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Mallards Down Bloomington, Secure Playoff Match-Up with Fort Worth

March 23, 2013 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


BLOOMINGTON, IL - Mike Stinziani scored twice and Neil Conway made 31 saves as the Quad City Mallards defeated the host Bloomington Blaze 4-2 Saturday night. With the win- the Mallards' fourth in a row- Quad City clinched a sixth place finish and locked in a best-of-seven opening round Central Hockey League playoff match-up with the Fort Worth Brahmas that will start next week on a date to be announced.

Stinziani scored what proved to be the game winner by pouncing on a rebound to snap a 2-2 tie at 9:15 of the second period. Stinziani pushed the Mallards in front for good just less than four minutes after Jon Booras's point-blank shorthanded goal had erased a 2-1 Mallard lead.

With 1:18 left in the third period, Jason Dixon's empty net goal clinched the Mallard victory mere moments after Conway made perhaps his best save of the evening on a Booras wraparound bid.

The Mallards were forced to battle from behind early on. Quad City rebounded to take the lead with back-to-back first period goals after Bloomington's Matt Larke opened the scoring with a tip-in just 44 seconds into the game. Stinziani scored the equalizer on a breakaway at 6:22 of the first. With just over a minute left in the period Gabriel Boutin-Gagnon put the Mallards on top 2-1 with a wrist shot from the left wing circle.

The Mallards close out the regular season tomorrow at 4:05 p.m. against the Blaze. Tomorrow is Fan Appreciation Day, with the fun to start even before the Mallards' game gets underway- the fifth annual Quad Cities firefighters' benefit game will face off at noon tomorrow at the i wireless Center. Quad Cities and Chicago firefighters will take to the ice to raise funds for Addi's Faith Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending childhood cancer. Lower bowl tickets good for both the firefighters' game and the Mallards' match-up with Bloomington are available for just $14 and can be purchased at the i wireless Center tomorrow.

A 42" LCD flat screen television will be raffled off during the Mallards' game against the Blaze to benefit Addi's Faith Foundation. That drawing is just one of a series of giveaways set for tomorrow. Tomorrow will also see one lucky fan attending that game win a new refrigerator courtesy of American Furniture Electronics Appliances. The first 1,000 fans ages 13 and over through the doors for the Mallards' game will all receive free Mallards jerseys.

Tomorrow is also the season's final Family Skate Day presented by Genesis Health System. Fans can bring their skates to the game and join the Mallards on the ice immediately after the end of that contest. A post-game event at Del's in the District will give fans a further opportunity to spend time with the Mallards. Mallards players will head to Del's- which is located at 1829 2nd Avenue in Rock Island- immediately after leaving the ice tomorrow.

Tickets for tomorrow's game can be purchased in person at the i wireless Center ticket 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 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.

First round playoff tickets are also now on sale. All first round playoff seats will be available for just $12 for adults and $9 for youth 12 and under. In addition, adult opening round tickets for fans who wear green to playoff games as part of the Mallards' "Green Out", will be available for just $10 at the i wireless Center ticket office.



Central Hockey League Stories from March 23, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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