The Mavericks got back in the win column this weekend as they swept the Pittsburgh Vengeance in a 2-game home-and-home series. The pair of victories not only brought the Mavs’ point total to a franchise record 58 with a season record of 28-10-2-0, but it solidified the team’s third place ranking in the Great Lakes division standings.

The series opened at home on Friday night as the visiting Vengeance rolled into town. Sitting just behind the Mavs in the standings, the Vengeance had no intentions of going down easy, made clear by the hard-fought, scoreless first two periods.

It would be the Mavericks who would ultimately strike first at the 4:58 mark in the third period as Ryan Lempicki scored his 8th goal of the season with an assist from Jadon Beard. The Vengeance would respond just four and a half minutes later to tie the game at one. Not content with an even score, the Mavs’ Dominic Conte would score the go-ahead goal just a minute later, assisted by Tyler Isherwood and Nik Jozefiak.

Despite pulling their goalie and mounting a come-back attempt, the Vengeance wouldn’t be able to put a second goal past Mavs net minder, Frank Murphy, and the Mavs would hold on for a 2-1 victory. Murphy would ultimately stop 27 of 28 shots on the night to pick up the victory.

The series then shifted to the Keystone state as the Mavs traveled to Alpha Ice Complex in Pittsburgh for a Saturday night rematch. As the second game of the weekend got underway, it was clear that there was no love lost between the two teams. As the physical first period drew to a close; however, it would be the Mavericks who would again draw first blood, as recent acquisition, Piercen Garcia, scored his first goal in the Navy and Green at the 18:37 mark, assisted by Eric Podgorny and Dominic Conte.

It would be another 15 minutes, well into the second period, before another point would be added to the scoreboard, as the Mavs extended their lead to two when Ryan Mackey buried a loose puck in front of the net, assisted by Tyler Isherwood. Just two minutes later, Colin Crowley would score the Mavs’ third and final goal of the game with assists from Dominic Conte and Jack Williams.

The Mavs’ three goal lead would hold almost the entirety of the remaining period until the host Vengeance would spoil the shutout attempt, scoring their lone goal of the game at the 19:33 mark. The late goal wouldn’t be enough to turn the tides; however, as the Mavericks would hold on to take home a 3-1 victory. Frank Murphy got the start in net for the Mavs and turned away 25 of 26 shots.

As the regular season comes down to the home stretch, the Mavs are back in action this coming weekend with yet another home-and-home series against the Wooster Oilers. The Mavs are on the road on Saturday before returning home to OhioHealth Chiller North for a 4:45 face-off on Sunday.