Transcript
Speaker: The horn has sounded, but the conversation is just getting started. Welcome to Mavericks After the Horn, your home for Kansas City Mavericks hockey. From game breakdowns and player interviews to fan reactions and everything in between, we're talking Mavericks hockey all year long with your host, Joe Friedman. Let's drop the puck. Welcome back to KC After the Horn. I am Joe.
Speaker: The Mavericks opened up their season this past weekend with two games against Rapid City. And two results they want to improve on. Friday we ended with a 6 -3 loss. And Saturday was a lot closer. We had an opportunity to actually win that game.
Speaker: But the rush took that one to 4 -3. There were costly mistakes. There were also players who gave us reasons to be encouraged. Today we're going to break down both games. recognizing our Maverick of the Week. this week.
Speaker: and talking about physical play around our net So let's drop the puck. It's time for the puck drop.
Speaker: So Kansas City starts the season 0 -2. That's disappointing, especially at home, where last year they were perfect.
Speaker: Pretty dominating. What matters now is understanding where these games got away and how the Mavs respond. For me, puck management was concerning. throughout the weekend. Risky passes near our blue line. Pucks forced through. opponents when an outlet was available and opportunities where we could have taken a shot but chose another pass. Saturday also brought some issues with coverage when our defense... pinched and with getting the puck deep. before changing.
Speaker: Those are details that can turn a manageable situation into a dangerous one very quickly. But there were positives.
Speaker: we will get into that but right now we have some news i know that FULP was... sent up literally the day of the game one. Um, and then Novak now has been sent up also. So there are two big changes. I don't think folks come down yet. I know that there's.
Speaker: Been some, uh... new somewhere, but I haven't seen it on the ECHL website. I know Novak got sent up. um So there are some changes happening. That's what happens with ECHL. It's going to happen um and the team's going to have to adjust. One thing to look into is last year we started six and four in our first 10 games. And so the way I look at that is that's a 60 % win percentage. so
Speaker: All we got to do is win four more games and we're already there. So there's nothing right now to get... worried about um
Speaker: There's going to be growing pains, whole new team, a lot of new players. um It's going to happen. But I do think this team is strong. And based off of what I saw when I went back and looked at the games again, there's a lot of good things to be excited about, and there's a lot of positive things. I do think our blue line is going to be amazing. um I do know there was a lot of offensive paralysis with our blue line.
Speaker: um The offensive IQ of a lot of our... Defensive players is amazing. Obviously, Hudsey. He's... fit boi um cassarro And really, to tell you the truth, I think more is going to be huge and play a huge part, too, on the blue line. All right, it is time for the final horn.
Speaker: The final horn report all right in game one Friday's final was Rapid City 6 and Kansas City 3. The Mavericks outshot the rush 29 -23.
Speaker: Kansas City went 0 -2 on the power play. Rapid City went 0 -1. Nolan Walker. Shining light scored twice in that game Got right off the hop. Scored two goals.
Speaker: Um... And then while I added the other Mavericks goal, the first thing I want to address is where we were taking risk with the puck. In that first game, we had some backhanded passes at the blue line that created some huge scoring opportunities for Rapid City.
Speaker: And having some backhanded passes at our own blue line, when you turn the puck over there, um your teammates may already be moving up the ice, and suddenly everyone has to turn around and defend, and a lot of backchecking, and it... it creates...
Speaker: A lot of havoc for your team. And that's where you get your... um
Speaker: Your two on ones and three on twos that eventually create Great scoring opportunities. um And so we had some issues with that in Game 1 and even Game 2, which we're going to dig into Game 2. But let's dig into the numbers of Game 1. So we got outscored 6 -3. The shining light is Walker scored twice. But we started off down 2 -0. But I will say, Hudson, after we got down 2 -0 at the end of the third period, Hudson realized they needed to get the guys going, get them fired up. So he decided to get into a fight. um And we'll dig into that in checking in. But that got our team fired up. And then we came out in that second period. And Nolan Walker scored at the 5 -minute -and -29 mark of the second period. Assists by David Cotton and Gianfranco Casanova. Then he scored again at the 8 minute and 5 second mark of the second period. Assisted by Leighton Moore and David Cotton again. And then Fipwa, he scored in the third period at the 6 minute and 13 second mark. And assisted by Jack Randall and Nolan Orzek.
