Blaze Fall to Mallards in Defensive Season Finale

March 24, 2013 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bloomington Blaze News Release

MOLINE - The Bloomington Blaze, fueled by Mid-Illini Credit Union, lost a defensive battle in the season finale by a 2-1 score to the Quad City Mallards on Sunday at iWireless Center.

After a scoreless first period, Jon Booras put the Blaze on the board with a wrister from the slot as a power play ended on assists from Sean O'Connor and goalie Pier-Olivier Pelletier. The Mallards evened the game at 1-1 when Matt Boyd cleaned up a rebound from a tumbling drive by Mickey Lang with 10:52 left in the second period. The Flock capitalized on a 5-on-3 power play that also included the ejection of Blaze forward Kyle Bochek when Mickey Lang wristed a drive from the left circle with 9:59 remaining just nine seconds into the two-man advantage for what proved to be the game-winner.

Pelletier took the loss with 30 saves in the duel of goaltenders as Neil Conway earned the win with 31 saves. The Blaze were 1-for2 on the power play while the Mallards were 1-for-6.

The Blaze end their season in ninth place in the Berry Conference standings of the Central Hockey League with a record of 28-35-2 for 58 points, which is four wins and three points better than last season. The Mallards finish 34-26-6 in sixth place and will face the Fort Worth Brahmas in the first round of the playoffs beginning next week.

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 24, 2013

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• Mallards Close Regular Season with Fifth Straight Win - Quad City Mallards
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