Mallards Record Unbeaten Week to Continue Playoff Charge

Published on March 14, 2005 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Quad City Mallards News Release


Moline, IL – The Mallards enjoyed an unbeaten week to improve to 30-25-10 on the season. The team is 7-1-1 in their last nine contests after going 2-0-1 last week. The Mallards are currently one point ahead of Flint for the eighth playoff spot in the United League. The team finds itself just eight points back of Missouri (with a game in hand on the Otters) for the seventh seed in the UHL post-season. On Wednesday, the Mallards kicked off the week with a 4-3 shootout loss in Rockford. Saturday night at The MARK, Quad City produced their biggest margin of victory of the year with a 7-0 win over Port Huron. The Mallards downed Kansas City 2-1 on Sunday to improve to 8-1-0 this year vs. the Outlaws. In net, Robert Gherson stopped 98 of 102 shots (.961 save percentage) while allowing just 1.33 goals per game. For his efforts, the rookie netminder has been named the UHL Goaltender of the Week for a second consecutive week.

This week, the Mallards face some of the stiffest competition in the UHL. The week kicks off on Wednesday at The MARK vs. the Muskegon Fury, the UHL's top ranked team. On Friday, Missouri comes calling with four NHLers in tow. After a Saturday trip to Kansas City, the Mallards return home to face the Eastern Division leading Adirondack Frostbite on Sunday.

Upcoming Promotions

· Friday, March 18th vs. the Missouri River Otters-AirTran Dancing for Destinations-7:00 p.m.-The Mallards host the Otters on AirTran Dancing for Destinations Night. The best dancers in attendance will receive a vacation to anywhere in the continental United States.

· Sunday, March 20th vs. the Adirondack Frostbite-Family Fun-Day Sunday featuring the 4 for $40 ticket package-3:00 p.m.

Family Fun-Day Sunday returns to The MARK as the Mallards host the Frostbite. The game marks the return of the 4 for $40 ticket package available exclusively through The MARK box office. For $40, fans receive four upper sideline tickets, four sodas and four hot dogs. Fans are invited to come early for a pre-game skate from 1:15-2:00 p.m.

· Saturday, March 26th vs. the Kansas City Outlaws-Mo & Ima's Wedding/Mascot Mania 2005-7:00 p.m.-Beloved Mallards mascots Mo Mallard and Ima Duck are tying the knot on March 26th. Mascots from throughout the world will be at The MARK to celebrate the wedding.

Upcoming Games

· Wednesday, March 16th vs. the Musekgon Fury at The MARK-7:00 p.m.

The Mallards close out their season series vs. Muskegon on Wednesday at The MARK. The home team has won each of the previous six meetings.

· Friday, March 18th vs. the Missouri River Otters at The MARK-7:00 p.m.

The Mallards and Otters play for the 11th time this season on Friday at The MARK. The Otters roster features four NHL players. The 2003-04 NHL Rookie of the Year, Barrett Jackman, is on the Otters roster. Also included in the Otters NHL quartet is speedster Ryan Johnson, forward Jamal Mayers and defenseman Bryce Salvador.

· Saturday, March 19th vs. the Kansas City Outlaws at Kemper Arena in Kansas City-7:30 p.m.

The Mallards play one of their four remaining road games on Saturday in Kansas City. The Mallards beat the Outlaws 2-1 on Sunday at The MARK to improve to 8-1-0 on the season vs. Kansas City.

· Sunday, March 20th vs. the Adirondack Frostbite at The MARK-3:00 p.m.

Quad City host the Eastern Division leading Adirondack Frostbite on Sunday at The MARK. The Mallards are 4-0-0 this season vs. Eastern Division opponents including a 4-2 win over the Frostbite on February 13th at The MARK. .

Duck Talk

Tonight, the Mallards are back at The Blackbear Lounge at The Lodge for Duck Talk beginning at 7 p.m. This week's guests are Joe Dusbabek, Robert Gherson and Colin Peters along with coach Paul Gillis. Duck Talk can also be heard on Fox Sports Radio AM 1230.

Last Week (2-0-1):

Wednesday, March 9th Quad City 3 at Rockford 4-Shootout

Saturday, March 12th Port Huron 0 at Quad City 7

Sunday, March 13th Kansas City 1 at Quad City 2

Standings

HOME ROAD LAST TEN STREAK

WESTERN GP W L SOP PTS PCT GF GA PIM W- L-SOP W- L-SOP W- L-SOP W- L-SOP

Fort Wayne 67 42 21 4 88 .657 234 172 1441 22-11- 1 20-10- 3 6- 4- 0 1- 0- 0 Rockford 65 38 20 7 83 .638 202 166 1796 21- 8- 4 17-12- 3 4- 5- 1 0- 1- 0 Missouri 66 36 24 6 78 .591 191 184 1326 20-10- 3 16-14- 3 5- 4- 1 2- 0- 0 Quad City 65 30 25 10 70 .538 171 184 1584 19- 6- 4 11-19- 6 7- 2- 1 2- 0- 0 Kansas City 65 24 37 4 52 .400 165 231 1359 13-15- 3 11-22- 1 5- 4- 1 0- 1- 0

Transactions

· Delete Jason Lehoux-Recalled to the American League's Manitoba Moose on March 11th.

