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Mallards Game Day

April 6, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


Playoff Picture

Tonight

The Mallards can clinch a berth in the ECHL Kelly Cup playoffs tonight if they win at Fort Wayne and Tulsa loses at Wichita or if the Mallards lose in overtime or the shootout and Tulsa loses in regulation.

Mallards Notes

Last Game

Jared Knight scored two goals- including the third period game winner- and Brody Hoffman made 36 saves as the host Mallards defeated the Indy Fuel 4-2 Sunday.

Where We Stand

The Mallards are currently in possession of the eighth and final playoff berth in the ECHL's Western Conference, three points ahead of the ninth place Oilers. While the eighth seed is the only playoff spot still available to Tulsa, a higher finish is still possible for the Mallards. Including tonight, the Mallards and Oilers both have three games remaining.

Magic Number

The Mallards' magic number for clinching a playoff berth is three. Any combination of standings points earned by the Mallards or available points the Oilers fail to collect totaling three will see the Mallards lock up a spot in the postseason.

Tiebreaker

If the Mallards and Oilers finish the regular season in a tie, the Mallards will qualify for the playoffs while Tulsa will be eliminated. The Mallards have already clinched the tiebreaker- most non-shootout wins- with the Oilers. 33 of the Mallards' 35 wins have come in regulation or overtime while the Oilers have secured just 27 of their 34 victories without benefit of the shootout.

Playoff Push

The Mallards have gone 8-3-0 in their last 11 games. The Mallards' upswing contrasts sharply with the troubles the Oilers have endured down the stretch. The Oilers have gone just 6-11-0 in 17 outings since defeating Allen 3-2 in a shootout on February 21 to take an eight-point lead over the Mallards. Since then the Mallards have gone 11-6-1 to outpace Tulsa by 11 points.

On the Road

The Mallards tonight play their final road game of the regular season.

Home Sweet Home

With Sunday's win the Mallards improved to 21-11-2 on home ice and have now won more home games this season than they have in any campaign since they went 22-11-5 in 38 International Hockey League home games (compared to a total 36 home contests this season) in 2009-10. The Mallards have posted a home winning percentage of .647, their highest since 2012-13 when they registered a .651 winning percentage over 33 Central Hockey League home games.

Shooting Gallery

The Mallards won despite being outshot by Tulsa Friday (40-24) and Indy Sunday (38-34). Friday night marked the eighth time this season the Mallards have allowed at least 40 shots on goal. The Mallards lost despite outshooting Wichita last Tuesday (37-30) and Missouri last Wednesday (34-24).

Between the Pipes

Brody Hoffman has posted a 1.61 goals against average and a .957 save percentage while going 4-1-0 in his last five starts.

Warning Sign

Sam Warning scored three goals and picked up one assist in the Mallards' two games last weekend.

Knight Moves

Knight has recorded seven points (two goals and five assists) in his last six games.

Double Dip

Matt Carey scored in each of the Mallards' two games last weekend and has scored four times- and totaled six points- in his last six games to lift his team-leading goal total to 24.

Iron Mike

Mike Monfredo is tied for sixth among ECHL defensemen in assists (28).

Milestones

With an assist Sunday Vladimir Nikiforov reached 299 career points...Mike Monfredo Sunday played his two hundred seventy-first career game for the Mallards to move into a tie with Obi Aduba for seventh place in team history.

Special Teams

A single Indy power play goal on five chances Sunday did little to dent the Mallards' recent penalty killing excellence. The Mallards have survived 20 of their foes' last 22 power plays and 40 of their last 43. They are tied for eighth in the ECHL in penalty killing (85.2 percent). The Mallards went 0-for-7 on the power play in their two games last weekend and have converted just one of their last 18 advantages. The Mallards are tied for seventeenth in the league on the power play (15.7 percent).

Head to Head

The Mallards have gone 4-2-0 against the Komets this season and have gone 2-1-0 in Fort Wayne. All-time, the Mallards have gone 49-49-11 against Fort Wayne. The ECHL is the fourth different league in which the two teams have clashed. They previously competed against each other in the United, International and Central Leagues.

Ins and Outs

Raphael Bussieres (upper body) has missed the Mallards' last 13 games.

Wednesday, April 6, 6:30 p.m. CDT

Quad City Mallards vs. Fort Wayne Komets

Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne

Watch: ECHL.TV

Listen: Fox Sports Radio 1230

Quad City Mallards

35-28-6, 76 points

3rd place, Midwest Division

Coach: Terry Ruskowski

Fort Wayne

39-21-9, 87 points

1st place, Midwest Division

Coach: Gary Graham

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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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