Speaker: Rapid City, though, here's the issue is we score. Nolan Walker scores. Two minutes later, Alex Campbell scores for Rapid City and gets them back to a two -goal lead. Then we score at the 8 -minute, 5 -second mark. And then Alex Campbell scores again at the 10 -minute and 31 mark.
Speaker: Now, one thing I will say is, unfortunately... ah In game one, I felt like ah the goaltender needed to make one extra save. um There were two goals that...
Speaker: I mean they're in the slot. slot shots. I mean, they're high. high -danger scoring opportunities, but they were... two of them that I felt like I think one went five hole and one went um under glove over pad. And I felt like those two goals, if we could have gotten one of those, we would have had opportunity and been within one goal and probably would have tied it if that first one wouldn't have gone in.
Speaker: um And you've got to look at those like opportunities like that. um I'm not going to blame him for that one. um Our defense, especially that first goal. um I think it was Ryan Hofer's the second goal that we gave up. um some One of our defensemen was...
Speaker: Cut. puck watching um watching the puck near the net and not uh making sure that he was protecting the crease and the guy came in for the rebound and he wasn't there to keep him out of the crease and that's when they scored the second goal um the second goal was an opportunity um and if they would have only been up one nothing and then nolan walker comes in and ties it at the beginning of the second it's a totally different game and then on the offensive side we had opportunities where i just lanes to the the net where we should have just gone and taken the lanes given to us. Instead, we tried to make that one extra pass, and it turned into nothing. um You know, we want to make the goalie react.
Speaker: uh create a rebound the extra pass can give the defense time to recover eliminate the opportunity completely which is what happened um a couple of times in the game um we had those lanes and even in game two we had those lanes and instead of taking the lane to the net where literally the defender is defending against the pass and that could create havoc and create more opportunities we tried to pass a puck which then created no opportunity and really the same applies for the defense from the blue line um
Speaker: You got to get those shots through. If there isn't a shot to be made through, you got to put the puck in a place where you can keep the puck deep in the offensive zone. um I felt like there were opportunities in which we just tried to shoot it.
Speaker: as hard as possible through a guy, and that ain't going to happen. The one bright side is Hudsey. Man, the one thing I noticed with Hudsey is he is so good at getting that puck through. He finds ways to, if he can't get a shot because the guy's right there, he puts the puck on a guy's stick, looking like a shot that gives a tip opportunity. or he puts the puck deep into the corner, he is really good at getting that puck through. um We need to have our other defensemen in those opportunities kind of look at the same thing. You don't have to rear back and shoot the puck as hard as possible through their players. Like what happened in the playoffs in Game 6 of the Finals, like we talked about. um
Speaker: If it gets blocked, it turns the puck the other way, and then... Typically, if it gets blocked, you get breakaways, you get two -on -ones or three -on -twos. When the puck gets turned the other way, you are now rushing to get back, back -checking to try and get back into the play to try and defend it, and it gets hard.
Speaker: Now let's get to the bright sides on Friday. There were some bright sides. ah The biggest positive Friday was Nolan Walker. Two goals, but his impact went beyond those finishes. ah His speed created opportunities. His passing opened up things. And I love that he wasn't afraid to get in the dirty areas on the ice. He had no issues. He's a smaller guy, but he has no issues getting right in front of the net. I do know both those goals are what we call dirty goals, where you get in front of the net, it creates a rebound, you puck. You tip it in. Or you get in front of the net and a rebound comes off you and goes in the net. I loved his play. um His passing, um he knows where to, in the small areas, he's really good with the puck in small areas to pass in small areas. um And because of that, he created opportunities and and a lot of scoring chances off of that. I also liked Waugh and Casaro. Fip Waugh. Man, I think he's going to be great for us, not only defensively, but offensively. His offensive IQ when he's moving the puck is...
Speaker: Amazing. um I think he's going to have a big part to play in what the Mavs do this season. And Casaro, I know we talked about him in the last episode, but he did run the power play, PP1. That needs some work, the power play. But I will say that he looked so good defensively.
