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Mallards Game Day

April 22, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


Game Three

April 20: Missouri 4 Quad City 2

David de Kastrozza's shorthanded goal snapped a 2-2 deadlock with four minutes and 27 seconds left in regulation and the Mavericks went on to claim a 4-2 come-from-behind victory over the host Mallards

Mallards Notes

On the Brink

The Mallards must win tonight to avoid elimination and force a fifth game tomorrow night at the iWireless Center.

Turnaround

The Mallards held a 2-1 lead after two periods in game three before allowing three third period goals.

Four

Including a regular season-ending 4-3 loss to Cincinnati on April 9, the Mallards have now dropped four straight games.

Deficit

This is the fourth in team history the Mallards have lost the first three games of a best-of-seven playoff series. Each of the last two times they found themselves down 3-0- in round one of the 2008 United Hockey League playoffs against the Rockford IceHogs and in the opening round of the 2013 Central Hockey League playoffs against the Fort Worth Brahmas- they rebounded to win game four before falling in game five. The Mallards were last swept in a best-of-seven series by the Flint Generals in the 2000 UHL finals.

Stampede

Regular season and playoffs combined, the Mallards have gone winless (0-7-1) in their last eight games against the Mavericks. The Mallards dropped the first three games of the series after going winless in their five regular season games against Missouri. The Mallards last defeated the Mavericks on March 29, 2015 in Missouri when the Mallards claimed a 4-3 shootout win in their final match-up of the 2014-15 campaign with the Mavs.

Home Sweet Home

By going 22-12-2 at home during the regular season, the Mallards won more home games than they have in any campaign since they went 22-11-5 in 38 International Hockey League home games (compared to 36 this season) in 2009-10. The Mallards last won more than 22 home games in 2005-06 when they went 23-13-2 in 38 UHL home games.

Rough Road

The Mallards have lost their last five road playoff games. They dropped the first two games of this series in Independence after falling on the road in games two, six and seven of their first round loss to Rapid City last spring. The Mallards have also now gone just 1-8 in their last nine away playoff games, including defeats in games two, six and seven of their Central Hockey League semi-final loss to Allen in 2014.

Third

The Mallards have been outscored 5-1 in the third period in this series after outscoring foes 9-1 in the third period of their final four regular season games.

Playoff Habit

The Mallards have qualified for the playoffs in each of their first two ECHL seasons and in each of their four seasons under coach Terry Ruskowski. The Mallards reached the CHL postseason in Ruskowski's first two years with the club.

Second Time Around

The Mallards are in pursuit of their first ECHL playoff series victory. Last spring's opening round loss to Rapid City was the Mallards' first ever ECHL playoff appearance.

Victory

The Mallards last won a playoff series when they defeated Rapid City in the opening round of the 2014 CHL postseason.

History

The Mallards have lost ten of their last 11 playoff series. Their opening round conquest of the Rush in 2014 is the Mallards' only postseason series win since defeating Muskegon in six games in the 2003 UHL semi-finals.

On the Road Again

Their match-up with the Mavericks is the ninth straight playoff series in which the Mallards' foes have enjoyed home-ice advantage. The Mallards last had home ice advantage in the best-of-five opening round of the 2003-04 UHL postseason- a series in which they were swept by the Muskegon Fury.

Between the Pipes

Brody Hoffman has started the first three games of the series in goal. He made 32 saves in the Mallards' game three loss.

Leader of the Pack

Matt Carey recorded an assist in game three and now leads all players with four points (two goals and two assists) in the series. Carey (regular season and playoffs combined) has recorded 11 points (five goals and six assists) in his last nine games. Carey led the Mallards with 25 regular season goals.

Firsts

Matt Neal- shorthanded- and Olivier Archambault scored their first playoff goals in game three while Brady Brassart picked up his first playoff point by picking up an assist. Archambault and Neal- the Mallards' top two regular season point producers (Archambault led the team with 52, just ahead of Neal's 51)- have notched a goal and an assist apiece over the last two games.

Rook

Neal finished the regular season tied for fifth among ECHL rookies in assists (33) and tied for seventh among rookies in points (51).

Iron Mike

Mike Monfredo finished the regular season tied for fourth among ECHL defensemen in assists (31) and tied for tenth among blue liners in points (37). Monfredo set career highs in both categories.

Perfect Attendance

Alex Gudbranson was the only Mallard to play in each of the team's 72 regular season games.

Milestones

Retiring Mallard captain Darren McMillan played his four hundred fifteenth and final regular season game for the club April 9 against Cincinnati...Mike Monfredo played his two hundred seventy-second regular season game for the Mallards April 6 at Fort Wayne to move past Obi Aduba (271) into seventh place in team history. Monfredo finished the regular season having played 274 games for the club.

Special Teams

Both the Mallards and Mavericks scored shorthanded goals in game three. The Mallards went 0-for-4 on the power play and the Mavericks 0-for-5 in game three. Neither team has scored a power play goal since game one. Both clubs are 2-for-12 on the advantage for the series. The Mallards finished the regular season eighteenth in the ECHL on the power play (16.5 percent) and sixth in the league in penalty killing (85.3 percent).

Head to Head

After going 0-4-1 against the Mavericks overall during the regular season and 0-4-0 in Independence, the Mallards have gone 23-27-5 against Missouri all-time in the regular season and 13-16-2 on the road against the Mavs all-time.

Ins and Outs

Guillaume Gelinas was reassigned to the Mallards by Iowa (AHL) Monday and in game three played for the Mallards for the first time since February 19...Brent Tate made his Mallard debut in game three after signing with the team April 12...Tanner Eberle missed the first three games of the series after also missing the Mallards' April 9 regular season finale.

Friday, April 22, 7:05 p.m. CDT

Quad City Mallards vs. Missouri Mavericks

iWireless Center

Western Conference Quarterfinals: Game Four

Missouri leads series 3-0

Watch: ECHL.TV

Listen: Fox Sports Radio 1230

ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs, Western Conference Quarterfinals

Quad City Mallards vs. Missouri Mavericks

Game One: Missouri 6 Quad City 3

Game Two: Missouri 2 Quad City 1

Game Three: Missouri 4 Quad City 2

Game Four: Friday, April 22 @ Quad City, 7:05 p.m.

Game Five: Saturday, April 23 @ Quad City, 7:05 p.m.*

Game Six: Tuesday, April 26 @ Missouri, 7:05 p.m.*

Game Seven: Wednesday, April 27 @ Missouri, 7:05 p.m.*

*- if necessary

Quad City Mallards

37-29-6, 80 points

3rd place, Midwest Division

Coach: Terry Ruskowski

Missouri Mavericks

52-15-5, 109 points

1st place, Central Division

Coach: Richard Matvichuk

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