Mallards Face Critical Week in Playoff Push
April 3, 2006 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Quad City Mallards News Release
Moline, IL-The Mallards will play crucial games in their playoff push this week as the team plays four times in five nights. Included in that stretch is two games vs. Fort Wayne, the team the Mallards are battling for second in the Western Division. The seventh-seeded Motor City Mechanics will also visit The MARK this week.
As the week begins, the Mallards are two points up on Richmond for the final spot in the UHL playoffs. The RiverDogs hold two games in hand and will play five times this week. Quad City trails Fort Wayne by six points for second in the Western Division and an automatic playoff spot as the sixth seed. The Komets have a game in hand on the Mallards. Motor City has one less game remaining than the Mallards and is ahead of Quad City by five points in the race for the seventh seed.
Last week, the Mallards finished their season series with Missouri by sweeping a home-and-home series with the Otters. Quad City finishes their season set vs. Missouri with an 8-1-3 record. The Mallards dropped a 3-0 decision to Muskegon on Sunday at The MARK.
Upcoming Promotions
Wednesday, April 5th vs. the Fort Wayne Komets 7:00 p.m. at The MARK
Soccer Night / Casino Rock Island Black Jack
The Mallards welcome soccer teams from throughout the Quad City area to The MARK. Lucky fans will have a chance to win cash prizes by playing Casino Rock Island Black Jack. For more information on getting your soccer team involved contact Jim Fox at the Mallards ticket office (309-764-7825).
Saturday, April 8th vs. the Motor City Mechanics 7:00 p.m. at The MARK
Rock N' High School Night
High Schools from throughout the Quad Cities will be in attendance as the Mallards continue their playoff push. Upper bowl seats are just $5 for students. Festivities during the game include a pre-game concert by Minus-Six beginning at 5:30 p.m. Students in attendance will receive free CDs. After the game, the Funktastic Five will perform.
Sunday, April 9th vs. the Fort Wayne Komets 1:00 p.m. at The MARK
Animal Day
Representatives from the Quad City Animal Welfare Center will be on hand to showcase dogs that are available for adoption at the center.
National Library Week Discount
The Mallards are offering $3 off tickets to games on April 9th for all members of local libraries. The special discount is in honor of National Library Week which will be celebrated in early April. To be eligible for the discount, fans must present their library card when purchasing tickets.
Season Ticket Holder Buddy Nights
The final Mallards "Buddy Night" of 2005-06 is scheduled for April 14th vs. Richmond. On this special night, season ticket holders will receive a voucher for one free upper bowl ticket for every ticket they hold. These seats can be upgraded to lower bowl tickets for just $5.
Upcoming Games
Wednesday, April 5th vs. the Fort Wayne Komets 7:00 p.m. at The MARK
The Mallards last regular season mid-week games features a visit by the Fort Wayne Komets. Quad City begins play this week just six points back of the Komets for second in the Western Division.
Friday, April 7th vs. the Rockford IceHogs 7:05 p.m. at The Metrocentre in Rockford
One of the UHL's most vicious rivalries concludes for the 2005-06 regular season on Friday in Rockford. The Mallards beat the Hogs 5-2 in the teams' most recent meeting.
Saturday, April 8th vs. the Motor City Mechanics 7:00 p.m. at The MARK
Quad City is just five points back of Motor City for the seventh seed in the UHL Playoffs. Saturday's meeting marks the final head-to-head match-up for the squads.
Sunday, April 9th vs. the Fort Wayne Komets 1:00 p.m. at The MARK
The Mallards play their final divisional game of 2005-06 on Sunday vs. Fort Wayne.
Individual Tickets
Mallards individual tickets are available at The MARK box office and at all Ticketmaster outlets by phone at (563) 326-1111 or on the web at www.ticketmaster.com.
Mallards on the Air
The Maroon Mortgage Pre-Game Show is on the air 25 minutes prior to face-off on Fox Sports Radio AM 1230. During the intermissions, stay tuned for the Swiss Valley Farms Intermission Report. After the game, the All-State Insurance Christy Cox Post-Game Show will air.
