Mallards Game Day

Published on April 6, 2018 under ECHL (ECHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


MALLARDS NOTES

Last Game

Christian Frey made 53 saves and Alec Baer broke a 1-1 third period tie and added an assist to propel the Rapid City Rush past the Mallards 4-1 Wednesday night.

Finale

The Mallards tonight open their final weekend. They will complete the season tomorrow night when they host the Cincinnati Cyclones. It was announced last month the team would cease operations after this season.

Basement

Wednesday's defeat dropped the Mallards back into last place in the ECHL, one point behind the Rush.

Upswing

The Mallards have gone 3-2-1 in six games since ending a team record-setting eight-game regulation losing streak.

Rapid Return

Wednesday's game was the third straight between the Mallards and Rush. The Rush earned four points from those three games compared to the Mallards' three by sandwiching wins Wednesday and last Friday (4-3 in overtime) around a 5-4 loss last Saturday.

Narrow Margin

While Wednesday's three-goal defeat ended the Mallards' run of five straight one-goal games that contest was also a one-goal affair until the Rush scored its third goal on an empty net in the final minute. The Mallards' last five wins have all been one-goal victories. The Mallards have gone 15-8-5 in one-goal games this season.

Shooting Gallery

The Mallards set a team record for most shots on goal in an ECHL game by taking 54 Wednesday. That total eclipses the old club ECHL record of 50 set on November 9, 2014 in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Beast in Brampton.

Empty

The Mallards surrendered two goals in the final minute of Wednesday's game. The first of those two late goals was officially recorded as an empty netter and while the second was not, it too was scored on an unguarded goal with Mallard netminder C.J. Motte on his way from the crease to the bench.

Home Sweet Home?

The Mallards have tied a team record by dropping their last four home games in regulation. Before their current skid, the Mallards last suffered four regulation home defeats in a row between December 26, 2015 and January 8, 2016.

End of the Road

With Saturday's win in Rapid City the Mallards completed a six-game road trip with a record of 3-2-1 and completed their away slate for the season with a record of 9-26-1.

Muzzled

The Mallards have scored three goals or fewer in 13 of their last 14 games.

Pohl Position

Matt Pohlkamp took over sole possession of the team lead in goals (18) by scoring Wednesday. Pohlkamp, who also leads the Mallards in points (41), has produced six points (two goals and four assists) in his last six games.

Big Al

Alex Globke picked up an assist Wednesday and has now registered six points (one goal and five assists) in his last six games.

Izzy

Chris Izmirlian also notched an assist Wednesday and has now collected three points (one goal and two assists) in his last two games.

Helping Hand

Willie Raskob ranks second among ECHL rookies and is tied for seventh among defensemen in assists (34).

Between the Pipes

Motte suffered the loss in goal Wednesday despite making 37 saves. Eric Hartzell has won each of his last two starts.

Red Light District

The Mallards rank twenty-seventh in the ECHL in goals scored per game (2.7) and goals allowed per game (4.1).

Outside the Box

The Mallards are the second least penalized team in the ECHL. They average 9.7 minutes in the box per game.

Special Teams

The Mallards have killed off their opponents' last thirteen man advantages and 18 of their foes' last 19 power plays. The Mallards have converted one of their last 21 advantages. The Mallards rank seventeenth in the ECHL on the power play (16.2 percent) and twenty-fifth in penalty killing (78.7 percent).

Head to Head

The Mallards have gone 4-3-0 against Kalamazoo this season. The Mallards have gone 2-1-0 at home against the Wings. The Mallards have won four straight against Kalamazoo after the Wings won the first three games of the season series. The Mallards have scored at least five goals in each of their four wins over Kalamazoo after totaling five goals in their prior three meetings with the Wings combined. The Mallards have gone 9-7-3 overall against the Wings and 5-3-3 at home since the two clubs renewed their rivalry in 2015-16. Prior to that, 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

The Mallards yesterday released defenseman Tommy Muratore...Defenseman Dmitry Osipov was loaned to the Mallards by Chicago (AHL) Wednesday...Defenseman Greg Amlong (lower body injury) has missed the Mallards' last three games...Kyle Follmer (upper body injury) has missed the Mallards' last 15 games...Triston Grant was suspended for the Mallards' final 14 games (March 7-April 8) after being assessed a match penalty March 4 vs. Fort Wayne.

QUAD CITY MALLARDS VS. KALAMAZOO WINGS

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 7:05 P.M.

TAXSLAYER CENTER

QUAD CITY

23-42-5, 51 points

7th place, Central Division

Coach: Phil Axtell

KALAMAZOO

34-29-6, 74 points

5th place, Central Division

Coach: Nick Bootland

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