Updated:
August 10, 2011, 10:00 PM ET
Wednesday Night Recap: Maniax Complete Tri-fecta
The Maniax completed the XHL's version of the triple crown by defeating the Wolfpack 13-2 in game two Wednesday to earn their third straight Taylor Memorial Cup.
The Maniax made sure there was little drama in the end, as they rattled off seven third period goals and 11 of the last 12 goals in the game to take the series.
The biggest drama of the night came with the official announcement that Kevin Smith earned the playoff MVP honors. Smith scored six goals and added a helper in game two Wednesday, and finished the playoffs with 11 goals and eight assists in four games. None of those goals were bigger than game one's overtime marker against the Voodoo. The Maniax finished the playoffs with an unblemished 4-0 record and had very little trouble after that opening game of round one.
By: Bob Anderson
xhlhockey.net
The Maniax earned their first championship in 2009 against the Rogue, and followed it last year with a three game set against the Hot Shots.
The game looked more promising for the Wolfpack in the first period. After Rob Stanley put the Maniax up 1-0 with a blistering slap shot from the point, pack attack answered with two goals from Derik Day and Chris Anschutz respectively.
But the Kevin Smith show took over from there, as he scored all three Maniax goals in the second period to put some distance between the squads before the Maniax lit it up in the third.
Dustin Henry got the start in the Wolfpack net due to Casey Kuntz work related absence. Henry stopped 36 of the 48 shots he faced. Winning netminder Clay Halpin had a much quieter night, stopping 11 of 14 shots.
The championship was Zach Smith and Chad Walter's first in the league while veteran defenseman Rob Stanley earned his fifth title, most in the XHL's 11 year history.
The 2011 Maniax pose for a group picture afte their game two victory over the Wolfpack Wednesday. The title is their third straight in the XHL.