Mallards Drop Regular Season Finale, Face Missouri in Opening Round of Playoffs
April 9, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL) - Quad City Mallards News Release
MOLINE, Ill. (April 9, 2016) - The host Quad City Mallards (37-29-6, 80 points) fell to the Cincinnati Cyclones (36-27-9, 81 points) 4-3 Saturday night to finish the regular season in eighth place in the ECHL's Western Conference and set up a first round Kelly Cup playoff match-up with the Brabham Cup regular season champion Missouri Mavericks beginning next Saturday in Missouri.
ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs, Opening Round
Quad City Mallards vs. Missouri Mavericks
Game One: Saturday, April 16 @ Missouri, 7:05 p.m.
Game Two: Sunday, April 17 @ Missouri, 4:05 p.m.
Game Three: Wednesday, April 20 @ Quad City, 6:35 p.m.
Game Four: Friday, April 22 @ Quad City, 7:05 p.m.
Game Five: Saturday, April 23 @ Quad City, 7:05 p.m.*
Game Six: Tuesday, April 26 @ Missouri, 7:05 p.m.*
Game Seven: Wednesday, April 27 @ Missouri, 7:05 p.m.*
*- if necessary
The best-of seven Western Conference quarter finals will start with games one and two Saturday, April 16 and Sunday, April 17 at Silverstein Eye Centers Arena before the Mallards return home for game three on Wednesday, April 20 at 6:35 p.m. and game four on Friday, April 22 at 7:05 p.m. If a fifth game is necessary, it will be played on Saturday night, April 23 at 7:05 p.m. at the iWireless Center. Should a sixth game be required, the series will shift back to Missouri on Tuesday, April 26. If the series goes to a seventh game, the Mavericks would host the deciding contest on Wednesday, April 27.
By defeating the Mallards tonight the Cyclones finished one point ahead of Quad City in seventh place in the conference. The Cyclones jumped out to a 3-0 first period lead and held the Mallards off the rest of the way. Jack Downing jammed in the opening goal 5:50 into the game. Jonathan Diaby ripped the second Cincinnati goal home from the left wing circle at 8:05 of the first. The Cyclones were on the power play when Garret Noonan blasted the third from the high slot at the 18:03 mark.
After Jordan Knackstedt pounced on a rebound to get the Mallards on the scoreboard at 2:53 of the second period, Zach Budish responded just 37 seconds later by scoring what would prove the be the game winner from the slot. The Mallards clawed back within one later in the second with goals from Trevor Cox- the first of his career from close range at 9:59- and Matt Carey- a rocket from the right wing circle at 13:09- but could not complete the comeback in the third period.
The Mavericks entered the final night of the regular season having already clinched first place overall by going 51-15-5 for 107 points in 71 games. The Mallards and Mavs are now set for their first ever playoff meeting.
Tickets for Mallards first round home games 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 Mallards announced. The box office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on game days from 10:00 a.m. through the end of the second period. Tickets are available for $10, $16, $20 and $24.
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