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Mallards Weekly Update

March 12, 2012 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


QUACK TRACKS

Upswing

The Mallards won three of the four games they played in five nights last week. Quad City has won four of its last five overall and gone 6-2-1 in its last nine games.

Playoff Picture

The Mallards are now tied for fourth place- and the final playoff spot- in the Turner Conference with Rapid City. The Rush, which visits Allen Tuesday night and Wichita Wednesday night, has two games in hand on Quad City. The Mallards trail third place Missouri by two points. The Mavericks have one game in hand on the Mallards. If the Mallards finish even in the standings with Rapid City and/or Missouri, the first tiebreaker would be non-shootout wins while head-to-head record would be the second tiebreaker. The Mavericks currently have 29 non-shootout victories compared to 28 for both the Mallards and Rush. The Mallards won their season series against both Missouri and Rapid City.

Winning Ways

Last Saturday's defeat of Tulsa was the Mallards' thirty-fourth win of the season, matching their victory total of last year. A thirty-fifth win would give Quad City more victories than any Mallard club has collected since the team went 37-28-11 in 2006-07.

Firepower

The Mallards lead the Central Hockey League in goals scored (211) and rank second behind Wichita in goals per game (3.5). Last Saturday marked the twenty-second time this season the Mallards have scored at least five goals in a game.

Three Mallards (Brandon Marino, Most Valuable Player; Jared Brown, Rookie of the Year; Darren McMillan, Most Outstanding Defenseman) were named finalists for the CHL end-of-season honors last week.

Sudden Life

With last Saturday night's overtime win at Tulsa, the Mallards improved to 5-1 in games settled in sudden death. Quad City has also gone 6-1 in the shootout. The Mallards' 11-2 mark in games that go beyond regulation is the best in the CHL. Jared Brown scored 22 seconds into the extra period last Saturday to join Eric Giosa (2), Justin Chwedoruk and John Snowden in having scored in overtime for the Mallards this season.

Home Cooking

The Mallards have won back-to-back home games and have gone 7-2-1 in their last ten home outings.

On the Road

The Mallards have won four of their last five road games.

Power Play

While the Mallards remain the league leaders in power play efficiency (21.1 percent), they have failed to convert any of their last 13 man advantages and have scored on just two of their last 35 power plays. The Mallards' Marino leads the league in power play goals (12), Eric Giosa ranks second (11) and John Snowden (10) is tied for third.

Penalty Kill

The Mallards have gone 13-for-13 on the penalty kill over their last three games. Quad City ranks ninth in the league on the kill (81.9).

Little Big Man

Marino (38-46-84) is riding a nine-game point-scoring streak (9-8-17) and has turned in a plus/minus rating of +5 in his last two games and +11 in his last seven outings. By scoring nine times in his last nine games, Marino has moved within two goals of becoming the first player in the CHL to reach 40 goals this season and the first Mallard to reach the 40-goal plateau since Luke Stauffacher scored 42 in 2006-07- the Mallards' final United Hockey League season. Marino has already recorded more points this season than any Mallard has since Mike Kompon produced 90 points in 2004-05. Marino this year has also surpassed his combined point total (82) for his first two seasons. In addition to leading the league in goals and power play goals, Marino ranks second in points, ranks fourth in assists and is tied for second in shorthanded goals (3).

The Mick

Rookie Mickey Lang (15-17-32) is in the midst of a career best seven-game point-scoring streak during which he has notched 14 points (five goals and nine assists) after totaling 18 points in his first 48 games. Lang has registered at least two points in four of his last five games and in five of his last seven. He has also posted a plus/minus rating of +13 during that seven-game run.

G-Man

Giosa (27-40-67), who picked up his fortieth assist last Saturday night against Tulsa, ranks sixth in the league in points and assists and is tied for sixth in goals.

Brown Out

After his overtime heroics last Saturday night, Jared Brown (24-38-62) is now tied for ninth in the league in points. Brown leads CHL rookies in points and assists and ranks third among first-year players in goals.

Chewy

Justin Chwedourk (16-34-50) piled up three points in each of the Malards' two wins over Tulsa last weekend and has now totaled seven points (2-5-7) in his last three games.

