Fort Wayne Holds off Mallards 6-5

November 25, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


MOLINE, Ill. - Jean-Michel Rizk scored two goals- including what proved to be the game winner early in the third period- and added an assist as the Fort Wayne Komets survived the host Quad City Mallards' comeback bid to claim a 6-5 victory Friday night.

The Komets entered the third period on top 5-3 and would stretch the lead to three goals when Rizk scored his second of the evening on a rebound at 4:37 of the final frame. The Mallards battled back to within one with goals from Brandon Marino from the high slot- on a power play- at 9:41 of the third and from Jared Brown from the left wing circle with 1:33 remaining. Quad City, however, was unable to produce a late equalizer after pulling goaltender David McKee for an extra attacker in the final minute.

McKee entered the game in relief at the beginning of the third period after starter Brad Fogal gave up the first five Fort Wayne goals. The Komet attack first bore fruit when Rizk gave Fort Wayne a 1-0 lead at 2:35 of the first period with a rising drive from the right wing circle.

The Mallards bounced back to take the lead midway through the first with a pair of goals just two and a half minutes apart. Bobby Preece's shot from the left point was deflected home at 9:02. At the 11:32 mark, Quad City was on the power play when Mickey Lang snapped the 1-1 deadlock with a wrist shot from the high slot.

The Komets rebounded to even the score again at 17:36 of the first. Jamie Milam buried a goalmouth feed from Bobby Chaumont to make it 2-2.

The Komets turned their only power play of the game into a go ahead goal when Brett Smith's tip-in put Fort Wayne up 3-2 at 6:57 of the second period. Chaumont scored in a goal mouth scramble to expand the Komet advantage to 4-2 at 15:24 of the second.

The final minute of the second produced a pair of goals and two rapid-fire shifts in momentum. Justin Chwedoruk's breakaway goal trimmed the margin to 4-3 with just over 58 seconds left in the period, but a mere 15.6 seconds before the buzzer, Artem Podshendyalov would convert Rizk's cross-crease pass to reestablish the two-goal Fort Wayne lead.

The Mallards return to the ice at the i wireless Center tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. to take on the Missouri Mavericks. The Mallards have teamed with Churches United of the Quad Cities for a Holiday Food Drive tomorrow. Fans can save $1 off the price of a ticket to tomorrow night's game- up to a maximum discount of $5 off the regular price- for each non-perishable food item donated while purchasing tickets at the i wireless Center box office tomorrow.

Single game tickets for all Mallards regular season home contests are now available. Fans can contact the Mallards at (309) 277-1364 or tickets@myqcmallards.com for more information about tickets.

Single game tickets are also available at the i wireless Center box office, at Ticketmaster outlets, through www.ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free. The box office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and on game days from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the second period. Individual game tickets are available for $12 in the upper level and $17 in the lower level and $25 for the first row along the glass for adults. Tickets for kids 12 and under are available for $5 off adult rates. In addition, tickets are available to military personnel for $2 off the regular adult rate.

Single game tickets are also available at the i wireless Center box office, at Ticketmaster outlets, through www.ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free. The box office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and on game days from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the second period. Individual game tickets are available for $12 in the upper level and $17 in the lower level and $25 for the first row along the glass for adults. Tickets for kids 12 and under are available for $5 off adult rates. In addition, tickets are available to military personnel for $2 off the regular adult rate.



Central Hockey League Stories from November 25, 2011


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