Mallards Weekly Update

Published on March 16, 2010 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Quad City Mallards News Release


QUACK TRACKS

Playoff Chase

The Mallards are five points behind the Bloomington PrairieThunder in the race for fourth place and the final IHL playoff spot. The PrairieThunder has two games in hand on the Mallards. The two teams meet three more times during the regular season- each of those three games will be played at the i wireless Center. The Mallards have six home games remaining and eight road games left. The PrairieThunder plays eight more home games and eight more away.

Late Show

Juris Stals (20-22-42) tied Sunday's game against Dayton at three with 55 seconds left in the third period. The Mallards have now scored a game tying or game winning goal in the final minute of regulation six times this season.

All Hands on Deck

Stals scored a pair of extra attacker special teams goals in the third period Sunday. He scored a 6-on-4 power play goal at 10:24 of the third before scoring a 5-on-5 shorthanded goal 19:05.

Two Equals 20

By scoring twice Sunday Stals joined Patrick Levesque (27-30-57) and Chris Lipsett (22-33-55) as the third Mallard to reach 20 goals this season.

Blanked

The Mallards were shut out by Muskegon 3-0 last Saturday night. Quad City has now been shut out three times this season.

Blanked, Take 2

The Mallards went the equivalent of better than two full games- 126:38- without scoring between Joel Gasper's game winning goal at 3:46 of the third period of the Flock's victory in Muskegon last Wednesday night and the next Quad City goal scored by Stals at 10:24 of the third period yesterday against Dayton Sunday.

Walker Win

The Mallards last Wednesday earned their first win of the season at L.C. Walker Arena in Muskegon, defeating the Lumberjacks 4-3 after going 0-1-1-2 in their first four visits.

Shorties

The Mallards scored and gave up shorthanded goals Sunday. Stals's late game tier was the Mallards' fourth shorthanded goal of the season. Corey Couturier's scored for Dayton with the Gems a man down in the second period. That goal was the league-high eleventh shorthanded goal allowed by Quad City this season.

Streaking

Brandon Marino (11-23-34) has recorded 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in his last ten games, as has Justin White (five goals, eight assists). Stals has notched 10 points (six goals, four assists) in his last eight outings.

Ins and Outs

Forward Ryan Fultz (foot) and defenseman Matt Burke (ankle) are on injured reserve. Mike Zbriger (finger) missed Sunday's game against Dayton.

SCOUTING REPORT

Flint

Sunday's 5-4 overtime loss to Bloomington ended the Generals' season best four game winning streak. Flint remains unbeaten in regulation in its last five games (4-0-1-0)...Flint has gone 21-18-3-2 since starting the season 3-12-0-2...John Ronan (25-27-52) is tied for fifth in the league in goals...John Mori (24-26-50) ranks second among rookies in goals and points...Rob Nolan (16-18-3-1, 2.82, .914, 1SO) ranks fourth in the league in save percentage...Pascal Rheaume (14-28-42) totaled six points- including four goals in an 8-3 win in Dayton last Wednesday- in three games last week on the way to being named IHL Player of the Week...The Generals rank second to last in the league on both the power play (14.9 percent) and penalty kill (78.1 percent)... Jason Muzzatti took over the head coaching reins in Flint this season after serving as an assistant with the Generals last year. Muzzatti, a goaltender, spent 2007-08- his sixteenth and final season as a professional player- in the Generals' net. The former Michigan State star played in the NHL for the Calgary Flames, Hartford Whalers and New York Rangers. Muzzatti also played for Italy at the 2006 Winter Olympics...The Mallards have gone 4-3-1-0 against the Generals this season.

Fort Wayne

The Komets have won three straight games and have gone 9-2-0-0 in their last 11...With a 5-1 win over Port Huron last Saturday night, the Komets moved past the Icehawks into second place. The Komets are one point ahead of Port Huron with two games in hand on the 'Hawks...Fort Wayne allows a league low average of 2.4 goals per game...... Tim Haun (24-10-0-2, 2.09, .925, 2SO) leads the league in goals against average, wins and save percentage. Haun was named IHL Goaltender of the Week after allowing a total of just three goals while backstopping Fort Wayne to three straight wins last week...Nick Boucher (14-8-1-0, 2.52, .919, 1SO), the other half of the Komets' goaltending tandem, is tied for second in save percentage and ranks third in goals against average...Colin Chaulk (20-46-66) ranks second in the IHL in assists and fourth in points...P.C. Drouin (21-41-62) is tied for fourth in assists and tied for sixth in points...Leo Thomas (25-20-45) is tied for fifth in the league in goals...Sean O'Connor (16-24-40) was named IHL Rookie of the Week after recording six points (three goals, three assists) in three games last week...Veteran Komets Coach Al Sims has piloted Fort Wayne to both the Turner Cup and regular season titles each of the last two years and has now steered the club to the Turner Cup a total of three times. Sims is in the third season of his second stint behind the Komets' bench. He capped off his initial four-year run in Fort Wayne by piloting the Komets to the 1993 Turner Cup. Sims spent one season- 1996-97- as head coach of the NHL's San Jose Sharks. As a player, Sims, a defenseman, skated in 476 NHL games with Boston, Hartford and Los Angeles...The Mallards have gone 2-7-1-1 against Fort Wayne this season.