Speaker: and then his of it. His ability to create offense, whether it was just joining the rush or working in the offensive zone, he gave us some... amazing things to build on i know strikey i'm excited about um i know that was his first professional game on friday so he's played two professional games
Speaker: rookie and I see some encouraging things from him and I can't wait to see what he does this season so game two uh Rapid City for Kansas City Mavericks three uh They outshot us.
Speaker: heavily. ah Shots on net were 35 -23. They also had a power play goal. We went 0 -3. One thing I am going to say is we went 0 -5. Even if we have one goal, it's a decent power play. If we have one out of those five go in, which is what you expect, right around 20 -30%. You want that one goal. If we get that one goal either one of these games, it changes if we score on the power play. um The one thing I will say as we dig into this game. Jack Randall scored right off the hop, 453 in a period one. We took a 1 -0 lead, assisted by Andre Lushko and Nolan Orzek. And then we scored in...
Speaker: Thanks. Period two. 1737 mark. Jack Randall. Assisted by fit wah and then we scored in period three at the seven minute 59 second mark by Jack Novak assisted by Alex wet black off and then Rapid City's goals They scored in period two at the 651 mark. It was a power play goal by Ryan Wagner assisted by Logan Nelson and Alex young
Speaker: And then Alex Young scored the second goal in period two at the 11 minute 44 second mark of the second period, assisted by Quinn Olsen and Ryan Wagner. Tyson Feist scored in the third period at the 3 minute 25 second mark assisted by Tyler Inamoto and Ryan Hofer, and then Ryan Wagner scored.
Speaker: at the 11 minute and 25 second mark of period three, assisted by Alex Young and Tyson Feist. So the power play was something that we did not do well in games one and game two. We went 0 for 5, and especially in game two, we were up 1 to 0. We had scored early to get the crowd going. um
Speaker: to get the team going and we had two power plays in that first period if we score in one of those power plays we're up 2 -0 that whole game has changed the whole dynamic of the game has changed because rapid city then is chasing the game and we can play our game and let them kind of come to us instead we
Speaker: scored one goal went into the second period and then gave up a goal tying goal in that second period we are also going to talk about that uh the one thing i will say is that power play so um Here's what happened before that penalty was called.
Speaker: Um, We had... ah The puck in the neutral zone. We're trying to get it deep. Turned it over in the neutral zone. And they got the puck and got the rush going the other direction. And three of our guys decided to make a change at that moment. That was a bad decision because it created a...
Speaker: um, odd man rush the other way that then created a power play that then created a Five on three. um Because we got a delay game for... basically moving the puck with our hand during a faceoff, which is a delay game. it It is a penalty, and it did happen because a stick broke, so then he used his hand to move the puck, which is a penalty. And here's the deal.
Speaker: um You have to get the puck deep. before you make a change and especially if you turn the puck over in the neutral zone you can't go off on a change you have to do whatever you can to try and help out and at least then get the puck back out and get the puck I know he was probably tired.
Speaker: But... That turned into the game -tying goal from the power play. Gave them a 5 -on -3 at that point. The Mavericks... Worst. kind of starting to get control of that game.
Speaker: Some of Friday's problems showed up again. We were still attempting backhanded passes near our own blue line. I also thought we had issues with our support when a defenseman pinched. um Third man high when the defenseman pinched one of the forwards. comes up high basically as a protection for when he pinches. It allows, you know, rotation allows creating more opportunities. Second, third opportunities, we want our defensemen to do that, but they do that expecting someone to be there to protect them. There were opportunities where that did not happen, that support had not been connected yet. ah Line changes, obviously, we just talked about it were another concern. um We've got to make sure that puck gets deep. before you make a line change. You got to do everything you can to get that puck deep. And then if you don't get it deep, you can't just, when there's a a rush coming the other way on a turnover, you can't just say, oh, I got to get off the ice. So that was another glaring problem. Because what happened is ah after that, Strikey went off for a hooking call. Then what happened is two seconds later, Lin Mark received a delay game penalty, which...
Speaker: it happened his stick broke the easiest reaction in that is to get the puck back so you take your hand and push it back because you're so used to doing that but it is a delay a game if you use your hand to move the puck on a face off which then rapid city scored on the five on three which then tied the game up, which created a little more momentum on their side.
