MALLARDS WEEKLY UPDATE: MARCH 3, 2014
THIS WEEK
Wednesday, March 5, 7:05 p.m.
iWireless Center, Moline
Missouri Mavericks vs. Quad City Mallards
Friday, March 7, 7:05 p.m.
iWireless Center, Moline
Arizona Sundogs vs. Quad City Mallards
Saturday, March 8, 7:05 p.m.
iWireless Center, Moline
Arizona Sundogs vs. Quad City Mallards
LAST WEEK
Wednesday, February 26
Quad City 5 Missouri 1
Friday, February 28
Saturday, March 1
Quad City
26-17-8, 60 points
7th place
Coach: Terry Ruskowski
Missouri
35-16-2, 72 points
1st place
Coach: Scott Hillman
Arizona
25-24-6, 56 points
8th place
Coach: Kevin Colley
QUACK TRACKS
Last Week
The Brampton Beast swept a pair of games from the Mallards last weekend at the iWireless Center after the Mallards knocked off league-leading Missouri 5-1 last Wednesday.
Tight
Last weekend's back-to-back defeats left the Mallards in seventh place, one point behind sixth place Tulsa and three points behind fifth place Brampton. The Mallards, who have played fewer games (51) than any other CHL club, have four games in hand on Brampton and Tulsa.
.500 February
With last Friday's loss, the Mallards finished February with a record of 7-7-0 for the month.
Home Sweet Home
The Mallards have gone 1-2-0 over the first three games of a seven game homestand- their longest of the season.
Busy
Last Saturday's game was the sixteenth in a stretch that sees the Mallards play 31 games over the final 59 days of the regular season.
Rough Road
The Mallards are also in the midst of a stretch that sees them play 18 of their final 30 games against the top four teams in the CHL- Missouri, Rapid City, Denver and Allen.
Balance
While the Mallards rank fourth in goal scoring (3.3 per game) only one Mallard- Jeff Lee who is tied for sixteenth- ranks in the top 20 in the CHL in point scoring.
General Lee
Lee matched a Mallard and personal single game season high by recording four points (one goal and two assists) last Saturday. He has piled up 19 points (six goals and 13 assists) in his last 13 games. He leads the Mallards in both goals (19) and points (47).
Nickel
The Mallards gave up a single period season high five goals in the second period last Saturday against Brampton.
First
Chris Greene scored his first goal for the Mallards last Friday against Brampton.
First, Take 2
Last Wednesday's win over Missouri was the Mallards' first in five tries this season against the Mavericks.
Between the Pipes
Thomas Heemskerk relieved Ty Rimmer last Saturday and suffered the loss in relief. The defeat was Heemskerk's fifth in a row. The losing streak is Heemskerk's first this season. Rimmer has won five of his last six decisions.
Leaders
Heemskerk ranks fourth in goals against average (2.68), is tied for fourth in shutouts (2) and ranks seventh in save percentage (.910)... Rimmer is also tied for fourth in shutouts (2), ranks eighth in goals against average (2.84) and ranks ninth in save percentage (.907)... Among rookies, Thomas Frazee is tied for third in goals (15), ranks fifth in points (33) and ranks sixth in assists (18)...Among defensemen, Benjamin Dieude-Fauvel and Matt Duffy are tied for sixth in goals (9) while Dieude-Fauvel ranks eighth in assists (22) and ninth in points (31)...Mike Monfredo and Nicholas Rioux are tied for tenth among defensemen in points (24)... The Mallards have gone 0-1-2 against Arizona this season. Andrew Engelage and the Sundogs blanked the Mallards 1-0 on January 11 in the only prior meeting between the two teams at the iWireless Center. All-time the Mallards have gone 5-3-4 against the Sundogs and have posted a 3-2-1 record at the iWireless Center against Arizona. The Mallards and Sundogs conclude their season series this weekend.