· Add Jason Lehoux-Activated from 7-day injured reserve on March 9th.

Team Leaders

Goals 28 Mike Kompon

Assists 40 Mike Kompon

Points 68 Mike Kompon

Plus/Minus +17 Greg Barber

Penalty Min. 231 Dave Stewart

PP Goals 10 Mike Kompon

GW Goals 4 Mike Kompon, Marty Standish, Greg Barber

SH Goals 1 Six Players

Shots on Goal 201 Jason Deskins

Shooting Pct. 23.9 Patrick Nadeau

Goals Against Avg. 2.20 Robert Gherson

Wins 17 Robert Gherson

Save Pct. .928 Robert Gherson

Last Week's Games

Wednesday, March 9th-Quad City 3 at Rockford 4-Shootout

The Mallards gained a point in the standings following a 4-3 shootout loss Wednesday night at The MetroCentre in Rockford. The Mallards took a 1-0 lead on a first period power-play goal by Marty Standish. Greg Barber and Terry Hollinger earned assists on Standish's tenth goal of the year. Hollinger has eight helpers in eight games this year vs. Rockford. The Hogs tied the game with 2:02 left in the second as J.C. Ruid tallied for the 34th time this year. Rockford took the lead for the first time on a second period goal by J.F. Dufour. Trailing 2-1, Alexandre Mathieu evened the game for the Mallards with a four-on-four goal. Just two minutes after Mathieu's marker, Alex Kim scored to reclaim the lead for Rockford at 3-2. Troy Smith scored the only goal of the third period as he beat Michel Robinson 3:56 into the final frame. Barber earned his second assist of the night on Smith's goal. On the season, Barber has seven points (two goals and five assists) in six games vs. the Hogs. With the score tied at three at the end of regulation, the teams went to a shootout for the second time this year. Chris Gobert and Vince Malts scored for Rockford while Robinson stopped all four shooters he faced to earn the win.

Saturday, March 12th-Port Huron 0 at Quad City 7

The Mallards blanked the Port Huron Beacons 7-0 on Saturday at The MARK. Mike Kompon recorded his first professional hat trick while Robert Gherson stopped all 34 shots he faced to earn his second shutout of the season. Quad City turned up the power against the Beacons going 5-for-12 (41.6%) on the man advantage. Joe Dusbabek gave the Mallards a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal midway through the first period. Five minutes later, Kompon scored his first goal of the night on a power play to extend the Mallards lead to 2-0. Patrick Nadeau scored his 10th goal of the season with 4:04 left in the second period. Gherson earned a secondary assist on Nadeau's power-play goal for his first point as a professional hockey player. In the third period, Jason Deskins scored his 19th goal just 4:16 into the frame on a Mallards power play. Two minutes later, Kompon added his second of the night, the Mallards fifth and final power-play goal of the evening. With 3:03 left in the period, Nadeau produced the first even strength Mallards goal of the night to push the lead to 6-0. Kompon completed his hat trick with 1:22 left in the game to set the final at 7-0.

Sunday, March 13th-Kansas City 1 at Quad City 2

The Mallards continued their hot play with a 2-1 win over Kansas City on Sunday at The MARK. Jason Deskins scored both Mallards goals in the victory while Robert Gherson came just 2:16 short of recording his second consecutive shutout. After nearly 40 minutes of scoreless hockey, Deskins recorded the game's first goal with eight seconds left in the second. Following the intermission, Deskins stormed back onto the ice to record his second goal of the night just 25 seconds into the third period. Alexander Skorohod earned an assist on Deskins' second goal to earn his first point as a pro hockey player. The pair of markers gives Deskins 21 goals on the season. Robert Gherson was solid again in the Mallards net stopping 29 shots. Jimmy Callahan scored Kansas City's lone goal with 2:16 left in the third period to ruin Gherson's bid for a second consecutive shutout.

Player of the Week-Mike Kompon is the Mallards nominee for UHL Player of the Week. Kompon recorded five points (three goals and two assists) in three games this week.

Goaltender of the Week-Robert Gherson is the UHL Goaltender of the Week for a second consecutive week. He followed up his awarding-winning performance from last week with a 2-0-1 week while recording a 1.33 goals against average and a .961 save percentage during three starts.

Tickets on sale now!

Tickets for all Mallards home games are available at The MARK box office or via phone at (563) 326-1111.

On The Air

All Mallards games can be heard on Fox Sports Radio AM 1230. The First Capital Financial Pre-Game Show begins 25 minutes before the opening face off. After the game, stay tuned for the Allstate Insurance Del Newton/ Christy Cox post-game show.

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from March 14, 2005


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