
Mallards Playoff Update
April 11, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release
QUACK TRACKS
Clincher
The Mallards clinched a playoff berth by defeating Cincinnati 6-3 last Friday. That win was the Mallards' fourth in a row.
Eighth
By defeating the Mallards 4-3 in Saturday's regular season finale, the Cyclones edged one point ahead of the Mallards into seventh place in the Western Conference while the Mallards fell to eighth and as a result face a first round playoff match-up with the Brabham Cup regular season champion Missouri Mavericks.
10-4
The Mallard surged into the playoffs by going 10-4-0 in their final 14 regular season games.
Home Sweet Home
By going 22-12-2 at home this season, the Mallards won more home games than they have in any campaign since they went 22-11-5 in 38 International Hockey League home games (compared to 36 this season) in 2009-10. The Mallards last won more than 22 home games in 2005-06 when they went 23-13-2 in 38 United Hockey League home games.
Thrilling Third
The Mallards outscored the opposition 9-1 in the third period of their final four regular season games and last Friday set a team season high for goals in one period while outscoring Cincinnati 4-1 in the third period of their playoff-clinching win.
Playoff Habit
The Mallards have qualified for the playoffs in each of their first two ECHL seasons and in each of their four seasons under coach Terry Ruskowski. The Mallards reached the CHL postseason in Ruskowski's first two years with the club.
Even Steven
The Mallards both scored and allowed 203 goals during the regular season.
Between the Pipes
Brody Hoffman finished the regular season on a three-game winning streak (2.23, .938) and went 5-1-0 (1.68 .953) in his final seven games.
Arch Madness
Olivier Archambault closed the regular season on a four-game point-scoring streak (3-4-7) to finish the campaign as the team leader in points (52).
Red Light District
In Saturday night's finale Matt Carey scored his team-leading twenty-fifth goal in just his forty-ninth game since joining the Mallards in December. Carey finished the regular season by recording seven points (three goals and four assists) in six games.
Rook
While Matt Neal's five-game point-scoring streak (2-7-9) ended Saturday night, Neal did finish the season tied for fifth among ECHL rookies in assists (33) and is tied for seventh among rookies in points (51).
Iron Mike
Mike Monfredo finished tied for fourth among ECHL defensemen in assists (31) and tied for tenth among blue liners in points (37). Monfredo set career highs in both categories.
Perfect Attendance
Alex Gudbranson was the only Mallard to have played in each of the team's 72 regular season games.
First
Trevor Cook scored his first career goal in the second period last Saturday night and added his first career assist minutes later.
Salute
Retiring Mallard captain Darren McMillan played his four hundred fifteenth and final regular season game for the club Saturday night. McMillan, who first played for the Mallards in 2009 and has captained the team for the last six seasons (since 2010), has produced 20 goals, 89 assists and 109 points as a Mallard. On March 6 against Wichita- the team with whom he started his career in 2005- McMillan became just the third player in franchise history to play 400 games for the Mallards. In his 11 professional seasons McMillan- who turns 36 on April 23- has recorded 39 goals, 181 assists and 220 points in 673 career games.
Milestones
By assisting on Brady Brassart's first goal at 1:19 of the third period Friday night, Vladimir Nikiforov reached 300 career points. Just over four minutes later Nikiforov made it 301 when he assisted on Brassart's second goal...Mike Monfredo played his two hundred seventy-second game for the Mallards April 6 at Fort Wayne to move past Obi Aduba (271) into seventh place in team history. Monfredo finished the season having played 273 games for the club.
Special Teams
The Mallards- who went without a power play Saturday night- converted three of their final five man advantages to finish eighteenth in the ECHL on the power play (16.5 percent). They finished sixth in the league in penalty killing (85.3 percent) after surviving 27 of their foes' final 30 power plays.
Head to Head
The conference quarterfinals bring the first ever playoff meeting between the Mallards and Mavericks. The Mallards went 0-4-1 against the Mavericks this season and went 0-4-0 in Independence. The Mallards lost their only regular season home game against Missouri 4-3 in overtime on November 4. All-time, the Mallards have turned in a 23-27-5 overall record against the Mavericks and have gone 13-16-2 on the road against the Mavs.
Ins and Outs
Tanner Eberle missed Saturday's game...Zach Pochiro (upper body) missed the Mallards' final two games.
ON THE AIR
Fox Sports Radio 1230 is the radio home of Mallards Hockey Presented by Genesis Power Sports Performance. Mallards games broadcast on AM 1230 also stream live online at www.wfxn.net. A limited number of Mallards games will not air on Fox Sports Radio 1230 due to conflicts with University of Illinois basketball and football and Green Bay Packer football. ECHL-TV pay-per-view video webcasts and free audio webcasts of all Mallards games are also available at myqcmallards.net.
MOBILE
The Mallards' official mobile app is now available free for both Apple and Android. The app features a wide array of exclusive content, including behind the scenes video, breaking news and scoring alerts, interviews and video messages from coach Terry Ruskowski and Mallards players, instant access to live scores, stats and standings and special offers from the team and from Mallards partners.
TICKETS
Single Game Tickets
Single game tickets for all Mallards regular season contests are now available. Fans can contact the Mallards at (309) 277-1364 or info@myqcmallards.com for more information about tickets. Single game tickets are also available at the iWireless Center box office, at Ticketmaster outlets, through www.ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free. The box office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on game days from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the second period.
Playoff Push Pricing
The Mallards have instituted reduced "Playoff Push" pricing for prime sections and made additional $10 tickets available for all remaining home games. Fans can now purchase seats in four center ice sections- 103, 104, 114 and 115- for just $24- down from $28- or get four tickets in those areas for the family-friendly price of $80. The Mallards have also increased the number $10 upper level tickets available for the remainder of the regular season.
Group Tickets
Groups of at least ten receive savings off the walk-up price and a host of group benefits. Mallards group tickets are a great fit for youth organizations, friends, co-workers, family groups, religious groups, school functions and business events. For more group ticket information, fans can contact the Mallards at (309) 277-1364 or info@myqcmallards.com.
ECHL KELLY CUP PLAYOFFS
Western Conference Quarterfinals
Quad City Mallards vs. Missouri Mavericks
Game One: Saturday, April 16 @ Missouri, 7:05 p.m.
Game Two: Sunday, April 17 @ Missouri, 4:05 p.m.
Game Three: Wednesday, April 20 @ Quad City, 6:35 p.m.
Game Four: Friday, April 22 @ Quad City, 7:05 p.m.
Game Five: Saturday, April 23 @ Quad City, 7:05 p.m.*
Game Six: Tuesday, April 26 @ Missouri, 7:05 p.m.*
Game Seven: Wednesday, April 27 @ Missouri, 7:05 p.m.*
*- if necessary
Quad City
37-29-6, 80 points
3rd place, Midwest Division
Coach: Terry Ruskowski
Missouri
52-15-5, 109 points
1st place, Central Division
Coach: Richard Matvichuk
LAST WEEK
Wednesday, April 6
Quad City 4 Fort Wayne 1
Friday, April 8
Quad City 6 Cincinnati 3
Saturday, April 9
Cincinnati 4 Quad City 3
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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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