Special Teams
On the season the Mallards have converted 14.7 percent of their power plays and rank ninth in the CHL on the man advantage. The Mallards have gone 12-for-13 on the penalty kill in their last three games. On the season they rank fifth in penalty killing (83.6 percent) and are tied for fourth in shorthanded goals (7).
Head to Head
With last Wednesday's win, the Mallards improved to 1-3-1 against Missouri this year. The two clubs have split a pair of games at the iWireless Center. The Mallards are in the midst of a stretch that sees them play nine of their final 30 tilts against the Mavericks. Since entering the CHL in 2010, the Mallards have gone 15-15-3 against the Mavericks and have posted a record of 6-7-2 at home. Lee (2-5-7) is the top point scorer in this year's season series...The Mallards have gone 7-1-3 against Brampton this season and are 2-1-2 against the expansion Beast on home ice. The two clubs conclude their season series this weekend. Gergo Nagy is the leading scorer (5-9-14) in the season series. The Mallards this season have played four games that have ended in overtime- all against the Beast. Brampton has won three of those four contests, including the last meeting between the two clubs on January 26 when Andrew Fournier scored in sudden death to give the host Beast a 4-3 victory.
Ins and Outs
Forward Gergo Nagy signed a professional tryout agreement with the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League last Thursday, made his AHL debut yesterday in the Wolves' 4-0 win over the Iowa Wild and returned to the Mallards today...Forward Frazee (upper body) was activated from injured reserve last Friday and returned to the lineup that evening after missing six games...Forward Hellyer was placed on 14-day injured reserve retroactive to February 16 (upper body) and has missed the last seven games.
UPCOMING HOME GAMES
Wednesday, March 5, 7:05 p.m.- Mallards vs. Missouri
Wednesday's game is a Winning Wednesday presented by T.G.I. Friday's. If the Mallards win Wednesday, each fan in attendance will receive a free ticket to the Mallards' next Wednesday home game courtesy of T.G.I. Friday's. Fans also have the opportunity to purchase $2 hot dogs and beer at iWireless Center concession stands during each Wednesday home tilt. After the game fans can join the Mallards at T.G.I. Friday's in Moline for a postgame party.
Friday, March 7, 7:05 p.m.- Mallards vs. Brampton
$1 Dog/$1 Beer Friday Presented by 97X
This Friday is this season's final $1 Dog/$1 Beer Night presented by 97X. $1 hot dogs and $1 beers will again be available at iWireless Center concession stands this Friday.
Nana Meriwether, Miss USA 2012
Nana Meriwether will drop the puck for a ceremonial faceoff just before the 7:05 p.m. start of the game and will meet fans, sign autographs and pose for pictures during that contest.
Saturday, March 8, 7:05 p.m.- Mallards vs. Brampton
Genesis Health Jersey Auction
The Mallards will wear their special edition orange jerseys when they take on the Sundogs March 8. Immediately after the game those jerseys will go up for bid in a live auction to benefit the Genesis Health Services Foundation.
Replica Youth Jersey Giveaway
The first 1,000 fans age 12 and under arriving for Saturday's game will receive a free Mallards replica youth jersey.
Postgame Party- Bier Stube
Fans can join the Mallards at the Bier Stube in Moline for a postgame party after Saturday evening's contest.
ON THE AIR
Fox Sports Radio 1230 is the radio home of Mallards Hockey Presented by Genesis Power Sports Performance. Mallards games broadcast on AM 1230 also stream live online at www.wfxn.net. A limited number of Mallards games- including this Saturday's tilt- will not air on Fox Sports Radio 1230 due to conflicts with University of Illinois basketball and football and Green Bay Packer football. 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. For a full Mallards broadcast/webcast schedule, go to http://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 info@myqcmallards.com for more information about tickets. Single game tickets are also available at the i wireless Center box office, at Ticketmaster outlets, through www.ticketmaster.com
Group Tickets
Groups of at least ten receive savings off the walk-up price and a host of 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 info@myqcmallards.
