Mallards Game Day

January 16, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


Mallards Notes

Last Night

Matt Neal scored with 19 seconds left in overtime to give the host Mallards a 3-2 win over the Kalamazoo Wings.

Back-to-Back

The Mallards have won back-to-back games. A 2-0 blanking of Fort Wayne Sunday preceded last night's victory.

Tight

The Mallards trail Fort Wayne (42 points) by three points in the race for first place in the Midwest Division.

Sudden Death

With last night's win the Mallards improved to 3-1 in games decided in overtime.

Comeback Kids

The Mallards twice came from behind last night. Mike Monfredo evened the score at one for the Mallards after Kalamazoo's Charlie Vasaturo opened the scoring just under two minutes into the second period. Matt Carey retied the game at two late in the second after Dane Fox's power play goal had put the Wings back on top.

Home Sweet Home

The Mallards have rebounded from a four-game home losing streak by winning back-to-back home tilts.

Shooting Gallery

The Mallards set a team season high by taking 41 shots last night. The Mallards outshot Kalamazoo last night (the Wings had 36 shots) after being outshot in each of their prior five games.

Between the Pipes

Steve Michalek last night made 34 saves on the way to his second straight win after shutting out Fort Wayne Sunday. Michalek has stopped 76 of 78 shots over those two games. He ranks sixth in save percentage (.926).

High Five

Carey has scored five times (and added an assist) during a team season best four-game goal-scoring streak and has scored eight times and notched five assists for 13 points in 13 games since joining the Mallards last month.

Streaking

With an assist last night Austin Coldwell matched a team season best by extending his point-scoring streak to five games (1-7-8).

Rook

By scoring last night Neal- who also had an assist- took over the team lead in goals (11) and moved into a tie for fifth among ECHL rookies in goals.

Iron Mike

Among defenseman Monfredo is now tied for second in the ECHL in points (24) and tied for third in assists (20).

Helping Hand

After notching an assist last night Vladimir Nikiforov has now produced five points in his last four games (one goal and four assists).

Special Teams

The Mallards have failed to convert their last 12 power plays and now rank fourteenth in the ECHL on the man advantage (17.0 percent). The Mallards rank third in penalty killing (86.8 percent).

Head to Head

The Mallards have gone 2-1-0 against the IceMen this season and won each of the first two games between the two teams in Evansville. The Mallards last met the IceMen when the two clubs closed out 2015 by splitting a home-and-home series. The Mallards rebounded from a 3-2 home loss on December 30 by claiming a 6-4 victory at the Ford Center on New Year's Eve. All-time the Mallards have gone 11-9-0 against the IceMen overall and 7-6-0 in Evansville. The two teams met 16 times in the Central Hockey League in 2010-11 and 2011-12.

Ins and Outs

Zach Pochiro (upper body), who has missed the Mallards' last seven games, last Friday was placed on 21-day injured reserve retroactive to December 28.

Saturday, January 16, 7:15 p.m. CST

Quad City Mallards vs. Evansville IceMen

Ford Center, Evansville

Watch: ECHL.TV

Listen: ECHL.TV

Quad City Mallards

18-15-3, 39 points

2nd place, Midwest Division

Coach: Terry Ruskowski

Evansville IceMen

13-18-4, 30 points

5th place, Midwest Division

Coach: Al Sims



ECHL Stories from January 16, 2016


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