Cutthroats Outlast Mallards in Shootout 6-5

Published on March 15, 2014 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


DENVER, Colo. - The host Denver Cutthroats' Garrett Bembridge and Steven Kaunisto converted penalty shots after both also scored late in the third period- Kaunisto tied the game with just 3.3 seconds left in regulation- to propel the Cutthroats to a wild, come-from-behind 6-5 shootout win over the Quad City Mallards Saturday night. The victory was the second place Cutthroats' (34-15-10, 78 points) eighth in a row and their third straight over the Mallards (28-20-9, 65 points), who did move into a fifth place tie by picking up one point for the shootout setback.

Bembridge, who finished with two goals and an assist, led off the shootout with what proved to be the deciding goal and Kaunisto clinched the win by converting in round four while Denver goaltender John Griggs stopped all four Mallard penalty shots.

The game only went overtime and- as it proved- the shootout after the Cutthroats rallied from their third two goal deficit late in the third. The Mallards seemed set for a regulation win after Thomas Frazee's one timer from the slot snapped a 3-3 tie at 11:28 of the final frame and Gergo Nagy's shorthanded breakaway goal made it 5-3 with just under five and a half minutes remaining. However, with Denver on the power play, Bembridge brought the Cutthroats within one with 3:59 left and set the stage for Kaunisto, with the Denver net empty, to score the equalizer from the high slot in the dying seconds.

The Cutthroats had earlier battled back to tie the score after twice trailing by two in the second period. A Cam Reid (one goal and two assists) rebound goal cut what had been a 2-0 Mallard lead in half at 8:48 of the second. Just under a minute and a half later, Mike Monfredo's blue line blast put the Mallards back on top by a pair but the Cutthroats, undaunted, would respond with two more second period goals of their own. Vincent Arseneau jammed in a rebound to narrow the margin to 3-2 at 13:48 and Dan Amesbury poked in the equalizer at 16:08.

The Mallards had initially forged front by a pair in the first period. Quad City was up a man when Gabriel Levesque fired home a rebound to open the scoring at 11:44 of the first. At 15:23 Mike Stinziani buried Justin Fox's centering pass to double the lead.

The Mallards return to action next Monday night against the Rush in Rapid City. The Mallards next play at home next Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. against the St. Charles Chill. Fans can purchase $20 4-packs of tickets for next Wednesday's game at the iWireless Center box office or by calling the Mallards at 309-277-1364 while supplies last. After next Wednesday's game fans can join the Mallards at T.G.I. Friday's in Moline for a postgame party.

Tickets for next Wednesday's game and all Mallards regular season home games can also be purchased at Ticketmaster outlets, through ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000. The ticket office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on game days from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the second period.

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 15, 2014


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