
Mallards Weekly Update: December 12, 2016
December 12, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release
THIS WEEK
Saturday, December 17, 6:35 p.m.
Indiana Farmers Coliseum
Quad City Mallards vs. Indy Fuel
Sunday, December 18, 2:00 p.m.
Wings Event Center
Quad City Mallards vs. Kalamazoo Wings
Quad City
13-8-1, 28 points
4th place, Central Division
Coach: Terry Ruskowski
Indy
8-12-2, 18 points
7th place, Central Division
Coach: Bernie John
Kalamazoo
9-14-2, 20 points
6th place, Central Division
Coach: Nick Bootland
LAST WEEK
Wednesday, December 7
Kalamazoo 3 Quad City 2 (SO)
Friday, December 9
Quad City 4 Cincinnati 3 (OT)
Saturday, December 10
Quad City 4 Cincinnati 3 (OT)
QUACK TRACKS
Back-to-Back
The Mallards claimed back-to-back 4-3 overtime wins in Cincinnati last weekend. The Mallards last Friday battled back from 1-0 and 3-2 deficits to win on Brady Brassart's goal with just 9.7 seconds left in sudden death. One night later, the Mallards surrendered a 3-1 third period lead before rebounding with Guillaume Gelinas' game winner just 39 seconds into overtime.
Working Overtime
The Mallards played three straight overtime games last week. Last Wednesday's 3-2 shootout loss to Kalamazoo left the Mallards 1-2 in the shootout this season. The weekend's games were the first two overtime contests in which the Mallards have been involved this season that ended before the shootout.
Upswing
The Mallards have suffered just one regulation loss in their last five games (3-1-1) and have gone 6-2-1 in their last nine games.
Central
The Mallards are one point behind the third-place Fort Wayne Komets- who have a game in hand on the Mallards- in the Central Division standings. Saturday night, the Mallards begin a stretch of five straight games against division opponents. The Mallards have gone 6-4-1 against division foes this season.
Rally
The Mallards trailed in each of their two wins last weekend and have now come from behind to win five times this season.
Third
The third is the only period in which the Mallards have outscored the opposition (25-17) this season.
Bullseye
The Mallards scored on their only shot of overtime on both Friday and Saturday.
One-Two Punch
Rapid-fire goal-scoring featured in both Mallard wins last weekend. Justin Kovacs and Nolan LaPorte scored in a span of one minute and 12 seconds in the second period last Friday. One night later, the Mallards got third period goals from Dylan Labbe and Michael Parks just 22 seconds apart.
On the Road
This weekend the Mallards complete a stretch of four straight away games and a run that sees them play eight of nine on the road. The Mallards boast a better record on the road (9-5-0) than at home (4-3-2).
Home Sweet Home
The Mallards next play at home next Wednesday night against Fort Wayne. Each of the Mallards' last two home games has gone to the shootout. The Mallards edged Indy 4-3 in a shootout on November 25 at the iWireless Center before falling to Kalamazoo last Wednesday night.
Red Light District
The Mallards rank second in the ECHL in goals against per game (2.7). The Mallards have allowed three goals or fewer in 19 of their first 23 games and have held foes to two goals or fewer in regulation 12 times. The Mallards rank twentieth in goal-scoring (2.9 per game).
Firsts
Last weekend's winners were the first overtime goals of the respective careers of Brassart and Gelinas.
Streak
Kevin Gibson is on a six-game point-scoring streak (1-6-7) and a five-game assist streak. Both streaks have matched Mallard season bests. They are also the longest such streaks of Gibson's career. In addition, Gibson has posted a plus/minus rating of +9 over those six games. He leads the Mallards in plus/minus (+12) on the season.
Rook Roll
Rookie Nolan LaPorte has recorded ten points (three goals and seven assists) in his last eight games after notching just five points (one goal and four assists) in his first 14 games.
Don't Think Thrice, It's Alright
Dylan Labbe last week scored his first three ECHL goals. The defenseman twice tied last Wednesday's game against Kalamazoo before giving the Mallards' their first lead last Saturday in Cincinnati.
Century
Mike Monfredo picked up his one hundredth career assist last Friday in Cincinnati and went on to add two more assists the following evening.
Between the Pipes
C.J. Motte ranks second in the ECHL in save percentage (.938), ranks third in goals against average (2.09) and is tied for seventh in wins (9). Adam Vay last Saturday made 21 saves on the way to his first career overtime win in North America.
Milestones
Mike Monfredo ranks sixth in Mallards history in career games played (295). If he dresses for each of the Mallards' next five games, he will play his three hundredth game for the team on December 30 against Missouri...Chris Francis has scored 99 career goals in 395 career games...Mike Wilson has 198 career regular season assists...Donnie Harris has played 297 career games... Justin Kovacs has played 94 career games.
