Mallards Roll Past Arizona 7-3

February 18, 2012 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


MOLINE, Ill. - Eric Giosa scored twice and added two assists and John Snowden also provided a pair of goals at the host Quad City Mallards rolled past the Arizona Sundogs 7-3 Saturday night. With the win, the Mallards- who were playing their sixth game in nine nights- improved to 28-21-1 (57 points) on the season.

The Mallards first took control by ripping off three goals in just over three minutes in the first period. Quad City was on the power play when Taylor Vichorek's tip-in opened the scoring and kick-started the Mallard onslaught at 14:26 of the first. Just 46 seconds later, Snowden's one timer from the high slot doubled the Quad City lead. At 17:36 Giosa capped off the outburst by snapping the puck home from the slot to stretch the gap to 3-0. Sundog starting goaltender Mike Spillane was replaced by Scott Reid after the first.

"If you get a good start you forget about tired because you're having fun and things are rolling and things are jamming" said Mallards coach and general manager David Bell. "We really put a lot of emphasis on the start and we got the start we needed and we just kind of built off emotion and momentum from there."

The Sundogs got on the scoreboard for the first time when Olivier Proulx redirected a power play goal past Mallard goaltender David McKee (31 saves) at 1:15 of the second period. The Mallards, however, would bounce back to widen the margin to 4-1 with a power play goal of their own in the final minute of the period. Giosa rifled in his second goal of the night from blue line with just 28 seconds left in the second.

The Mallards capped off the win by outscoring the Sundogs 3-2 in a back-and-forth third period. After Snowden scored his second goal and the Mallards' fifth from the top of the right wing circle, the Sundogs rebounded with back-to-back goals from Daymen Rycroft- from the left wing circle- at 6:30 and Kevin Petovello- on a rebound- at 13:05. Having seen their lead trimmed to 5-3, the Mallards responded by scoring twice in just under two minutes. Justin Chwedoruk's spectacular solo rush at 15:06 was followed by Shane Lovdahl's blue line blast at 16:57.

Also on Saturday, goaltender David Brown returned to the Mallard roster after being placed on CHL leave earlier this week. To make room for Brown on the roster, the Mallards waived netminder Justin Grant.

The Mallards return to action next Friday night against the Rush in Rapid City. The Mallards next play on home ice Tuesday night, February 28 at 7:05 p.m. against the Fort Wayne Komets. Fans can purchase $2 soft drinks and $2 beers at i wireless Center concession stands during all Tuesday night home games this season.



Central Hockey League Stories from February 18, 2012


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