Mallards Rally Past Denver 5-3

January 4, 2013 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


MOLINE, Ill. - Brett Robinson scored once and piled up three assists and Shayne Toporowski provided a goal and two assists as the host Quad City Mallards came from behind to defeat the Denver Cutthroats 5-3 Friday night. Before the game, the Mallards retired former Mallard great Glenn Stewart's number 18.

The Mallards scored three unanswered second period goals to take control of the game after falling behind on three occasions earlier in the evening. Just 14 seconds after A.J. Gale's point blank 4-on-4 goal gave Denver a 3-2 lead at 4:54 of the second, Robinson walked in alone with each team still down a man to even the score and kick-start the Mallard onslaught. At 9:17, Matt Duffy- who also had an assist- snapped the 3-3 deadlock with a blue line blast. Mickey Lang extended the Mallard lead to 5-3 by scoring a power play goal from the right wing circle at the 18:17 mark.

The Mallards protected the two-goal advantage throughout the third period as Quad City goaltender Neil Conway, who finished with 27 saves, turned aside all 15 Denver shots he faced in the final 20 minutes.

The Cutthroats had kicked off the evening's offensive fireworks when Troy Schwab finished off a give-and-go with Gale to give Denver a 1-0 lead at 5:04 of the first period. The Mallards rebounded to tie the game at 12:51 of the first with Derek Matheson's long range bomb. Luke Fulghum tipped in the second Cutthroat goal just 60 seconds later but that lead lasted only until Toporowski one-timed a power play goal home at 18:31.

Stewart, who played four seasons for the Mallards from 1996 to 2000, is the franchise's all-time career goal scoring leader. The Scarborough, Ontario, native is the fourth Mallard to have his number retired. Stewart's number 18 joins those of his former teammates Kerry Toporowski, Mark McFarlane and Steve Gibson high above the ice at the I wireless Center. The number retirement kicks off the celebration of the fifteenth anniversary of the Mallards' back-to-back championships in 1997 and 1998.

Stewart scored 218 times and added 211 assists for 429 points in 251 games as a Mallard. In 1996-97, his first campaign in the Quad Cities, Stewart set team single season records for goals (66), assists (69) and points (135). In addition to winning the Colonial Cup title in 1997 and 1998, Stewart also helped the Mallards to United Hockey League finals berths in both 1999 and 2000.

The Mallards return to action next Tuesday evening at 7:05 p.m. against the Arizona Sundogs. Fans arriving by 6:50 p.m. for next Tuesday's game can take advantage of an early bird meal special- a soft drink and hot dog for $2- at i wireless Center concession stands.

Tickets for Tuesday evening's tilt- as well as seats for all remaining Mallards regular season home games- can be purchased in person at the i wireless Center ticket office, at Ticketmaster outlets,

through www.ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000. The ticket 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.

The Mallards also now offer the Partial Punch Plan. The Punch Plan provides flexibility and affordability- each Punch Plan punch card can be redeemed for ten tickets- whether those tickets are for ten different games, all for the same game or anything in between- subject to availability. Partial Punch Plans can be had for as little as $70 for youth 12 and under. For more ticket package information, fans can call the Mallards at 309-277-1364.



Central Hockey League Stories from January 4, 2013


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