Speaker: and But hockey is all about tilted ice. It's all about momentum. And you want to do whatever you can to make sure the momentum does not go in the other team's direction. You keep it in your own direction. Which that 5 -on -3, based off of not getting the puck deep and then going off on a change when the puck got turned over, is what created that 5 -on -3 that then created that goal.
Speaker: So there were some... Glaring things that I loved on Saturday. Orzik's gap closure was...
Speaker: It stood out. um His gap closure is really good. He did a good job stepping up and making it hard for Rapid City to enter our zone cleanly and then also put some physical hits on some of their players ah before they entered. um His gap closure was really good. I also like Hudzee's ability to get pucks through traffic like I talked about earlier. He looked for useful lanes and a teammate stick. um I know there was one opportunity where he could have shot the puck, but he'd been shooting through it. player and instead he decided to go a little bit to the left where one of our player sticks was got tipped created a great scoring opportunity those were things i loved about hudsey and the other shining light is turnus looked very good turnus made some unbelievable saves there was one save where the puck went over the net hit the end boards came back over the net hit off his back and he did a 360 rotation and knocked it out with his glove saved a goal he made some unbelievable saves If it wasn't for Turnage, this game, like I said, could be 7 -3, 8 -3. He looked...
Speaker: He looked locked in, and he looked good, and I'm excited about what he's going to bring. um I know that there's been questions on goaltending because we lost our 1 -2 punch from last season. I'm not worried about it. Turnus looks amazing. Turnus is going to be a really good goaltender for us, and I really think he's going to steal some games for us this season. So the Mavericks have ah certain things they can work on, but what's great is ah those are...
Speaker: easy fixes so those things can be fixed those are things that can be fixed uh there's so much talent and it was obvious on the ice with some of the play that you saw especially when i went back and looked at the video um i'm really excited about our blue line i think our blue line is not only really good defensively
Speaker: But their offensive IQ on the blue line is going to create so many more opportunities for our offense. um I can't wait. um I know that we don't have another home game until November now. Two weeks. Two weeks for our next home game. so But I'm excited to see how they play Rapid City this weekend.
Speaker: All right, and it's time for Maverick. of the week.
Speaker: Time for the Maverick of the Week.
Speaker: All right, our Maverick of the Week is Jack Randall. Two games, two goals, one assist, three points. Randall picked up an assist Friday, then delivered a two -goal performance on Saturday. He gave Kansas City its opening lead. Later, he brought the Mavericks back even. Those were important finishes in a close game. Congratulations to Jack Randall, our first -ever KC After the Horn Maverick of the Week.
Speaker: All right now it's checking in
Speaker: Checking in. Let's start checking in with Hudson Wilson. hudsy He had a huge fight in game one. We got down 2 -0, and at the end of the third period, he got in a fight with Ryder. Dropped the gloves late in the first period.
Speaker: um at the 18 minute and 33 second mark at the first period to be exact uh this is a moment i want to spend some time on we talk about the physical side of this team he did that because he got the boys riled up got them excited got them going um when we got down to oh sometimes it can be a little um
Speaker: It can bring you down. um and and that adrenaline a rush and that get get going um you need something to kind of get you going again and so hudsey did a really good job decided to drop the mitts and uh it really got the boys going because we scored
Speaker: when we came out about the five -minute mark. ah Nolan Walker scored in that second period coming out of the break. ah For me, Hudson's willingness to step into that conversation deserves attention. Physical presence is a part of what we are looking for for the Mavericks team. If I can bring energy to the building and the bench, which the... Fans loved it. um The question is what the team does with that energy on the next shift, which we know they scored a goal. So ah congratulations to Hudson. That's the kind of stuff we need. Hudson brings that.
Speaker: every night. He brought it on Saturday too. It was very physical. The one thing I do want to point out um, is We need to be more physical as we stick in that physicality. um
Speaker: It seemed like it was really easy for Rapid City to be in front of our net. um And we need to create opportunities where we make it so uncomfortable that they don't want to come in front of our crease and in front of our net.
Speaker: or they know they're going to get a pounding if they try and get in front of our net. It just seemed really easy to get in the front of the net and really easy to stay in front of our net. All right, and now for a segment we're going to do. A new segment I have not done on the episode yet that we're going to be doing all season long, probably once a month. It is Zebras. under review.
