THIS WEEK
Wednesday, December 18, 7:05 p.m.
Family Arena, St. Charles
Quad City Mallards vs. St. Charles Chill
Friday, December 20, 7:35 p.m.
BOK Center, Tulsa
Quad City Mallards vs. Tulsa Oilers
Saturday, December 21, 7:05 p.m.
iWireless Center, Moline
St. Charles Chill vs. Quad City Mallards
Sunday, December 22, 4:05 p.m.
Family Arena, St. Charles
Quad City Mallards vs. St. Charles Chill
LAST WEEK
Friday, December 13
Quad City 2 Rapid City 0
Saturday, December 14
Rapid City 5 Quad City 1
Quad City
10-3-5 (23 points)
7th place
Coach: Terry Ruskowski
St. Charles
6-13-4 (16 points)
10th place
Coach: Jamie Rivers
Tulsa
14-11-2 (30 points)
3rd place
Coach: Bruce Ramsay
QUACK TRACKS
Last Weekend
Ty Rimmer made 48 saves on the way to his first career shutout last Friday in Rapid City but the Mallards had to settle for a weekend split with the Rush after last Saturday's loss ended their ten-game (6-0-4) regulation unbeaten streak.
Streak Snapped
Last Saturday's regulation loss was the Mallards' first since a 3-0 defeat in Denver on November 15. Their ten-game regulation unbeaten streak was the Mallards' longest since they went 10-0-1 between March 19 and April 10, 2004.
Upswing
Even in the wake of last Saturday's setback the Mallards' recent record remains impressive. The Flock has gone 5-1-1 in its last seven games 8-2-3 in its last 13 outings.
Playing the Percentages
The Mallards find themselves in seventh place despite boasting the league's third best winning percentage (.658) because they have played fewer games (19) than any other CHL club.
Holiday Rush
Wednesday night's game is the first of four in five nights for the Mallards. Over the weekend the Mallards will play three games in three cities in 48 hours.
On the Road
The Mallards are two games into a stretch that sees them play four straight road games and eight of nine away. After last weekend's split, the Mallards' remain at .500 (2-2-4) on the road.
Home Sweet Home
The Mallards will enter this Saturday's match-up with the St. Charles Chill at the iWireless Center riding a seven game home regulation unbeaten streak (6-0-1).
Goals, Goals, Goals
Though they scored a total of just three times in their two games last weekend, the Mallards remain the league leaders in goals per game (3.8). The Mallards last Friday scored the fewest goals (2) they have produced in a regulation win this season.
Busy
Rimmer set a league season high for saves (48) while posting his first career shutout last Friday. He also made more saves in a single game than any Mallard goaltender has since Kyle Jones rang up 52 saves on February 27, 2010 in a 3-2 International Hockey League loss to the Gems in Dayton.
Blanked
Last Friday's shutout was the Mallards' first since John Murray made 35 saves in a 6-0 stonewalling of the Missouri Mavericks at the iWireless Center on March 17 of last season. The shutout was rookie Rimmer's first since he made 37 saves for the Lethbridge Hurricanes in a 4-0 Western Hockey League whitewashing of the host Swift Current Broncos on October 25, 2012. That blanking was the tenth shutout of Rimmer's four year junior career.
One-Sided
Last Saturday's loss was the most lop-sided of the Mallards' four regulation defeats this season. The Mallards' largest margin of defeat before last Friday was three goals in their 3-0 loss to the Cutthroats on November 15.
Streaking,
Gergo Nagy's five game point scoring streak (3-6-9) ended last Saturday. Jim McKenzie has recorded eight points (four goals and four assists) in his last seven games while Matt Boyd has collected eight points (two goals and six assists) in his last eight.
Nothing Lasts Forever
Thomas Heemskerk last Saturday suffered his first regulation loss of the season (5-1-3).
Leaders
Among rookies, Thomas Frazee is tied for second in assists (12), ranks fourth in points (17) and is tied for eighth in goals (5)...Rimmer ranks seventh in save percentage (.910) and is tied for eighth in goals against average (2.85)...Heemskerk ranks eighth in save percentage (.909).
Milestones
Darren McMillan has collected 96 career CHL assists...Matt Boyd has played 195 career games.
Special Teams
The Mallards rank ninth in the CHL in power play efficiency (14.6 percent) and have converted just one of their last 22 man advantages. The Mallards rank fourth in penalty killing (84.3 percent) and are tied for third in shorthanded goals (4).
Head to Head
The Mallards will meet the Chill three times in five days beginning Wednesday night. Quad City has started the 14-game season series well, going 3-0-1 in its first four match-ups with St. Charles. The Mallards have gone 3-0-0 at home against the Chill and dropped a 6-5 shootout decision in their only previous visit to Family Arena...The Mallards opened their four-game season series with Tulsa by slamming the Oilers 9-3 on November 30. All-time the Mallards have gone 7-5-0 against the Oilers and have posted a 2-2-0 record at the BOK Center.
Ins and Outs
Rimmer returned to the Mallards from the American Hockey League's Oklahoma City Blazers last Tuesday...Goaltender Nick Niedert was waived last Wednesday.
NEXT HOME GAME
Saturday, December 21, 7:05 p.m.- Mallards vs. St. Charles Chill
Mallards Knit Cap Giveaway
The first 1,000 fans through the doors Saturday night will receive free Mallards knit caps courtesy of CBS 4 and Bierstube.
Ugly Holiday Sweater Contest
Wear your most charmingly hideous holiday sweater to Saturday night's game for the chance to win four glass seats to an upcoming game! Contestants can enter by stopping by the Drake Club to have their sweater judged at any point beginning ten minutes before the game up until seven minutes are left in the first period. The Drake Club is located adjacent to section 116. Not only will the winner receive four seats on the glass to the Mallards' home game of their choice, but, in addition, all entrants will receive a $10-off voucher toward the purchase of tickets to any future Mallards home game.
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 the Mallards' games this Saturday night and Sunday- will not air on Fox Sports Radio 1230 due to conflicts with University of Illinois basketball and football and Green Bay Packer 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. For a full Mallards broadcast/webcast schedule, go to myqcmallards.com/schedule/
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 orinfo@myqcmallards.
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 info@myqcmallards.
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