the opening moments of the second period. Scott May scored his second goal of the game just 26 seconds into the period. Assists went to Steve Haddon and Joe Grimaldi. Three minutes later, the Eagles took a 3-2 lead on a goal from Adam Hogg. Haddon and Grimaldi assisted on the goal. The Mavs stayed step for step with the Eagles as Jardine netted his second goal of the game at the 6:35 of the middle frame. Brandon Coccimiglio and Jared Lavender added their name to the score sheet with helpers on the goal. Nick Sirota gave the Mavs the lead just over a minute later on a one-timed slap shot, beating Andrew Penner and giving the Mavs a 4-3 lead. The Eagles had outshot the Mavs 24-19 by the end of the period.

The Mavericks would hold off the Eagles in the third period as Robby Nolan stood strong in net, stopping all 13 shots by the Eagles in the third period. The Mavs penalty kill flashed its regular season, league leading form, stopping all three power play attempts by the Eagles. With the victory, the Mavs now trail by only one game in this best-of-five series.

Game four will be played at Independence Events Center this Thursday at 7:05pm. If the Mavs win Thursday, the series will shift back to Loveland, Colorado for a fifth and decisive game on Saturday.

Story courtesy of MissouriMavericks.com