Mallards Game Day

December 31, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


Mallards Notes

Last Night

Nathan Moon- who scored the game winner- and Jordan Sims provided a goal and an assist apiece and Christoffer Bengtsberg made 34 saves as the IceMen edged the host Mallards 3-2. Miles Koules and Kyle Follmer scored the Mallard goals.

Skid

The Mallards have lost four straight games. That skid is the Mallards' first regulation losing streak of the season and their longest since they dropped four in a row between March 15 and March 21, 2015. The Mallards last endured a longer regulation losing streak when they lost five consecutive International Hockey League games between January 16 and January 24, 2010.

Rematch

The Mallards tonight bid to earn a split of their home-and-home with the IceMen.

First

The Mallards sit atop the ECHL's Midwest Division, three points ahead of a trio of teams tied for second place: Cincinnati, Fort Wayne and Indy.

Full Strength

The Mallards dressed the full complement of 16 skaters last night after suiting up 15 or fewer in each of their prior five games.

Home Sweet Home

While the Mallards (11-4-1) remain tied for the league lead in home wins, they have now lost back-to-back home tilts and three of their last four.

Drought

The Mallards have scored two goals or fewer in each their last four games- and have totaled just six goals during that stretch- and seven of their last eight. They have dropped to twenty-fourth in the ECHL in goals per game (2.6).

Between the Pipes

Brody Hoffman stopped 38 shots last night and has now made 115 saves (on 124 shots) in his last three starts. Steve Michalek is tied for eighth in the ECHL in save percentage (.923).

Iron Mike

Mike Monfredo is third among ECHL defensemen in assists (18), is tied for fourth among defensemen in points (21) and is tied for tenth overall in assists.

Arch Madness

Olivier Archambault picked up an assist last night and has recorded seven points (three goals and four assists) in his last six games.

Rook

Matt Neal leads the Mallards in goals (10) and plus/minus rating (+7). Neal is tied for fifth among ECHL rookies in goals and is tied for eighth among rookies in points (22).

Firsts

Brady Brassart picked up an assist in his Mallard debut last night after being reassigned by Iowa (AHL) Tuesday. Kyle Follmer scored his first Mallard goal last night. Raphael Bussieres returned last night and notched an assist after missing seven games (lower body).

Special Teams

The Mallards have killed off 42 of their opponents' last 44 power plays to climb to second in the ECHL in penalty killing (87.3 percent). The Mallards rank twelfth on the power play (18.6 percent).

Head to Head

The Mallards have split their first two meetings with the IceMen, falling last night after winning 6-5 in overtime on December 6 in Evansville. All-time the Mallards have gone 10-9-0 against the IceMen overall and 6-6-0 in Evansville. The two teams met 16 times in the Central Hockey League in 2010-11 and 2011-12.

Milestones

Monfredo has played 234 games with the Mallards. Should he play in the Mallards' next two games, he will move into a tie with Kerry Toporowski (236) for eleventh place in team history in games played when the Mallards return home to meet Allen Saturday night.

Ins and Outs

Brady Brassart made his ECHL debut last night after being assigned to the Mallards by Iowa (AHL) Tuesday... Guillaume Gelinas missed last night's game (illness) after being reassigned to the Mallards by Iowa (AHL) Monday... Raphael Bussieres (lower body) returned to the Mallards' line-up last night after missing seven games...Vladimir Nikiforov (upper body) returned the line-up last night after missing Sunday's game at Indy...Zach Pochiro (upper body) has missed the Mallards' last two games...Tanner Eberle (upper body) has missed the Mallards' last five games... Kevin Gibson (upper body), who has missed the Mallards' last eight games, Monday was placed on 21-day injured reserved retroactive to December 6... Kevin Henderson (upper body) has missed the Mallards' last 13 games.

Thursday, December 31, 7:15 p.m. CST

Quad City Mallards vs. Evansville IceMen

Ford Center, Evansville

Watch: ECHL.TV

Listen: Fox Sports Radio 1230

Quad City Mallards

15-13-3, 33 points

1st place, Midwest Division

Coach: Terry Ruskowski

Evansville IceMen

12-14-2, 26 points

5th place, Midwest Division

Coach: Al Sims



ECHL Stories from December 31, 2015


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