Mallards Weekly Update: October 31, 2016

Published on October 31, 2016 under ECHL (ECHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


MALLARDS WEEKLY UPDATE: OCTOBER 31, 2016

THIS WEEK

Thursday, November 3, 6:35 p.m.

U.S. Bank Arena

Quad City Mallards vs. Cincinnati Cyclones

Saturday, November 5, 6:35 p.m.

Indiana Farmers Coliseum

Quad City Mallards vs. Indy Fuel

Sunday, November 6, 4:05 p.m.

iWireless Center

Cincinnati Cyclones vs. Quad City Mallards

Quad City

4-2-0, 8 points

tied 4th place, Central Division

Coach: Terry Ruskowski

Cincinnati

2-5-0, 4 points

tied 3rd place, South Division

Coach: Matt MacDonald

Indy

2-3-1, 5 points

7th place, Central Division

Coach: Bernie John

LAST WEEK

Wednesday, October 26

Quad City 2 Missouri 1

Saturday, October 29

Quad City 3 Tulsa 2

QUACK TRACKS

Streak

The Mallards have won four straight games after dropping their first two games of the season. The Mallards last won more than four in a row when they put together a five-game winning streak between November 27 and December 6, 2015.

Oil Spill

The Mallards last Saturday night not only extended their own winning streak but also handed league-leading Tulsa its first loss, ending the Oilers' season-opening six-game winning streak. The Oilers were the last unbeaten club in the ECHL.

Takedown

Last Saturday's victory over Tulsa was also the Mallards' first this season over an opponent with a winning record.

Finally

Last Wednesday night's win was the Mallards' first victory over the Mavericks since they won 4-3 in a shootout on March 29, 2015 in Missouri. Regular season and playoffs combined, the Mallards had gone 0-8-1 in their prior nine games against the Mavericks before winning Wednesday night.

Central

The Mallards and Fort Wayne Komets are tied for fourth place in the highly competitive Central Division. The Mallards are one point behind the third place Kalamazoo Wings and four points behind the Oilers and Toledo Walleye, the division co-leaders. The Mallards have a game in hand on Kalamazoo, Toledo and Tulsa. The Mallards are two points ahead of the sixth place Wichita Thunder and three points ahead of the seventh place Indy Fuel, which, at one game under .500, is the only club in the division with a losing record.

On the Road

The Mallards return to the road for a pair of games this week. The Mallards have won their last two road games- a sweep of the Rush in Rapid City October 21 and October 22- after falling in their first away tilt of the season October 15 at Fort Wayne.

Home Sweet Home

The Mallards last week won back-to-back home games after dropping their only prior home game- the October 14 season opener against Fort Wayne.

Stingy

The Mallards have allowed a total of just four goals in their last three games and have given up two goals or fewer in each of their last four games. The Mallard rank sixth in the ECHL in goals allowed (2.5 per game).

Red Light District

The Mallards have totaled 15 goals over their first six games. The Mallards are tied for twentieth in the ECHL in goals per game. They score 2.5 per contest, the lowest average for any ECHL club with a winning record. The Mallards have scored three goals or fewer in five of their first six games.

First Strike

The Mallards have scored first in each of their last four games and in five of their six games this season.

Muzzled

The Mallards last Saturday surrendered (exactly) 30 shots on goal for the first time this season. The Mallards rank third in the ECHL in shots allowed (27.8 per game).

Dynamic Duo

Justin Kovacs (3-6-9), who has recorded points in each of the Mallards' first six games, is tied for eighth in the ECHL in points and is tied for tenth in assists while linemate Sam Warning (4-4-8) is tied for ninth in goals. Kovacs has assisted on each of Warning's four goals, including the opener and the third period game winner last Saturday against Tulsa. Warning has assisted on each of Kovacs' three goals.

Triple Threat

The line of Kovacs, Warning and Alex Petan (2-3-5)- who scored the third period game winner last Wednesday against Missouri- has produced two thirds (nine) of the Mallards' 15 goals this season.

500

Mike Wilson last Saturday night marked his five hundredth career regular season game by picking up his first point- an assist- for the Mallards.

First

Chris Francis last Saturday scored his first Mallard goal.

Between the Pipes

Goaltenders C.J. Motte and Adam Vay have both won their last two starts. Vay returned to the Mallards yesterday from the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild. Vay was reassigned to Iowa last Friday and suited up last Friday and Saturday nights in the Wild's home-and-home sweep of Milwaukee without seeing any game action. Motte set a Mallard season high by stopping 28 Tulsa shots last Saturday.

Power Play

The Mallards are tied for eighth in the ECHL on the power play (21.7 percent) despite converting just one of 12 opportunities over their last three games.

Penalty Kill

The Mallards rank fourteenth in the ECHL in penalty killing (85.7 percent). The Mallards have successfully completed their last 14 penalty kills after allowing three goals on their first seven disadvantages.

Head to Head

Thursday night's game is the first of nine between the Mallards and Cincinnati this season and the first of six the Mallards will play at U.S. Bank Arena. Next Sunday's game is the first of just three trips the Cyclones will make to the Quad Cities this season. The Mallards went 5-5-1 against the Cyclones last season: 2-2-1 in Cincinnati and 3-3-0 in Moline. All-time, the Mallards have gone 5-7-1 against Cincinnati: 2-2-1 on the road and 3-5-0 at home...The Mallards and Fuel will collide ten times this season and will meet at Indiana Farmers Coliseum six times. The Mallards had never met the Fuel before going 3-7-0 against Indy last season. The Mallards Saturday evening will bid for their first ever road win over the Fuel after dropping all five of their game in Indianapolis last season.

Ins and Outs

Jake Reed was released today after being signed as an emergency backup goaltender last Friday...Goaltender Adam Vay was reassigned by Minnesota (NHL) from Iowa (AHL) to the Mallards yesterday after being reassigned to Iowa last Friday...Forward Nolan LaPorte missed last Saturday's game (upper body injury)...Forward Jack Nevins has missed the Mallards' last four games (lower body injury)...Forward Michael Parks returned to the Mallards lineup last Saturday after missing three games (lower body injury)...Forward Brady Brassart returned last Wednesday after missing one game (upper body injury).

NEXT HOME GAME

Sunday, November 6, 4:05 p.m.- Mallards vs. Cincinnati Cyclones

Postgame Skate

Fans can bring their skates and join the Mallards on the ice after all Sunday home games this season.

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- including Saturday night's game in Indianapolis and Sunday's game against Cincinnati- 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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