Eagles Slip Past Mallards in Overtime, Even Series

Published on April 3, 2011 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


LOVELAND, Colo. - Daymen Rycroft scored his second goal of the game at 1:02 of overtime to give the host Colorado Eagles a 5-4 win over the Quad City Mallards Saturday night and tie the best-of-five opening round Ray Miron Presidents' Cup Playoff series between the two clubs at one win apiece.

Rycroft buried a rebound just over a minute into sudden death to cap off the Eagles' comeback from a 4-2 third period deficit.

Riley Nelson- who also had an assist- kick started the Colorado rally by driving his second goal- and his team's third- in from the right wing circle at 1:57 of the third. At 4:56, Joe Grimaldi's long-range drive tied the score at four and- eventually- paved the way for overtime.

The Mallards built two goal leads on three separate occasions over the course of the first two periods. Quad City grabbed the opening goal while on the power play when Adam Maccarone's blue line blast sailed home at 5:20 of the first period. Joel Gasper doubled the Quad City lead by jamming the puck in from the doorstep at 11:14 of the first. The 2-0 advantage, however, lasted just 21 seconds before a tricky carom sent the puck skidding into the Mallard slot and Daymen Rycroft pounced to score the first Colorado goal.

At 2:33 of the second period, the Mallards would stretch the lead back to a pair. Eric Giosa scored the third Mallard goal from the slot. In the wake of that goal, Eagles starting goaltender Kyle Jones was replaced by Andrew Penner (13 saves), who would go on to earn the win in relief.

Nelson scored a power play goal from the right wing circle to trim the Mallard lead to 3-2 with just under five minutes left in the second period, but the Mallards would head into second intermission once more in possession of a two-goal cushion after Zac Pearson walked in alone to score with just ninety seconds left in the period. The Eagles, however would score the final three goals to take game two, despite a 37-save effort form Mallard goaltender David Brown.

The Mallards and Eagles will meet for game three in the Quad Cities next Tuesday evening, April 5 at 7:05 p.m. Game four will be played next Wednesday night, April 6 at the i wireless Center at 7:05 p.m. Should the series go to a fifth game, the Eagles would host the deciding contest on next Saturday night, April 9 at 8:05 p.m.

Mallards first round playoff tickets can be purchased in person at the i wireless Center box office, at Ticketmaster outlets, through www.ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000. The ticket office is open Monday through Friday 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 end of the first period.

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Central Hockey League Stories from April 3, 2011


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