FORT WAYNE, Ind. (December 29, 2014) - Pearce Eviston- who broke a 5-5 third period tie- Todd Fiddler and Mario Lamoureux scored two goals apiece as the Quad City Mallards (15-10-5) ripped off three unanswered goals in the third on the way to a wild 7-5 victory over the host Fort Wayne Komets (21-6-1) Monday night.
Eviston delivered the game winner by pouncing on a rebound just a minute and seven seconds after Fiddler broke in alone to even the score at five at 6:54 of the third. Lamoureux's empty net goal finished off the Komets with just five seconds left in the contest.
The Komets took the lead into the third after Shawn Szydlowski cut into the slot and fired his second goal of the night into the top corner to put Fort Wayne on top 5-4 with just 1:39 left in the second period. The Mallards had erased a 4-2 deficit with back-to-back goals from Joe Perry and Lamoureux in the second. Perry's shot from the top of the left wing circle broke between Fort Wayne goaltender Roman Will's pads and narrowed the margin to a single goal at 14:29 of the middle frame. Just over a minute and a half later Lamoureux jammed in the tying goal from the doorstep.
The Komets had seemingly taken control in the first period by roaring back with four straight goals after falling behind 2-0. The Mallards were on the power play when Eviston opened the scoring from the left wing circle at 2:29 of the first. Fiddler buried Evan Haney's centering pass to double the lead at 6:25, but that strike seemed to awaken the Komets, who responded just nine seconds later with Eric Faille's breakaway goal. A mere 14 seconds after that, Gabriel Beaupre's long range drive tied the game. At 14:42 Szydlowski swooped around a checker and snapped home the tie breaker from the slot. Brett Perlini's one timer stretched the Komet lead to 4-2 a minute and two seconds later.
The Mallards earlier Monday signed Larkin Saalfrank as an emergency back-up goaltender. Saalfrank, 23, played one game last season for the Komets. The 6' 0", 185-pound Fort Wayne native arrived after Mallard goaltender Parker Milner signed a professional tryout agreement with the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild Monday.
The Mallards return to action Wednesday night on the road against the Evansville IceMen. The Mallards next play at home Friday evening at 7:05 p.m. against the Missouri Mavericks. Friday also brings the return of $1 Dog/$1 Beer Night presented by 97X and MetroLINK. Fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs and beers from iWireless Center concession stands during all Friday home games. 97X will follow in the spirit of the evening by presenting hot dog-themed intermission entertainment.
Tickets for all remaining Mallards regular season home games- including Friday night's contest- are on sale now at the iWireless Center box office, Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com and Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000. The box office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and game days from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the second period. Tickets are available for $10, $16, $20 and $28.
