The Mallards' afternoon took an early turn south when Jamie Schaafsma pounced on a loose puck beside the Quad City net to open the scoring at 5:06 of the first period. Officiating first drew the ire of Ruskowski and his troops with 41 seconds left in the first when, with the Americans on the power play, Jonathan Zion scored from the slot and his goal was allowed to stand even though the Americans' Jonathan Lessard had knocked over Mallard goaltender Thomas Heemskerk just before Zion fired the puck home.
After Matt Boyd briefly sparked Quad City comeback hopes with a point-blank power play goal at 3:43 of the second period, the Americans took control by scoring three straight goals over the course of a middle frame that saw Ruskowski assessed a game misconduct. Brian McMillan's tip-in stretched the Alllen lead to 3-1 just 22 seconds after Boyd got the Mallards on the scoreboard. Both teams were down a man when Ludwig snapped the puck in under the cross bar from the right wing circle at 7:46 of the second to widen the gap to 4-1 and bring about the replacement of Mallard goaltender Thomas Heemskerk by Ty Rimmer. The Americans were on the power play when Ludwig made it 5-1 with a drive from the high slot at 12:14. It was after this goal that Ruskowski was given his marching orders.
Schaafscma scored his second goal and the Americans' sixth on a breakaway just past the midway point of the third period. Gergo Nagy provided a belated Mallard response from the doorstep at 14:06 of the third.
The Mallards next play at home Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. against the Mavericks. That game is another Winning Wednesday presented by T.G.I. Friday's. If the Mallards win next Wednesday, each fan in attendance will receive a free ticket to the Mallards' following Wednesday home game courtesy of T.G.I. Friday's. After the game fans can join the Mallards at T.G.I. Friday's in Moline for a postgame party.
Tickets for next Wednesday night's game and all Mallards regular season home games can be purchased at the iWireless Center ticket office, Ticketmaster outlets, through ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000. The ticket 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.
