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Mallards Fall to Wichita 4-2

March 16, 2012 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


MOLINE, Ill. - Bryan Hogan made 42 saves and the Wichita Thunder scored three straight second period goals on the way to a 4-2 win over the host Quad City Mallards Friday night. With the loss, the fifth place Mallards dropped to 34-25-2 (70 points) and fell four points behind the Missouri Mavericks in the race for the final Turner Conference playoff spot.

"Our first half, we didn't have enough urgency and desperation," said Mallards coach and general manager David Bell. "After [Wichita] got that lead we played with a lot more urgency but it's too late at that point against a good team like that. They're not going to let you get four goals."

After the Mallards' Justin Hofstetter tied the game at one with a drive from the high slot at 1:37 of the second period, the Thunder responded by scoring three in a row to take control of the contest. Dustin Donaghy's low shot from the top of the right wing circle put Wichita back on top just 53 seconds after Hofstetter's equalizer. Wichita was on the power play when Kevin Young's wrist shot from the high slot stretched the gap to 3-1 a further minute and 24 seconds after Donaghy's tiebreaker. R.G. Flath capped off the Thunder's second period onslaught by firing home a shorthanded goal from the top of the left wing circle at 13:29.

Quad City's Jared Brown cut the deficit to 4-2 and sparked Mallard comeback hopes by scoring from the high slot at 3:35 of the third period, but Quad City would get no closer- even after pulling goaltender David McKee (25 saves) for an extra attacker with just under two minutes remaining.

The Thunder secured victory after spending most of the game in the lead. Wichita had first moved in front when Chris Greene pounced on a rebound to open the scoring at 6:08 of the first period.

Friday night also saw Mallard veteran John Snowden play his six hundredth career game. Snowden, who earlier this season scored his two hundredth career goal, has scored a total of 218 times, recorded 246 assists- including one on Friday evening- and piled up 464 points over the course of his nine-year career.

Mallards Milestone Weekend continues tomorrow night when former Mallard great Steve Gibson's number 55 is retired prior to the Mallards' 7:05 p.m. match-up with the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees. A special autograph session featuring Mallard alumni will be held before the game in the i wireless Center lobby from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. In addition, fans attending tomorrow night's contest are encouraged to join in a "Green Out for Gibby" by wearing green to that game.

Single game tickets for each of the Mallards' two remaining regular season home contests- including tomorrow night's game- are 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.

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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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