Special Teams
The Mallards have gone 0-for-27 on the power play since Francis scored on the man advantage at 16:08 of the first period of the Mallards' 4-2 win in Cincinnati on November 23. In addition, the Mallards last Saturday allowed a shorthanded goal for the third time this season when Cincinnati's Tommy Mele scored during a third period Mallard power play. The Mallards surrendered one power play goal in each of their three games last week. The Mallards rank eighteenth in the ECHL on the power play (15.0 percent and thirteenth in penalty killing (85.0 percent).
Head-to-Head
The Mallards have started their ten-game season series with the Fuel with a pair of wins, including a 4-1 victory on November 5 in Indianapolis. That win was the Mallards' first ever away victory over the Fuel. The Mallards have gone 5-7-0 all-time against the Fuel and have gone 1-5-0 in Indianapolis...Next Sunday's game will be the third of eight between the Mallards and Wings. The Mallards won the season series opener 2-1 on November 12 in Kalamazoo before earning one point against the Wings on home ice last Wednesday. The Mallards have gone 3-2-1 overall against the Wings and 1-1-0 in Kalamazoo since the two clubs renewed their rivalry last season. Prior to last year, the Mallards had not faced Kalamazoo since 2007. The Mallards and Wings competed against each other in the United Hockey League between 2000 and 2007. The Mallards went 24-19-7 in 50 meetings with the Wings over those seven seasons. They went 10-10-2 in Kalamazoo.
Ins and Outs
Forward Chris Francis returned to the Mallard lineup last Saturday in Cincinnati after missing the Mallards' prior three games...Forward Nathan Todd has missed the Mallards' last five games (upper body injury)... Defenseman Donnie Harris has missed the Mallards' last nine games after being placed on 21-day injured reserve retroactive to November 20 (upper body injury)...Forward Nelson Gadoury was placed on the Mallards' suspended list last Tuesday.
UPCOMING HOME GAMES
Wednesday, December 21, 6:35 p.m.- Mallards vs. Fort Wayne Komets
Early Faceoff
All Wednesday night home games this season will start at the special early faceoff time of 6:35 p.m.
Rescheduled
This game was originally slated to be played March 3 before being rescheduled.
Friday, December 23, 7:05 p.m.- Mallards vs. Tulsa Oilers
$2 Dogs/$2 Beers presented by 97X
Fans can enjoy $2 hot dogs and beers from iWireless Center concession stands during every Friday home game.
Mallards Scratch Cards
The first 1,500 fans through the doors will receive free scratch cards with winners taking home an array of prizes from the Mallards.
MetroLINK College Night
The Mallards have partnered with Metro to provide transit service between Augustana College and downtown Moline during all Friday home games. As part of Metro's unlimited ride program, Augustana riders can use their Augustana ID as their fare.
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- including Saturday night's game against Indy and Sunday's game against Kalamazoo- 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.net 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.
Group Tickets
Groups of ten or more 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.net .
ECHL Stories from December 12, 2016
- It's Last Call for Coal at Radio Recon... - Reading Royals
- Oilers Trade Two to Norfolk in Four-Player Swap - Tulsa Oilers
- Americans Acquire Defenseman Randy Cure and Rights to Alex Lavoie - Allen Americans
- Eagles Fans Donate Nearly 7,000 Teddy Bears To Local Children - Colorado Eagles
- Fuel Trade for Forward Alex Guptill Amid Roster Moves - Indy Fuel
- Greenham Recalled by Binghamton - Wichita Thunder
- Solar Bears Weekly Report: December 12, 2016 - Orlando Solar Bears
- Rays Fans Donate 6,348 Teddy Bears in Annual Toss - South Carolina Stingrays
- Admirals Make Four Player Swap with Tulsa - Norfolk Admirals
- Mavericks Weekly #9: December 12 - December 18, 2016 - Kansas City Mavericks
- Thunder Weekly, December 12th - Wichita Thunder
- Wheeling Nailers Weekly Report, December 12 - Wheeling Nailers
- Mallards Weekly Update: December 12, 2016 - Quad City Mallards
- 2016-17 Cyclones Weekly: Week 9 - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Stingrays Weekly Report - December 12 - South Carolina Stingrays
- Reading Royals Weekly: Raconteur Royale Number Nine - Reading Royals
- ECHL this Week - December 12 - ECHL
- Walleye Weekly - Toledo Walleye
- Nailers Visit Saturday, Solar Bears Here Sunday - Fort Wayne Komets
- Komets Gain Five Points in Week Nine - Fort Wayne Komets
- Indy Fuel Pit Stop Weekly: WEEK 9 - Indy Fuel
- Steelheads Weekly Report: December 12 - Idaho Steelheads
- Oil Drops: Tulsa Oilers Weekly Report - December 12 - Tulsa Oilers
- Monarchs Weekly Preview - Manchester Monarchs
- OIL DROPS: Tulsa Oilers Weekly Report - December 12 - Tulsa Oilers
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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