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Mallards Game Day

February 24, 2017 - ECHL (ECHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


MALLARDS GAME DAY

QUAD CITY MALLARDS VS. KALAMAZOO WINGS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 7:05 CT

IWIRELESS CENTER

QUAD CITY

30-20-2, 62 points

3rd place, Central Division

Coach: Phil Axtell

KALAMAZOO

24-24-5, 52 points

5th place, Central Division

Coach: Nick Bootland

MALLARDS NOTES

Last Game

Grant Arnold scored the only goal of the shootout after Josh MacDonald scored both Mallard regulation goals and C.J. Motte made 36 saves over 65 minutes and five more in the shootout to propel the Mallards to a 3-2 shootout victory over the host Fort Wayne Komets Wednesday night.

Central

With Wednesday's win, the third-place Mallards pulled within five points of the second-place Komets- who earned one point for the shootout loss- in the Central Division standings. The Mallards tonight play the second of six straight games against Central Division opposition.

Home-and-Home

The Mallards and Wings tonight play the first game of a home-and-home series. They will complete that two-game set tomorrow evening in Kalamazoo. The Mallards will also play three of their next four games against the Wings. The two teams will collide again next Wednesday night at the iWireless Center.

Rebound

The Mallards rebounded Wednesday after dropping their prior two games

Upswing

The Mallards have gone 9-2-0 in their last 11 games.

Axtell

The Mallards have gone 11-4-0 in 15 games since Phil Axtell took over as head coach on January 20.

Shootout

By winning their fifth straight shootout Wednesday, the Mallards improved to 6-2 in the shootout this season.

Sudden Death

The Mallards are 9-2 this season in games that are tied at the end of regulation and have won the last eight times they have been deadlocked after 60 minutes.

Tight

The Mallards have played six straight one-goal games (4-2-0). The Mallards, who have gone 19-8-2 in one-goal contests this season, lead the ECHL in one-goal victories and are tied for the league lead in one-goal games played.

Busy

Tonight's game is the first of three in 48 hours and the second of four in five days for the Mallards. The Mallards will complete a stretch of ten games in 17 days when they host Wichita Sunday.

Three

The Mallards tonight begin their sixth stretch of three games in three nights this season. They will play three times in as many days for the final time March 17, 18 and 19.

For Openers

The Mallards have scored the first goal in 14 of their last 15 games.

First

The Mallards outscored foes 12-4 in the first period over their last eight games and 21-6 over their last 11 games.

Home Sweet Home

Last Friday's 2-1 loss to Cincinnati ended the Mallards' five-game home winning streak. That defeat was the Mallards' first on home ice since they fell to Tulsa 5-3 on January 16. The five-game home win streak was the Mallards' longest since they rolled to eight consecutive iWireless Center victories between November 6 and November 29, 2015.

On the Road

Wednesday's win was the Mallards' fifth in their last six road games.

Red Light District

The Mallards have scored a total of just four non-shootout goals over their last three games. The Mallards have allowed only two goals in each of their last four games and in five of their last six. The Mallards are tied for sixth in the ECHL in goals allowed (3.0 per game) and rank nineteenth in goals scored per game (3.1).

Short

The Mallards have dressed fewer than 16 skaters in their last four games due to injuries, illness and call-ups. Nolan LaPorte became the latest casualty when he missed Wednesday's game due to illness. The Mallards took just 15 skaters to Fort Wayne.

Mac Attack

After scoring twice Wednesday, MacDonald has now piled up seven points (three goals and four assists) in seven games since arriving in a trade with Rapid City earlier this month.

Winner

Rookie Arnold scored the game winner Wednesday in his career shootout attempt.

Debut

Adam Gilmour marked his Mallard debut Wednesday by recording an assist. Gilmour was reassigned to the Mallards by the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild Tuesday.

First

Alexander Kuqali Wednesday recorded his first Mallard point by picking up an assist in his eighth game with the team. The Mallards acquired Kuqali in a trade with Florida last month.

Parks and Wreck

Michael Parks leads the Mallards and is tied for third among ECHL rookies in goals (21).

On the Plus Side

Kevin Gibson is tied for the ECHL lead in plus/minus rating (plus-30).

Between the Pipes

Motte ranks third in the ECHL in goals against average (2.48) and save percentage (.920) and tenth in wins (16).

Milestones

Brady Brassart has played 199 career games...Mike Wilson has 198 career regular season assists...Chris Francis has scored 94 career ECHL goals

Power Play

The Mallards have failed to convert their last 14 man advantages. The Mallards rank twenty-sixth in the ECHL on the power play (12.4 percent).

Penalty Kill

The Mallards have killed off their opponents' last seven power plays. The Mallards rank nineteenth in the league in penalty killing (80.7 percent).

Head-to-Head

Tonight's game is the fifth of eight between the Mallards and Wings this season. The Mallards have gone 3-0-1 against Kalamazoo this season and have posted a 1-0-1 home record against the Wings. The Mallards have gone 5-2-1 overall against Kalamazoo and 3-1-1 on home ice against the Wings since the two clubs renewed their rivalry last season. Prior to last year, the Mallards had not faced Kalamazoo since 2007. The Mallards and Wings competed against each other in the United Hockey League between 2000 and 2007. The Mallards went 24-19-7 in 50 meetings with the Wings over those seven seasons. They went 14-9-5 at home against Kalamazoo.

Ins and Outs

Forward/defenseman Nick Grasso was released by the Mallards yesterday...Defenseman Dylan Labbe was reassigned to the Mallards by Iowa (AHL) yesterday...Forward Chase Lang was reassigned to the Mallards by Iowa (AHL) yesterday... Defenseman Mike Wilson returned to the Mallards lineup Wednesday at Fort Wayne after missing 29 games (upper body injury)...Forward Nolan LaPorte missed the Mallards' game Wednesday at Fort Wayne (illness)... Forward Justin Kovacs has missed the Mallards' last two games (upper body injury)...Forward Pavel Jenys has missed the Mallards' last seven games (upper body injury)...Forward Adam Gilmour was reassigned to the Mallards by Iowa (AHL) Tuesday.

- ## Quad City Mallards ##-

-- Brian Lavelle

Director of Communications and Broadcasting

Quad City Mallards

Proud ECHL affiliate of Minnesota Wild and Iowa Wild

O: 309-277-1344

C: 309-721-0732

F: 309-277-1362

www.myqcmallards.net

--001a113e9b12945675054948dc2d-- --001a113e9b1294567a054948dc2e



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