Archambault Scores Winner, Mallards Down Nailers 5-3

December 19, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


MOLINE, Ill. - Olivier Archambault broke a 3-3 tie with 1:56 left in the third period and Brody Hoffman made 39 saves as the host Quad City Mallards (15-9-3) defeated the Wheeling Nailers (14-10-3) 5-3 Saturday night.

With the win the Mallards opened up five point lead over the second place Cincinnati Cyclones in the race for the top spot in the ECHL's Midwest Division and earned a split of their two game weekend series with the Nailers.

Miles Koules made a solo rush down the right wing to set up Archambault- who also had an assist- in the slot for the game winner. Vladimir Nikiforov's empty net goal finished off Wheeling with 45 seconds remaining.

The Mallards secured victory late after twice building two goal leads earlier in the evening. The Nailers in the second period battled back from their second two goal deficit to even the score at three. Austin Coldwell's wrist shot from the left wing circle gave the Mallards what proved to be a short-lived 3-1 advantage at 4:33 of the second. The Nailers' Riley Brace- who also had two assists- narrowed the margin to one with a rising drive from the left wing circle seven minutes into the middle frame; at 10:45 John McCarron buried the equalizer from the doorstep.

The Mallards had first moved in front by a pair early in the contest. The Mallards' Ryan Tesink- who would later add an assist- banked the opening goal in off a skate from behind the net at 8:02 of the first period. Sam Warning doubled the lead from the left wing circle just 38 seconds later. Wheeling's Jarrett Burton finished off a two-on-none rush by roofing Brace's goalmouth feed to cut the gap to 2-1 at 15:21 of the first. The Mallards went into the first intermission on top due in good part to Hoffman, who was at his busiest in making 15 saves in the opening 20 minutes.

Forward Zach Pochiro picked up an assist for the Mallards Saturday evening after being reassigned to the team from the American Hockey League's Chicago Wolves earlier in the day.

The Mallards visit the Missouri Mavericks tomorrow. The Mallards next play at home next Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. against the Indy Fuel. The Mallards will welcome the Stanley Cup to next Saturday's game. Fans will the chance to view and take photos with hockey's ultimate prize throughout that contest.

Single game tickets for all Mallards regular season home games- including next Saturday's game- are on sale now at the iWireless Center box office, Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com and Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000. The box office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Tickets are available for $10, $16, $20 and $28.



ECHL Stories from December 19, 2015


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