Kansas City Mavericks take 2-0 series lead with overtime win over Tahoe

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (KCTV) - Lucas Sowder scored twice, including an overtime winner, to lift Kansas City past Tahoe 2-1 on Saturday night.

The Kansas City Mavericks say Sowder netted the game-winner at 13:49 of overtime, with an assist from Bobo Carpenter, to send the home crowd home happy in Game 2.

However, the team notes that Tahoe struck first, scoring on a power-play goal at 7:46 of the first period and carrying a 1-0 lead into the second.

Kansas City adds that it managed just three shots in the opening frame before ramping up its offense.

Sowder tied the game at 7:56 of the second period, finishing a play set up by Casey Carreau and Jake McLaughlin.

Neither team could break the deadlock through regulation, Kansas City says, despite outshooting Tahoe 39-30.

Goaltender Dylan Wells was sharp in the net, stopping 29 of 30 shots to earn the win.

“It felt good, I mean that’s a big win for us to go up 2-nothing instead of going 1-1 back to their place for 3 games,” Sowder told the media after scoring the game-winning goal. “That’s a huge win for us.”

The Mavericks note that Sowder, Wells and McLaughlin were named the game’s three stars.

“I was very unpleased with the first period. I thought we were extremely undisciplined and we got away from our game,” Coach Tad O’Had said. “What I did like is that we came together, we figured things out, we worked together. I thought we had a strong third period and then a strong overtime and we found a way. So the important thing is you take that victory, but you have to learn from it. We could be better, we could be more disciplined and we could structurally play more our game.”

Game 3 now shifts to Tahoe on Wednesday, April 29, with puck drop set for 7 p.m.