The Mavericks overcame a 3-1 second-period deficit with a pair of third period goals but were unable to come away with the win, falling in double overtime to the Northwest Sharks on Saturday afternoon at the Red Knight Arena.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the girls, they played their hearts out and I don’t think they could give any more than they did,” said Mavericks head coach Stephane Gauvin. “We knew this was going to be a tough series between two good teams and that’s how it was in the first game, for sure.”
The Mavericks got on the board first when Ember Dusomme opened scoring at the 12:19 mark of the first period. Northwest would go on to score three straight goals through the rest of the first and second period to take their 3-1 lead into the final frame of regulation.
There, Nikita Halyk scored on the power play a minute in before Eowyn Stokes tied things up with 6:26 remaining, sending the contest into overtime.
It marked the third game of the post season to need extra time, and ended up also being the third time the Mavericks ended up in double overtime.
Austyn Eaton scored the game-winning goal on the power play at the 10:24 mark.
Sydnee Christmann went the distance in goal and turned aside 33 shots, while Mackenzie Bloom made 41 saves in her nearly 90 minutes of work.
Game 2 of the series takes place on Mar. 30 in Turtleford, with the third and deciding game between the two unbeaten regular season division champions taking place on Mar. 31 in Turtleford if necessary.
