BRAMPTON – Brett Stovin recorded a hat trick and the game winner to lead the Missouri Mavericks to a 4-1 win over the Brampton Beast in a tight game on Friday night.
Stovin scored just 1:36 into the first period to give the Mavericks (28-35-2-2) the early lead and allowed Missouri to pick up where they left off on Tuesday.
His game-winning goal came at the 12:26 mark of the third period to reestablish a one goal lead for the Mavericks, while his third was an empty netter at 19:46 of the third.
Sebastien Thinel scored at 16:15 of the third period to increase Missouri’s lead to 3-1.
Mike Clemente (13-17-1-2) got the start for the Mavericks and made 22 saves in the victory.
Justin Donati scored an outstanding single-effort goal at the 5:23 mark of the first period to tie the game at one.
Parker Van Buskirk (1-8-0-0) was in goal for the Beast and made 34 saves in the loss.
The Brampton Beast (22-45-3-0) extended their losing streak to four games and have lost to the Mavericks in consecutive games. The Beast will finish their first ECHL season with a Saturday game versus Missouri and a Sunday finale against the Wheeling Nailers.
Both teams were tight defensively in the third period, until Van Buskirk kicked out a rebound right in front of net to allow Stovin to score his second of the night and the eventual game winner. Missouri scored three unanswered in the final period to close out the win.
It seemed Missouri’s second goal of the night took the wind out of the Beast’s sails. Brampton seemed deflated and didn’t have an answer for the Mavericks last period offensive outburst.
Penalty trouble was the definition of the first half of the second period for the Beast. Many big saves from Van Buskirk kept the game tied at 1-1, including a sprawling right pad save with a Maverick right on the door step.
Brampton’s power play looked great in the penalty filled period. Defenseman Matthew Maione was blasting the puck from all over the point, but was unable to score on the Beast’s man advantage.
Donati’s first period tying goal saw him step in over the blue line, stick handle four Mavericks, then flick the puck to the right circle over the stick of a one of the defenders and shot a quick wrist shot past the blocker of Clemente. The Oakville, Ont., native was a threat during the early going.
The line of Donati, Jeff Brown and David Ling were all over the ice during the first period. They established a solid forecheck and were a terror to Clement in front of the net.
The last five minutes of the first period were dominated by the Mavericks. Missouri had the Beast hemmed in their own zone and had many chances but were turned away by Van Buskirk.
Markham, Ont., native Kain Allicock made his first professional hockey appearance in the GTA Friday night. Allicock spent the last five years playing in the OUAA for the University of Waterloo and Wilfred Laurier University.