Mallards Shoot Down Tulsa 5-4

December 21, 2012 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


MOLINE, Ill. (December 21, 2012) - Mickey Lang scored two power play goals and added an assist as the host Quad City Mallards bounced back after letting a 3-0 lead slip away and defeated the Tulsa Oilers 5-4 Friday night.

Shayne Toporowski's wraparound goal snapped a 3-3 tie at 2:12 of the third period and set the stage for Lang to extend the Mallard lead to 5-3 from the left wing circle just under a minute and a half later with what would prove to be the game winner. The Mallards held on for the victory even after Drew Fisher brought the Oilers back within one with a wrist shot from the high slot that broke in off Mallard goaltender John Murray (20 saves) at 8:31 of the third.

A wild second period saw the Mallards take what seemed to be a commanding lead by scoring three times in just six minutes and 20 seconds, only for the Oilers to battle back and tie the game with three straight goals of their own.

Matt Boyd walked down the slot alone to start the second period fireworks at the 2:11 mark. Lang doubled the lead from the high slot with the first of two Mallard goals in a minute and 27 seconds and what would prove to be the first of four goals between the two teams in a span of three minutes and 16 seconds. Obi Aduba scored from the doorstep to stretch the gap to 3-0 at 8:31, but the Mallards' three-goal lead lasted only a minute and 13 seconds before Gary Steffes batted the puck home out of midair to get the Oilers on the scoreboard for the first time at 9:44. A mere 36 seconds later, Mike Ullrich walked into the goalmouth alone to bring Tulsa back within one. Just when it seemed the Mallards might take the 3-2 advantage into the second intermission, Ryan Menei backhanded the puck past the sprawling Murray and evened the score with only 11 seconds left in the period. The Mallards, however, would recover to secure the win in the third.

The Mallards return to action with a rematch against the Oilers tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. at the i wireless Center. Tomorrow night will also see the Mallards celebrate the greatest Christmas tradition of them all by holding an ugly holiday sweater contest. Fans are encouraged to wear their most fantastically ugly holiday sweaters to the game and a panel of Mallard judges will choose the ugliest of the ugly with the "winner" receiving a night in an i wireless Center suite at a Mallards game. To the winner will also go a game-worn Mallards sweater- Mike Hellyer's number 25, just in time for the twenty-fifth- to put on over his or her abominable Christmas sweater.

Tickets for tomorrow night's game- 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.

2012-13 Mallards season tickets as well as the Mallards' new Partial Punch Plan are also still available. The Mallards offer ticket packages to meet any budget, including youth season tickets now available for as little at $165. The Partial 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 December 21, 2012


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