Bloomington

Bloomington has won back-to-back games after going winless (0-4-1-0) in its prior five...The PrairieThunder yesterday acquired forward John Snowden and defenseman Preston Briggs from Dayton in exchange for forward Greg McCauley...Bloomington allows a league high average of 3.6 goals per game... Craig MacDonald (35-37-72) ranks second in the league in goals and third in points... Jon Booras (18-44-62) ranks third in assists and is tied for sixth in points despite missing the PrairieThunder's last six games with a quadriceps injury... Goaltender Sebastian Dahm (9-9-1-1, 3.85, .886) who joined the Thunder in January, has played in eight of Bloomington's last nine games...The PrairieThunder leads the league in penalty minutes (26.3 per game). Individually, Justin Sawyer leads the league in penalty minutes (241) while Robin Gomez (191) ranks fifth... Jarrod Skalde is in his second season behind the Bloomington bench. The former centerman wrapped up a 17-year professional playing career that saw him skate in 115 NHL games with the New Jersey Devils, Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Calgary Flames, San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars, Chicago Blackhawks, Atlanta Thrashers and Philadelphia Flyers by suiting up for ten games with the PrairieThunder in 2007-08...The Mallards have gone 7-7-0-0 against Bloomington this season.

Muskegon

The Lumberjacks bounced back from a season worst four game losing streak by putting together wins over Quad City last Saturday and Port Huron Sunday...Muskegon boasts both the league's best home record (26-7-0-0) and best road record (16-10-0-3)...The Lumberjacks average a league best 3.8 goals per game...Todd Robinson (19-74-93) leads the league in points and assists. Robinson is in the midst of an eight game point scoring streak (2-11-13)...Robin Bouchard (52-37-89) leads the way in goal scoring and ranks second in points. Bouchard has scored 679 career goals and is three goals away from tying Don Parsons's career minor league goal scoring record of 682. Bouchard is riding an eight game goal scoring streak during which he has scored ten times. By scoring against the Mallards last Saturday, Bouchard reached the 50-goal plateau for the sixth time in his career...Goaltender Sebastien Centomo (22-8-0-2, 2.41, .910, 3 SO) returned to action last week after missing a month with a groin injury. Centomo is tied for the lead among IHL goaltenders in shutouts and ranks second in goals against average and wins... John DiPace (20-32-52) is tied for the league lead in plus/minus rating (+28)...Matt Krug (13-28-41) leads IHL defensemen in goals and points... This is the first year of Rich Kromm's second stint as Muskegon coach. Kromm first piloted the Muskegon Fury from 1998-2001. That successful tenure was highlighted by the Fury's 1999 Colonial Cup title. As a player Kromm skated in 372 NHL games with the Calgary Flames and New York Islanders...The Mallards have gone 3-4-2-2 against the Lumberjacks.

UPCOMING HOME GAMES

Wednesday, March 17, 7:05 p.m.- Mallards vs. Flint Generals

$2 12-ounce Drafts

12-ounce drafts will be available for just $2 at i wireless Center concession stands during the Mallards' meeting with the Generals.

Saturday, March 20, 7:05 p.m.- Mallards vs. Bloomington PrairieThunder

John Deere Community Night; Genesis Jersey Auction

The Mallards will team with Genesis Health System to hold their 15th Annual Jersey Auction to benefit the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House after Saturday night's game. The Mallards will wear their special edition black third jerseys during the game and those sweaters will go up for bid in the live auction immediately after that contest. Saturday evening is also John Deere Community Night. Courtesy of John Deere, tickets for Saturday night's game are available for just $5. Discounted tickets for that contest can be purchased in person at the i wireless Center box office or by calling the Mallards' business office at (309) 277-1364.

COMMUNITY

Friday, March 19, 5:30 p.m.

Garfield Elementary School, Davenport

Mo Mallard, the Flock's mascot, will join in the festivities at Garfield Elementary's annual Fun Night.

TICKETS

Single Game Tickets

Mallards tickets are available at the i wireless Center box office, Ticketmaster outlets and www.ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000. The box office is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on game days from 10:00 a.m. through the end of the second period.

Group ICExperiences

Mallards group packages are fun, easy to plan and memorable and are a perfect fit for business outings, teams, and school groups, family gatherings and just about any other kind of outing. Groups of ten or more receive a discount off the regular walk-up ticket price and are seated together for all the action. The Mallards offer a wide variety of "Group ICExperiences," including packages that provide the chance to sit on the bench or in the penalty box before a game or

ride the Zamboni and much more! The Mallards can also help you use a group outing as a fundraiser for your organization. For group ticket and fundraising information contact the Mallards at 309-277-1364.

ON THE AIR

Fans can listen to all the action of Mallards Hockey Presented by Genesis Power Sports Performance this week and throughout the season on 93.9 WYEC-FM and on www.myqcmallards.com. Coverage starts with the Mallards Pre-Game Show Presented by Genesis Sports Medicine 30 minutes before opening faceoff. Live pay-per-view video webcasts of Mallards action are also available at www.myqcmallards.com courtesy of B2 Networks.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



International Hockey League 2 Stories from March 16, 2010


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.

OurSports Central