
Mallards Weekly Update: November 21, 2016
November 21, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release
MALLARDS WEEKLY UPDATE: NOVEMBER 21, 2016
THIS WEEK
Wednesday, November 23, 6:35 p.m.
U.S. Bank Arena
Quad City Mallards vs. Cincinnati Cyclones
Friday, November 25, 7:05 p.m.
iWireless Center
Indy Fuel vs. Quad City Mallards
Saturday, November 26, 6:30 p.m.
Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
Quad City Mallards vs. Fort Wayne Komets
Quad City
7-6-1, 15 points
tied 4th place, Central Division
Coach: Terry Ruskowski
Cincinnati
7-6-2, 16 points
3rd place, South Division
Coach: Matt MacDonald
Indy
7-6-1, 16 points
tied 4th place, Central Division
Coach: Bernie John
Fort Wayne
8-3-2, 18 points
3rd place, Central Division
Coach: Gary Graham
LAST WEEK
Friday, November 18
Fort Wayne 5 Quad City 1
Saturday, November 19
Wheeling 3 Quad City 2
Sunday, November 20
Wheeling 3 Quad City 2
QUACK TRACKS
Skid
The Mallards suffered three losses in 48 hours last weekend. The three-game regulation losing streak is the Mallards' longest such skid since they suffered four straight regulation defeats last season between January 17 and January 29.
Central
The Mallards' three-game dip has combined with the Indy Fuel's five-game winning streak to enable the Fuel to move into a tie with the Mallards for fourth place in the rugged Central Division. Only one of seven teams in the division- the 6-7-2 Kalamazoo Wings- has a losing record.
Busy
The Mallards are in the midst of a stretch that will see them play six games in nine nights. The Mallards last weekend played three times in three nights for the first time this season. They will face three games in three nights a total of seven times this season.
On the Road
The Mallards are on the road for five of their next six games and nine of their next 11.
Home Hazards
The Mallards' 3-2 losses to Wheeling Saturday night and yesterday were their first successive home defeats of the season.
Komet Crash
Three of the Mallards' six regulation losses this season have come at the hands of the Fort Wayne Komets. The Komets swept a season-opening home-and-home series with the Mallards before defeating the Flock 5-1 last Friday in Fort Wayne.
Above Water
The Mallards are a game over .500 despite having been outscored 37-33.
Tight
Last weekend's back-to-back losses to Wheeling were the Mallards' first two one-goal regulation defeats of the season. The Mallards had gone 4-0-1 in one-goal games before last weekend.
Stingy
The Mallards rank third in the ECHL in goals against (2.6 per game). The Mallards have given up three goals or fewer in 11 of their first 14 games.
Red Light District
The Mallards rank twenty-fourth in the league in goals per game. The Mallards score 2.4 times per outing, the lowest average for any ECHL club with a winning record. The Mallards have totaled just seven goals over their last four games.
Third
The Mallards were outscored 5-2 in the third period over their three games last weekend. Despite that fact, the third remains the only period in which the Mallards have outscored the opposition. They have scored 14 third period goals and allowed ten while they have been outscored 26-19 over the first two periods.
First Strike
The Mallards lost 3-2 last Saturday night against Wheeling despite scoring first, ending a streak of six straight wins in games in which they open the scoring. The Mallards fell Saturday after producing the first goal for the first time since they took a 1-0 lead in their October 14 season opener against Fort Wayne only to suffer a 6-2 defeat.
Shooting Gallery
The Mallards allowed a total of 132 shots over their three games last weekend- 39 Friday, 48 Saturday and 45 Sunday- an average of 44 per game. The Mallards have surrendered at least 39 shots not only in each of their last three outings but also in four of their last five games and in five of their last seven tilts- after holding foes to 30 shots or fewer in each of their first seven games. The Mallards last Friday received a sign of things to come when they allowed a team single period season high 20 shots in the opening period in Fort Wayne. The Mallards now rank sixteenth in the ECHL in shots against (31.9 per game) and eighteenth in shots taken (29.9).