Last Week's Games
Friday, March 31st-Quad City 4 at Missouri 0
The Mallards recorded a 4-0 win over the Missouri River Otters on Friday night in their final visit to the Family Arena for 2005-06. Jason Tapp made 30 saves to earn his fourth shutout of the year. Jeff Petruic sparked the Mallards offense with a pair of markers early in the second period. The teams combined for 16 shots on goal in a scoreless first period. A pair of Missouri power plays and a single Mallards man advantage produced no goals. In the second, the Mallards took control of the game thanks to Petruic's pair of goals. He recorded his 17th tally of the year on the power play after receiving a feed from Steve O'Rourke and stuffing it past Corey Wogtech to give the Mallards a 1-0 lead. Petruic converted on a Missouri turnover, recording his 18th of the year, just 1:48 after his initial marker. The Mallards went on to stretch their lead to 4-0 before the second period ended on goals by J.J. Wrobel and Jesse Rycroft. Wrobel's power-play marker was his 16th of the year and fourth since returning from the injured reserve on March 24th. Rycroft recorded his eighth goal of the year at 16:01 of the period to cap the middle period scoring with the Mallards in front 4-0. The third period was scoreless as well as Tapp made 11 third period saves to preserve his fourth shutout of the year.
Saturday, April 1st-Missouri 2 at Quad City 5
The Mallards ended their 2005-06 season series with Missouri by beating the Otters 5-2 on Saturday night at The MARK. Glenn Detulleo provided the offensive punch with two goals and an assist while also recording his 200th career point. In the first, Steve O'Rourke put the Mallards up 1-0 on a power-play goal with just 44 seconds remaining in the period. O'Rourke's marker was his first tally as a Mallard and second of the year. In the second, the Mallards seized control of the contest on Detulleo's first goal of the game and a power-play tally by Dan Pszenyczny. Detulleo's goal also marked the 200th point of his pro career. With the Mallards leading 3-0, Missouri's Jimmy Callahan ruined Jason Tapp's bid for a second consecutive shutout vs. his old mates with the first Otters goal of the game. Frank Littlejohn answered back to re-establish a three-goal Mallards lead at 4-1. Jim Duhart closed the second period scoring to pull the Otters within two goals at 4-2. In the third, Detulleo scored into an empty net to cap the scoring with the Mallards in front 5-2.
Sunday, April 2nd-Muskegon 3 at Quad City 0
The Mallards five-game unbeaten streak was snapped on Sunday afternoon at The MARK with a 3-0 loss to the Muskegon Fury. Terry Friesen made 44 saves in the Mallards net. The Fury took a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals by David Wrigley and Billy Collins. It was the 38th goal of the season for Wrigley and the 17th marker of the year for Collins. In the third, Jeff Nelson sealed the victory with his 32nd goal scored into an empty net with Friesen off for the extra attacker.
Player of the Week
Jeff Petruic is the Mallards nominee for UHL Player of the Week. The veteran forward scored twice in the Mallards 4-0 win over Missouri on Friday. Petruic earned a helper on Saturday in the Mallards second victory of the week vs. the Otters.
Goalie of the Week
Jason Tapp is the Mallards nominee for UHL Goaltender of the Week. He made 30 saves in earning his fourth shutout of the year on Friday in Missouri. Saturday night, he earned his 29th victory with a 34-save performance vs. the Otters.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from April 3, 2006
- Teams and players step up during stretch run - IHL 2
- RiverDogs weekly release - Richmond RiverDogs
- Mallards Face Critical Week in Playoff Push - Quad City Mallards
- Kalamazoo Wings Week in Review - Kalamazoo Wings
- Flags weekly - Port Huron Flags
- Adirondack's Cloutier and Tebbs earn weekly honors - IHL 2
- Cloutier, Tebbs earn UHL weekly honors - Adirondack Frostbite
- Rockford captures first ever division title - Rockford IceHogs
- Mechanics go 1-1-1 in week 24 - Motor City Mechanics
- O'Dacre Resigns as Mallards President - Quad City Mallards
- Adirondack Frostbite Weekly - Adirondack Frostbite
- Generals to attend Fazoli's Kid's Night - Flint Generals
- 2006-2007 Vipers Season Tickets on Sale Now - Roanoke Valley Vipers
- Fury complete stirring week - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Muskegon Fury notes - Muskegon Lumberjacks
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.
