Mallards Game Day

December 19, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


Mallards Notes

Last Night

Mathew Maione, Derek Army and John McCarron provided a goal and an assist apiece and Franky Palazzese made 39 saves as the Nailers defeated the host Mallards 4-1. Guillaume Gelinas scored the only Mallard goal with 48 seconds left in in the game.

First

Despite last night's defeat, the Mallards remain three points ahead of the Cincinnati Cyclones in the race for the top spot in the ECHL's Midwest Division. The second place Cyclones have three games in hand on the Mallards.

Upswing

Even with last night's loss, the Mallards have gone 9-4-0 in their last 13 games after going 5-5-3 in their first 13.

Home Sweet Home

Last night's loss ended the Mallards' eight-game home winning streak and 11-game (10-0-1) home regulation unbeaten streak. Last night's defeat was the Mallards' first home ice setback since they suffered a (one point) 4-3 overtime loss to the Missouri Mavericks on November 4. Last night marked the first time the Mallards have lost in regulation at the iWireless Center since being blanked 1-0 by the Tulsa Oilers in the Mallards' October 23 home opener. The Mallards' run of 11 home games with a regulation loss in the longest in the ECHL this season. The Missouri Mavericks last night won their ninth straight home game to break a tie with the Mallards for longest home winning streak in the league this season.

Perfect 10

The Mallards remain tied for the ECHL lead in home wins (10).

Road To Recovery

The Mallards have won three of their last four road games after going winless (0-6-2) in their prior eight away tilts.

Short

The Mallards dressed just 15 skaters instead of the standard 16 last night due to injuries (Olivier Archambault, Raphael Bussieres, Kevin Gibson and Kevin Henderson) and a call-up (Zach Pochiro to AHL Chicago).

Comeback Kids

The Mallards have overcome third period deficits three times in their last four wins. The Mallards trailed at some point in seven of their last nine victories.

Daylight

The Mallards matched a season high for margin of defeat by falling by three goals last night after five of their prior six games had been decided by just one goal. The Mallards have won their last six one-goal contests.

Muzzled

The Mallards scored just once last night and have totaled just five goals in their last three games.

Shooting Gallery

The Mallards produced just one goal last night despite taking a season high 40 shots.

Sin Bin

The Mallards' Mike Monfredo (instigator in final five minutes or overtime) and Anthony Collins (third man in) were both assessed game misconducts at 20:00 of the third period last night. Collins' game misconduct was his second in the Mallards' last two games. The Mallards (49) and Nailers (30) combined for 79 penalty minutes last night, a season high for a game involving the Mallards, eclipsing the previous high of 76 set in the Mallards' last game before yesterday evening- last Saturday's 2-1 win in Rapid City.

Between the Pipes

Steve Michalek last night made 35 saves while suffering a loss that ended his six-game winning streak. Last night's defeat was Michalek's first since a 3-1 setback at the hands of the Cyclones November 13 in Cincinnati.

Sudden Impact

Matt Carey has recorded at least one point in each of his four games (2-4-6) since being assigned to the Mallards by the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild December 4.

Tops

Matt Neal leads the Mallards in goals (10) and plus/minus (+11) rating and is tied with Olivier Archambault for the team lead in points (20). Neal is tied for fourth among ECHL rookies in goals and ranks seventh among rookies in points.

Blue Line

Gelinas has four points (two goals and two assists) in his last four games and is now tied for seventh among defensemen in points (17). Monfredo ranks third among ECHL defensemen in assists (16), is tied for fourth among defensemen in points (19) and is tied for ninth overall in assists.

Special Teams

Army ended the Mallards' streak of 24 straight successful penalty kills by scoring a second period power play goal last night. Army's was the first man advantage goal allowed by the Mallards since Indy's Alex Lavoie scored on the power play at 8:15 of the third period of the Flock's November 29 win over the Fuel. The Mallards have now survived 26 of their last 27 shorthanded situations and rank seventh in the ECHL in penalty killing (86.0 percent). The Mallards have failed to convert their last 16 power plays and now rank eighth in the league on the man advantage (19.8 percent).

Head to Head

The Mallards have gone 0-2-0 against the Nailers heading into tonight's season series finale. The Mallards fell last night after going down 2-1 in Wheeling on October 31 in their first ever meeting with the Nailers.

Milestones

Collins picked up a total of 17 minutes in penalties last night to top 300 career ECHL penalty minutes (309)...Monfredo has 99 career points. He played his two hundredth thirtieth straight game for the Mallards last night. Monfredo is closing in on eleventh place in team history in games played, a position currently occupied by Kerry Toporowski (236). Monfredo has also played 98 career ECHL games...Archambault has played 97 career games.

Ins and Outs

Olivier Archambault (upper body), Raphael Bussieres (lower body) and Kevin Gibson (upper body) have missed the Mallards' last three games...Kevin Henderson (upper body) has missed the Mallards' last eight games... Zach Pochiro was reassigned from the Mallards to the AHL's Chicago Wolves December 14.

Quad City Mallards vs. Wheeling Nailers

iWireless Center

Watch: ECHL.TV

Listen: Fox Sports Radio 1230

Quad City

14-9-3, 31 points

1st place, Midwest Division

Coach: Terry Ruskowski

Wheeling

14-9-3, 31 points

2nd place, North Division

Coach: Clark Donatelli



ECHL Stories from December 19, 2015


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