Mallards Weekly Update

March 19, 2012 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


QUACK TRACKS

Splitsville

The Mallards split a pair of home games last weekend, rebounding from a 4-2 loss to Wichita last Friday by defeating Rio Grande Valley 2-1 last Saturday.

Playoff Race

The fifth place Mallards are four points behind the fourth place Missouri Mavericks in the race for the final Turner Conference playoff spot. As both teams have four games remaining, any combination of points gained by Missouri or available points not secured by the Mallards totaling five would result in Quad City's elimination from postseason contention. The Mallards have three road games remaining and one home tilt left; the Mavericks play two more home games (Bloomington and Tulsa) and two more road games (Evansville and Tulsa).

Award Winning

Brandon Marino was today named to the All-CHL Team while teammate Jared Brown has been named to the league's All-Rookie Team.

Winning Ways

Last Saturday's defeat of Rio Grande Valley was the Mallards' thirty-fifth win of the season, surpassing their victory total of last year (34). Quad City has secured more victories this season than any Mallard club has collected since the team went 37-28-11 in 2006-07.

Firepower

The Mallards rank second behind Wichita in goal scoring (216- 3.5 per game).

Home Cooking

The Mallards have have gone 8-3-1 in their last twelve home outings.

On the Road

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

Power Play

The Mallards have dropped out of the league lead in power play efficiency (20.5 percent) and into second place after failing to convert any of their last 22 man advantages and scoring on just two of their last 44 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 19-for-20 on the penalty kill over their last five games. Quad City ranks ninth in the league on the kill (82.0).

Little Big Man

Marino leads the league in goals (39) and power play goals (12), ranks second in points (86), is tied for third in shorthanded goals (3) and ranks fourth in assists (47). He is riding an 11-game point-scoring streak during which he has scored ten goals and notched 19 points. He is one goal away from becoming the first player in the CHL to reach 40 goals this season and the first Mallard to do so since Luke Stauffacher scored 42 times in 2006-07. Marino has recorded more points this season than any Mallard has in a single campaign since Mike Kompon had 90 points in 2004-05.

The Mick

Rookie Mickey Lang (15-19-34) has notched 16 points (five goals and 11 assists) in his last nine games after totaling 18 points in his first 48 games. Lang has registered at least two points in five of his last seven games. He has also posted a plus/minus rating of +15 over his last nine games.

Chewy

Justin Chwedoruk (17-35-52) has piled up eight points (three goals and five assists) in his last four games. Chwedoruk is a +6 in his last four games and a +10 in his last nine games.

Milestones

John Snowden played his six hundredth career game against Wichita this Friday night...Darren McMillan has played 398 career games and is on course to play his four hundredth game when the Mallards visit Fort Wayne Wednesday night.

Ins and Outs

Matt Duffy has missed the Mallards' last six games following the birth of his first child...Goaltender David Brown returned to the Mallards yesterday after being recalled by the American Hockey League's Abbotsford Heat last Tuesday...The Mallards waived goaltender Justin Grant Monday after signing Grant last Wednesday.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Dayton

The Mallards have won seven straight games against the Gems after dropping the first two meetings of the season between the two clubs. Marino (6-11-17) and Giosa (4-12-16) are the top point producers in the season series.

Fort Wayne

The Mallards have gone 0-6-1 against Fort Wayne since winning their first match-up of the season with the Komets. Bobby Chaumont (2-9-11) is the top point scorer in the season series, while Marino (3-7-10) leads the way offensively for the Mallards against the Komets.

Evansville

The Mallards defeated the IceMen 5-2 on March 3 after dropping their first three games against Evansville this season. Evansville's Brian Bicek has scored six goals in the first four meetings between the clubs. Marino (3-0-3) and Jeremy Boyer (3-0-3) are tied for the Mallard lead in scoring in the season series.

Bloomington

The Mallards have gone 6-2-0 against the Blaze this season. Marino has piled up eight goals and 15 points in those eight games.

UPCOMING HOME GAMES

Saturday, March 24, 7:05 p.m. - Mallards vs. Bloomington Blaze

Mallards Player Cards Giveaway

Game Worn Jersey Auction

The first 1,000 fans through the doors for Saturday's regular season finale will receive free 2011-12 Mallards player card sets. An auction of game-worn Mallards jerseys will immediately follow Saturday evening's game.

TICKETS

Fans can contact the Mallards at (309) 277-1364 or tickets@myqcmallards.com for tickets to Saturday night's 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.

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.



Central Hockey League Stories from March 19, 2012


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