Onslaught
By allowing 48 shots last Saturday night, the Mallards not only set a team single game season high but also gave up more shots than they have in any game since the Brampton Beast piled up 49 shots on November 9, 2014 in Brampton on the way to defeating the Mallards 4-3 in a shootout. The Mallards last Saturday night surrendered more shots in regulation than they have in any game since joining the ECHL for the 2014-15 season. The Mallards were a member of the Central Hockey League the last time they gave up as many shots in regulation as they allowed Saturday evening: on December 13, 2013, Ty Rimmer stopped all 48 Rush shots in a 2-0 Mallard victory in Rapid City. The Mallards last allowed more than 48 shots in regulation on February 27, 2010 while in the International Hockey League when the host Dayton Gems hurled 55 shots at Kyle Jones in the Mallard crease en route to edging the Flock 3-2.
Breakthrough
Michael Parks scored his first career goal last Friday at Fort Wayne after missing the Mallards' previous five games and eight of their prior nine with a lower body injury. His goal 18 seconds into the third period was the earliest goal the Mallards have scored in any period this season. Parks went on to pick up a point in each of the Mallards' three games last weekend- he scored again last Saturday against Wheeling before recording an assist yesterday against the Nailers.
Deadlock
Justin Kovacs- last Saturday against Wheeling- and Sam Warning- yesterday against the Nailers- both scored over the weekend to move into a tie with Alex Petan for the team lead in goals (5). Kovacs remains the team leader in points (13).
Between the Pipes
C.J. Motte is tied for second in the ECHL in save percentage (.943), ranks fourth in goals against average (1.92) and is tied for tenth in wins (5). Motte last Saturday night made a Mallard single game season high 45 saves but still saw his five-game winning streak come to an end. The defeat was Motte's first since October 15 when he suffered a 3-1 setback in Fort Wayne his first Mallard start. After being reassigned to the Mallards from the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild last Thursday, Adam Vay established a team single period season high by making 19 saves in the first last Friday in Fort Wayne before setting a personal single game high with 42 saves yesterday against Wheeling.
Power Play
The Mallards rank seventh in the ECHL on the power play (21.2 percent). The Mallards scored on the power play in each of their last two games, converting on two of their nine chances against Wheeling over those two contests. The Mallards gave up a shorthanded goal for the second time this season when the Komets' Trevor Cheek scored during a Mallard power play in the final minute of last Friday's game in Fort Wayne.
Penalty Kill
The Mallards have survived 21 of their opponents' last 23 man advantages. The Mallards rank tenth in the league in penalty killing (84.9 percent).
Head-to-Head
The Mallards have gone 0-1-1 against the Cyclones this season. The two clubs will meet a total of nine times. The Cyclones won the season series opener 4-1 on home ice on November 3 before claiming a 3-2 shootout win on November 6 in Moline. All time, the Mallards have gone 5-8-2 against Cincinnati and 2-3-0 at U.S. Bank Arena...The Mallards opened their ten-game season series with the Fuel with a 4-1 win November 5 in Indianapolis. That victory was the Mallards' first ever away win over the Fuel. The Mallards have now gone 4-7-0 all-time against the Fuel and have posted a 3-2-0 home record against Indy...The Mallards lost the first three games of their 12-game season series with the Komets. Last Friday's defeat left the Mallards with an 0-2-0 at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum this season. All-time, the Mallards have gone 50-52-11 against the Komets.
Ins and Outs
Forward Grant Arnold missed yesterday's game against Wheeling (upper body injury)...Michael Parks returned to the lineup last Friday in Fort Wayne after missing five games (lower body injury)...Goaltender Adam Vay was reassigned to the Mallards from Iowa (AHL) by Minnesota (NHL) last Thursday...Goaltender Kent Patterson was released by the Mallards last Thursday.
NEXT HOME GAME
Friday, November 25, 7:05 p.m.- Mallards vs. Indy Fuel
$2 Dogs/$2 Beers presented by 97X
Fans can enjoy $2 hot dogs and beers from iWireless Center concession stands during every Friday Mallards home game.
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 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 .
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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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