10-05-2025
Knight Monsters' Inaugural Season Ends; Mavericks Clinch Western Conference Finals Berth
The storybook season for the Tahoe Knight Monsters is over.
After sweeping through their first-ever playoff series, they were handed the same treatment by the Kansas City Mavericks in the Mountain Division Finals.
On Friday, the Mavericks completed a sweep of the series with a convincing 6-0 shutout in front of a packed crowd at Tahoe Blue Event Center.
Max Andreev opened the scoring for the Mavericks just 1:42 into the first period for a 1-0 lead. In the ensuing minutes, Tahoe had chances to score with a four-minute power play and a penalty shot, but could not solve Mavericks netminder Jack LaFontaine.
Cade Borchardt and Jackson Berezowski also scored in the opening frame, helping Kansas City take a commanding 3-0 lead after the opening 20 minutes.
Damien Giroux added to the lead just 21 seconds into the second period, and the game was never in doubt.
Jake McLaughlin scored the final goal midway through the third period, assisted by Zack Trott.
Jack LaFontaine was stellar in goal, stopping all 25 shots he faced to earn his fourth shutout of the 2025 Kelly Cup Playoffs, the most of any goaltender in the league.
The Mavericks outshot Tahoe 33-25 and killed off all five penalties they faced to finish a perfect 5-for-5 on the penalty kill.
With the win, the Mavericks advance to the Western Conference Final for the second straight season. They will host the winner of the Fort Wayne Komets and Toledo Walleye series at Cable Dahmer Arena, with dates and times to be announced soon.
It was a disappointing finish for the Knight Monsters, but the fans at Tahoe Blue Event Center cheered as their beloved team vacated the ice, saluting them for an incredible campaign.
The send-off was well-deserved. The Knight Monsters certainly have a lot to be proud of in their first season in the ECHL. Bigger and better things are sure to come.
