Mallards Weekly Update

Published on March 11, 2013 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


QUACK TRACKS

On the Up

The Mallards have won five straight games to move into a seventh place tie with the Arizona Sundogs and open up an eight point lead over ninth place Bloomington in the race for the final Central Hockey League playoff spots. The Mallards have also now pulled within two points of the Missouri Mavericks and Denver Cutthroats, the two clubs tied for fifth place. The Mallards, Blaze and Mavericks have played 58 games, the Cutthroats 59 and the Sundogs 60.

Streaking

The Mallards have won five straight games for the first time since putting together a five game winning streak between December 30, 2009 and January 10, 2010 while competing in the International Hockey League. The Mallards have not won six in a row since finishing the 2005-06 United Hockey League regular season with a half dozen consecutive victories between April 5 and April 15, 2006.

Home Stretch

The Mallards play five of their remaining eight games against Bloomington. The Mallards are in the midst of a stretch of seven straight games against either Bloomington or Missouri that will be halted by next Tuesday's match-up with Denver. After hosting the Cutthroats, the Mallards will close out the regular season with three more games against the Blaze.

.500

The Mallards have surged to four games over .500 after never climbing more than one game over .500 before their current hot streak. The Mallards have gone 21-13-3 over their last 37 games after going 7-11-3 in their first 21 outings.

Sweep

The Mallards swept a home-and home series from the Missouri Mavericks last Friday and Saturday. The Mallards scored 14 goals in those two victories to set a team season high for goals in consecutive games. In last Saturday's 7-1 win both Mike Stinziani and Mickey Lang scored on third period penalty shots as the Mallards matched their largest margin of victory this season.

Home Sweet Home

The Mallards have won three straight home games to match their longest home winning streak of the season.

The Mick

Lang recorded two points in each of the Mallards' three games last weekend. He ripped off five goals over the weekend- including game winners Friday and Saturday- and has scored six times in his last four games. Lang reached the 70-point plateau with the second of his two goals in last Saturday night's win over Missouri.

Give 'Em Hellyer

Mike Hellyer also produced a six-point weekend (three goals and three assists). Hellyer leads CHL rookies in points (55) and has now taken over the lead among rookies in assists (33).

Mighty Mike

Stinziani scored four goals- including yesterday's third period game winner- in three games last weekend to take over the league goal-scoring lead among rookies (24).

Between the Pipes

Neil Conway is riding a five game winning streak during which he has posted a 2.13 goals against average and a .927 save percentage. Conway has given up just two goals in each his last four outings and has allowed three goals or fewer in each of his last eight games.

Special Teams

The Mallards have scored six power play goals in their last two games on 11 opportunities and set a team season high by scoring four power play goals last Saturday against Missouri. Over the course of their last two games, the Mallards have lifted their power play success rate nearly two full percentage points from 14.8 to 16.7 and have climbed from eighth to fifth in the league man advantage rankings. The Mallards lead the league in shorthanded goals (13) and rank fourth in penalty killing (84.6 percent).

Leaders

Lang leads the league in shorthanded goals (5) and game winning goals (8), ranks second in goals (35), is tied for second in power play goals (11), ranks sixth in points (72) and is tied for tenth in assists (37). Hellyer is tied for eighth in plus/minus rating (+15). Among rookies, Hellyer leads the league in points (55) and assists (33) and is tied for second in goals (22) behind rookie leader Stinziani (24), who also ranks second in points (45). Among defensemen, Matt Duffy is tied for fifth in points (37), ranks sixth in assists (29) and is tied for seventh in goals (8). Conway is tied for sixth in save percentage (.912) and ranks eighth in goals against average (2.59). John Murray ranks ninth in save percentage (.911).

Milestones

Ruskowski has coached 698 games in the CHL and is on course to reach 700 games coached in the league when the Mallards meet Bloomington Friday night. Ruskowski earlier this season topped 600 career professional coaching wins and 400 career CHL coaching victories... Mitch McColm scored his first career goal last Friday in Missouri...Darren McMillan played his two hundredth regular season game as a Mallard yesterday against Bloomington...Gabriel Boutin-Gagnon picked up his first CHL assist while playing his one hundredth career game last Saturday against Missouri...Matt Boyd has recorded 94 career points...Obi Aduba has 91 career goals and has totaled 148 points as a Mallard...Anthony Perdicaro has registered 90 career points.

Head-to-Head

The Mallards have gone 6-7-1 against the Blaze so far this season. The Mallards have gone 2-5-1 in Bloomington and 4-2-0 at home against the Blaze. All-time, the Mallards are 39-20-3 against Bloomington...The Mallards are 6-5-0 against Missouri. The Mallards have gone 4-2-0 in Independence and 2-3-0 at home against the Mavericks. The Mallards have gone 13-11-1 against the Mavs in three seasons since entering the CHL.

Ins and Outs

Patrik Levesque (upper body injury) has missed the Mallards' last ten games and is on 14-day injured reserve...Cory McGillis (concussion) has been moved from 30-day injured reserve to season-ending injured reserve

UPCOMING HOME GAMES

Friday, March 15, 7:05 p.m. - Mallards vs. Bloomington Blaze

Genesis Jersey Auction- St. Patrick's Day Jersey

Genesis St. Patrick's Day jerseys will go up for bid to benefit the Genesis Health Services Foundation when the Mallards meet the Blaze Friday night. The special edition green jerseys worn by the Mallards in that game will be auctioned off immediately following that contest.

$1 Beer, $1 Dog College Night

All fans will be able to purchase hot dogs and beer for just $1 at i wireless Center concession stands through the end of the second intermission. In addition, college students can purchase tickets to the game for just $10 in person at the i wireless Center box office or by calling the Mallards' business office at 309-277-1364.

Sunday, March 17, 4:05 p.m. - Mallards vs. Missouri Mavericks

American Heart Association Day

The Flock will show its support for the American Heart Association's Jump Rope for Heart and Hoops for Heart campaigns by providing students who meet pledge-raising goals for those two programs with free tickets to the March 17 game.

Family Skate Day Presented by Genesis Health System

Fans will have the chance to join all their favorite players on the ice immediately after the end of the Mallards' game against the Mavericks with another Family Skate Day.

Post-Game Event: The Doc's Inn Bar & Grill

Fans can join the Mallards after Sunday's game at a postgame event at The Doc's Inn Bar & Grill. The Doc's Inn is located at 985 Avenue of the Cities in Silvis.

Sunday MetroLINK Service

Fans can now use special MetroLINK service from five area bars- Rascals, Governor's, Icons, Leisure Time and The Doc's Inn- to get to all remaining Mallards regular season Sunday games and back after the game. Fans are dropped off across the street from the i wireless Center at Centre Station at 3:45 p.m.- each of the Mallards' Sunday home games starts at 4:05 p.m.- and are picked up at Centre Station at 6:45 p.m. for the return trip. The fare for Metro routes is just $1 one-way, or $2 round-trip. Pre-paid passes can be purchased at Centre Station, which is located at 1200 River Drive in Moline.

ON THE AIR

Fox Sports Radio 1230 is the radio home of the Mallards. 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. Free audio webcasts of games that do not air on AM 1230 are available at myqcmallards.com. CHL-TV pay-per-view video webcasts of all Mallards games are also available at myqcmallards.com.

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 tickets@myqcmallards.com for more information about both season 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 2:00 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.

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 .



Central Hockey League Stories from March 11, 2013


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