
Mallards Game Day
March 30, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release
Mallards Notes
Last Night
David Shantz made 37 saves and Landon Oslanski scored the only goal as the host Wichita Thunder blanked the Mallards 1-0.
Playoff Picture
Despite last night's loss, the Mallards remain three points ahead of the ninth place Tulsa Oilers in the race for the eighth and final playoff berth in the ECHL's Western Conference because Tulsa also lost last night- to the Colorado Eagles. The Mallards have six games remaining while the Oilers have seven games left. The Mallards are now four points behind seventh place Colorado. The Eagles have six games left.
Splitsville
Last night's loss left the Mallards with a split of a two-game series in Wichita. A 4-1 victory last Saturday at INTRUST Bank Arena preceded last night's setback.
Stop Sign
The Mallards fell last night after winning back-to-back games and six of their prior seven outings.
On the Road
Last night's loss ended the Mallards' five-game road winning streak. Tonight's is the Mallards' penultimate regular season away tilt. They play their final road game next Wednesday in Fort Wayne.
Blanked
The Mallards last night were shut out for the second time this season. They were first whitewashed on October 23 by the Oilers.
One and Done
Last night marked the first time the Mallards have played a 1-0 game since they fell by that score to Tulsa on October 23.
Stingy
The Mallards have allowed just one goal in each of their last three games and five of their last seven games.
Early Birds
The Mallards surrendered the only goal of last night's game in the first period after outscoring the opposition 5-0 in the first period of their prior four games and 9-1 in the first period of their previous eight games.
Between the Pipes
Brody Hoffman stopped 29 shots last night while making his third straight start. He has fended off 103 of 106 shots over those three games. Hoffman was named ECHL Goaltender of the Week after stopping 74 of 76 shots while backstopping the Mallards to two wins last weekend. After making 30 saves last Friday against Evansville, Hoffman set a career high and a team season high by turning aside 44 shots one night later in Wichita. Hoffman made 22 saves in the third period alone last Saturday and came within three minutes and 23 seconds of his first career shutout.
Arch Madness
Olivier Archambault's team season high ten-game point-scoring streak (5-7-12) ended last night.
Welcome Back
Matt Neal returned to the Mallards lineup last night after missing the prior five games due to a lower body injury.
Sidelined
Zach Pochiro was suspended from last night's game after being assessed a match penalty during the first period of last Saturday night's game in Wichita.
Milestones
Vladimir Nikiforov has 297 career points.
Special Teams
The Mallards last night failed to score on the power play despite enjoying a team season high eight man advantages. The Mallards are now tied for seventeenth in the ECHL on the power play (15.9 percent). The Mallards went 8-for-8 on the penalty kill over their two games in Wichita and have survived 31 of their foes' last 32 power plays to climb into a tie for eighth in the league (85.3 percent) in penalty killing.
Head to Head
The Mallards have gone 0-3-1 against the Mavericks this season and have dropped each of their three visits to Independence in regulation. Tonight's game is the final meeting between the two teams this season and their first get together since November 25, when the Mavericks defeated the Mallards 4-1 at Silverstein Eye Centers Arena. All-time, the Mallards have turned in a 23-26-5 overall record against the Mavericks and have gone 13-15-2 in Independence.
Ins and Outs
Matt Neal (lower body) returned last night after missing nine games...Zach Pochiro was suspended from last night's game after being assessed a match penalty in the Mallards' game last Saturday in Wichita...Raphael Bussieres (upper body) has missed the Mallards' last ten games.
Wednesday, March 30, 7:05 p.m. CDT
Quad City Mallards vs. Missouri Mavericks
Silverstein Eye Centers Arena, Independence
Watch: ECHL.TV
Listen: Fox Sports Radio 1230
Quad City Mallards
33-27-6, 72 points
3rd place, Midwest Division
Coach: Terry Ruskowski
Missouri Mavericks
50-11-5, 105 points
1st place, Central Division
Coach: Richard Matvichuk
ECHL Stories from March 30, 2016
- Idaho Beats Utah to Hold First Place - Utah Grizzlies
- Eagles 4-3 Win Completes Sweep over Oilers - Tulsa Oilers
- Eagles Sweep Four-Game Road Trip with 4-3 Win over Tulsa - Colorado Eagles
- Solar Bears Comeback Falls Short in 3-2 Loss to Everblades - Orlando Solar Bears
- Mavericks Gallop Past Mallards 5-2 - Quad City Mallards
- Group Scoring Leads 'Blades to 4th Straight Win - Florida Everblades
- IceMen Preview: Final Two Games at Ford Center - Evansville IceMen
- ECHL Transactions - March 30 - ECHL
- Admirals Sign Forward Dylan Gilbert to SPC - Norfolk Admirals
- Nailers Announce Playoff Packages, Pricing for 2016 - Wheeling Nailers
- Jordan Hill Signs PTO with Manitoba Moose - Norfolk Admirals
- Indy Inks Murray, Shafer; Thrush Waived - Indy Fuel
- Allen Americans in the Community - Allen Americans
- NYSCOPBA to Offer Free Ticket to over 2,000 Local Youth Hockey Players - Adirondack Thunder
- Oilers Host Eagles Tonight: Game Preview - Tulsa Oilers
- Nailers to Say Thanks in a Fun Way on Wednesday - Wheeling Nailers
- More Roster Moves for the Walleye - Toledo Walleye
- Mallards Game Day - Quad City Mallards
- ECHL Today - March 30 - ECHL
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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