Speaker: Zebras under review. All right, so Saturday we had one referee. um And I'm not going to blame it all on that. But the one thing I will say is... Kyle McCulley.
Speaker: I was frustrated with several plays where from my view, there should have been a call.
Speaker: cross -checking, a possible boarding incident, and a high stick that appeared to cause bleeding. um Those are three penalties that I get when there's one referee. I hate that they have nights where there's only one referee because... So much happens behind the play. But this wasn't even behind the play. This was deep in the play with the puck around. Staring at... both these situations All three of these situations didn't call one penalty. two And so I'm putting him first up as Zebras Under Review. he So throughout the season, here's how it's going to work. We're going to do Zebras Under Review once a month. We're going to go through...
Speaker: um, Penalties that should have been called. Things the refs called that definitely weren't penalties. And then they're going to get a score. So they're going to get... points based off of calls that they should have made and didn't call.
Speaker: Or calls that they made and were definitely not penalties. And then at the end of the year, we're going to give an award. for the blind referee of the year. So that is Zebras under review.
Speaker: So now it's Maz's mailbag. Mavs Mailbag. All right, so this week we're going to do something a little different. um I do not have a question from one of the Mavericks fans, but what I do have is I want to put three questions to you.
Speaker: Orange army. How concerned are you after opening weekend? For me, there are clear issues to address. Now I want to see how the team responds in Rapid City. Second.
Speaker: Who? impressed you the most? Who impressed you the most this weekend? and I have a few. ah Randall is our Maverick of the Week. Obviously, he had a great weekend. Walker had a strong Friday, and I really had a strong weekend. He's going to be huge. play a huge part in our offense. um I also...
Speaker: I'm... impressed by turnus that was another player that surprised me um not that i didn't expect him to play well because i know he played well last year when he played but to fill the shoes of the Goalie tandem we had last year. Those are big shoes to fill. And he...
Speaker: Definitely filled them on Saturday night. um And then three, what's the first adjustment you want to see? For me it starts with puck management. Use the available outlet, support the player with a puck, and get it into a safe area before changing. Send us your answers and your questions for the next episode from Mavs Mailbag.
Speaker: make sure and leave them down below all right now it's time for next face off all right the mavericks head to rapid city for three games uh they play friday Saturday and Sunday, so it's three games back -to -back -to -back.
Speaker: That gives us an immediate chance to see how Kansas City adjusts. That's the great part, is they get to play them three more games. So now they can make adjustments, they can fix the problems they had, and they can play better. So now we get a chance to see how the adjustments...
Speaker: Workout. ah Cleaner exits from our own zone. More production from the power play, better coverage when a defense pinches, stronger physical play around our net, and better decisions when shooting opportunity. Opens up.
Speaker: We saw players... Great offense on Friday and Saturday night. I saw some amazing, ah huge... Things... i'll start over
Speaker: Next face off. All right, the Mavericks head to Rapid City for three games. They play Friday. Saturday and Sunday. So it's three games back -to -back -to -back.
Speaker: That gives us an immediate chance to see how Kansas City adjusts. That's the great part, is they get to play them three more games. So now they can make adjustments, they can fix the problems they had, and they can play better. So now we get a chance to see how the adjustments...
Speaker: Workout. ah Cleaner exits from our own zone. More production from the power play, better coverage when a defense pinches, stronger physical play around our net, and better decisions when shooting opportunity. Opens up.
Speaker: I saw some huge positives on Friday and Saturday night when it came to creating offense. I feel like we're not going to have any issues. I think we just need to fix those small little details, and I know they can fix them. We saw individual ah performances worth recognizing. Now we need more consistent. execution throughout the lineup. That's the challenge heading into the rematch.
Speaker: Alright, that's it for Episode 3 of KC After the Horn. It was a tough opening weekend. There were some positives to build on though. specific adjustments to watch when the mavericks face rapid city on friday saturday and sunday Again, congratulations to Jack Randall our Maverick of the Week.
Speaker: Let us know your biggest takeaway. Send in your mailbag questions. And tell us which plays you want discussed on Zebras Under Review. I'm Joe. Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice and your eyes on the Mavericks. We'll see you after the horn.
