
Mallards Game Day
January 2, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release
Mallards Notes
Last Game
Matt Carey scored twice and Vladimir Nikiforov provided a goal and two assists as the Mallards defeated the host Evansville IceMen 6-4 Thursday night.
Rebound
Thursday night's win ended the Mallards' four game losing streak. That skid was 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.
Splitsville
The Mallards rebounded Thursday night to earn a split of their home-and-home series with Evansville after falling to the IceMen 3-2 on home ice Wednesday evening.
First
The Mallards sit atop the ECHL's Midwest Division, one point ahead of the second place Fort Wayne Komets. Fort Wayne has four games in hand on the Mallards.
Undermanned
Due to injuries and illness, the Mallards dressed 15 skaters instead of the allowed 16 Thursday night and have dressed fewer than 16 in six of their last seven games.
Six
The Mallards scored six goals Thursday night after totaling six goals in their prior four games combined.
Home Sweet Home?
The Mallards have lost back-to-back home games and three of their last four.
Spread the Wealth
Ten Mallards recorded at least one point Thursday night.
Between the Pipes
Brody Hoffman has made 115 saves (on 124 shots) in his last three starts. Steve Michalek made 28 saves to earn the win Thursday night.
Iron Mike
Mike Monfredo, who picked up an assist Thursday night, is third among ECHL defensemen in assists (19), is tied for third among defensemen in points (22) and is tied for ninth overall in assists. If he plays tonight Monfredo will move into a tie for eleventh place in team history in games played (236) with Kerry Toporowski.
Arch Madness
Olivier Archambault picked up an assist Thursday night and has recorded eight points (three goals and five assists) in his last seven games.
Impact Player
Brady Brassart scored his first ECHL goal and added an assist Thursday night and has produced one goal and two assists in just two games since being reassigned by Iowa (AHL) to the Mallards Tuesday.
Double Down
Carey Thursday night scored twice in the same game for the first time in his career.
Rook
Matt Neal leads the Mallards in goals (10) and plus/minus rating (+4). Neal is tied for fifth among ECHL rookies in goals and is tied for eighth among rookies in points (22).
Trifecta
Austin Coldwell notched a career high three points Thursday night by assisting on the Mallards' first three goals. Coldwell and Nikiforov Thursday night matched the team season high for points in one game.
Head-to-Head
Tonight's game is the second of two this season between the Mallards and Americans. The Mallards won 2-1 in Allen on October 16. All-time, the Mallards are 6-8-1 against the Americans and have gone 3-5-0 at home.
Special Teams
The Mallards have gone 10-for-10 on the penalty kill in their last three-plus games, 21-for-22 in their last six-plus games and 45-for-47 in their last 11-plus games. They allowed just two power play goals in 11 games in the month of December and rank second in the ECHL in penalty killing (87.5 percent). The Mallards rank twelfth on the power play (18.5 percent).
Milestones
Monfredo has played 235 games for the Mallards. Should he play tonight, he will move into a tie with Kerry Toporowski (236) for eleventh place in team history in games played.
Ins and Outs
Guillaume Gelinas has missed the Mallards' last two games (illness)...Zach Pochiro (upper body) has missed the Mallards' last three games...Tanner Eberle (upper body) has missed the Mallards' last six games... Kevin Gibson (upper body), who has missed the Mallards' last nine games, Monday was placed on 21-day injured reserved retroactive to December 6... Kevin Henderson (upper body) has missed the Mallards' last 14 games.
Saturday, January 2, 7:05 p.m. CST
Quad City Mallards vs. Allen Americans
iWireless Center
Watch: ECHL.TV
Listen: Fox Sports Radio 1230
Quad City Mallards
16-13-3, 35 points
1st place, Midwest Division
Coach: Terry Ruskowski
Allen Americans
18-13-1, 37 points
2nd place, Central Division
Coach: Steve Martinson
ECHL Stories from January 2, 2016
- Eagles Fall 1-0 in Defensive Battle in Boise - Colorado Eagles
- Mavericks Rally from Two-Goal Deficit to Defeat IceMen in Overtime - Kansas City Mavericks
- Reading Kicks off 2016 with a Bang in 5-0 Win over Adirondack - Reading Royals
- Solar Bears Top 'Blades with 3-1 Win - Orlando Solar Bears
- Thunder Opens 2016 with Win in Indy - Wichita Thunder
- Jackals Open 2016 with Win in Kalamazoo - Elmira Jackals
- Thunderbirds Fly Past Beast on Throwback Night - Wheeling Nailers
- Admirals Snap Four-Game Losing Streak with Third-Period Goal - Norfolk Admirals
- Palazzese Shuts Door as Nailers Top Beast - Brampton Beast
- Gameday: Adirondack at Reading - Adirondack Thunder
- Americans Power Past Mallards 4-1 - Quad City Mallards
- Penalty-Filled Game Goes to Thunder 2-1 - Indy Fuel
- Pacan Burns Former Club with Hat Trick in 4-1 Win over Cyclones - South Carolina Stingrays
- K-Wings' Furious Rally Comes up Shy against Jackals - Kalamazoo Wings
- Toledo Slowed by Fort Wayne 2-1 - Toledo Walleye
- Stellar Goaltending Stifles Everblades in 3-1 Loss - Florida Everblades
- Conway Strong in Net, However Cyclones Fall on the Road - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Atlanta's Win Streak Ends in 3-2 Loss to Norfolk - Atlanta Gladiators
- Monarchs Fall to Swamp Rabbits in Shootout, 3-2 - Manchester Monarchs
- York Propels Swamp Rabbits to 3-2 Shootout Win - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- ECHL Transactions - January 2 - ECHL
- Game Preview: Cincinnati at South Carolina, 7:05 p.m. - South Carolina Stingrays
- Game Day Preview: Allen at Quad City - Allen Americans
- Game Notes- January 2 vs South Carolina - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Holtby Named MeiGray Group ECHL Alumnus of the Month - ECHL
- ECHL Today - January 2 - ECHL
- Elmira Eyes Win in 2016 Opener against Kalamazoo - Elmira Jackals
- Thunderbirds vs. Beast Game Day Snap Shot - Wheeling Nailers
- Preview: Swamp Rabbits Open 2016 with a Pair in Manchester - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Game Day Capsule: Wichita at Indy, January 2nd - Wichita Thunder
- Weekend Preview: IceMen Host Missouri and Wichita - Evansville IceMen
- Mallards Game Day - Quad City Mallards
- Monarchs Game Day Capsule - Manchester Monarchs
- Game Day Preview: Oilers at Rapid City - Tulsa Oilers
- Diaby and Thiessen Recalled - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Tough-Luck Aces Drop 2-1 Game Friday to Utah - Alaska Aces
- Tough-Luck Aces Drop 2-1 Game Friday to Utah - Alaska Aces
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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