Milestones

John Snowden is set to play his six hundredth career game when the Mallards meet Wichita this Friday night. Snowden last Saturday scored for the twentieth time this season and has now scored at least 20 goals in a season six times in his nine-year career...Darren McMillan has played 396 career games and is on course to play his four hundredth game when the Mallards visit Fort Wayne next Wednesday night, March 21.

Ins and Outs

Matt Duffy has missed the Mallards' last four games following the birth of his first child...Goaltender David Brown returned to the Mallards last Monday after being recalled by the American Hockey League's Abbotsford Heat February 29...The Mallards waived goaltender Justin Grant last Monday...Chwedoruk (upper body injury), Giosa (lower body injury), Taylor Vichorek (concussion) and Sean Flanagan (concussion) all returned to the Mallard lineup last Tuesday at Allen after missing one; two; two; and nine games respectively.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Wichita

The Mallards and Thunder Friday night meet for the sixth and final time this season. The home team has won each of the first five meetings. The Mallards have gone 2-3-0 against the Thunder but because the Mallards secured one of those victories in overtime and the other in the shootout- each of which result earned one point for Wichita- the Thunder has already clinched the season series between the two teams. Wichita has pocketed eight points from the first five meetings between the clubs, while Quad City has collected four. Matt Robinson (4-3-7) is the top goal- and point-scorer in the season series, just ahead of teammate Aaron Davis (2-4-6). Giosa (2-3-5) and Jared Brown (1-4-5) lead the way offensively for the Mallards against the Thunder.

Rio Grande Valley

Saturday night's game is the first ever meeting between the Mallards and Killer Bees.

UPCOMING HOME GAMES

Friday, March 16, 7:05 p.m.- Mallards vs. Wichita Thunder

Mallards Milestone Weekend Presented by Davenport's Incredible Pizza Company and Q.C. Barbell:

Rally Towel Giveaway, Post-Game Alumni Skate

The Mallards will celebrate the career of Mallards great Steve Gibson, 15 seasons of Mallards hockey and all-time attendance reaching 3.5 million fans with Mallards Milestone Weekend Presented by Davenport's Incredible Pizza Company and Q.C. Barbell this Friday and Saturday. The first 2,000 fans through the doors for Friday night's game will receive free Mallards Milestone Weekend rally towels. After that contest, fans will be able to join Mallards alumni on the ice for a post-game skate.

Saturday, March 17, 7:05 p.m. - Mallards vs. Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

Mallards Milestone Weekend Presented by Davenport's Incredible Pizza Company and Q.C. Barbell:

Steve Gibson Number Retirement, "Green Out for Gibby", Pre-Game Alumni Autograph Session

Gibson's number 55 will be raised to the rafters prior to the Mallards' game with Killer Bees Saturday evening. A special autograph session featuring Mallard alumni will be held before that game in the i wireless Center lobby from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. In addition, fans attending Saturday night's tilt are encouraged to join in a "Green Out for Gibby" by wearing green to that game.

4H Animal Toy Collection/Autographed Stick Raffle

4H will collect donations of toys for animals on the i wireless Center concourse during the Mallards' game Saturday night. One donor will win an autographed Mallards stick Saturday eveing- fans will be entered into the stick raffle once for each toy they donate.

TICKETS

Single Game Tickets

Single game tickets for each of the Mallards' three remaining regular season home contests are now available. Fans can contact the Mallards at (309) 277-1364 or tickets@myqcmallards.com for more information about both ticket packages and single game tickets. Single game tickets are also available at the i wireless 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 2:30 p.m. and on game days from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the second period. Individual game tickets are available for $13 in the upper level, $18 in the lower level and $25 for the first row along the glass for adults. Tickets for kids 12 and under are available for $5 off adult rates. In addition, tickets are available to military personnel for $2 off the regular adult rate.

Group Tickets

Groups of at least ten can receive savings off the walk-up price and a host of other great 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 tickets@myqcmallards.com.

ON THE AIR

Fox Sports Radio 1230 is the radio home of the Mallards. AM 1230 and Mallards game broadcasts also stream live online at www.wfxn.net. Pay-per-view video webcasts of Mallards games are available at myqcmallards.com from CHL-TV.

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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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