THIS WEEK
Friday, January 17, 7:05 p.m.
iWireless Center, Moline
Quad City Mallards vs. Wichita Thunder
LAST WEEKEND
Wednesday, January 8
Friday, January 10
Saturday, January 11
Arizona 1 Quad City 0
Quad City
16-8-7 (39 points)
6th place
Coach: Terry Ruskowski
Wichita
12-17-4 (28 points)
9th place
Coach: Kevin McClelland
QUACK TRACKS
Last Week
The Mallards went 0-1-2 last week, matching their longest winless streak of the season. The Mallards did earn single points for last Wednesday's overtime loss to the Brampton Beast and last Friday's shootout defeat at the hands of the Wichita Thunder. Quad City rallied from 2-0 down in both of those games.
Tight
The Mallards are one point behind the fifth place Tulsa Oilers (who have played eight more games than Quad City) and one point ahead of the seventh place Beast (on whom the Mallards have five games in hand).
Playing the Percentages
The Mallards, who have played fewer games (31) than any other CHL club, have the league's fourth best winning percentage (.629).
Ups and Downs
While the Mallards went without a win last week, they have gone 6-2-2 over their last ten games.
Shot Down
The Mallards are 2-7 in games that last longer than 60 minutes. With last Friday's loss to Wichita, the Mallards dropped to 1-5 in shootouts. Last Wednesday's sudden death setback at the hands of Brampton left the Mallards 1-2 in games decided in overtime.
Tight, Take II
Each of the Mallards' last three games and seven of their last eight tilts have been decided by one goal.
Balance
While the Mallards rank in the top half of the league in goal scoring- fifth at 3.5 per game- no Mallard ranks in the top 20 in the CHL in point scoring. Eight Mallards have 20 or more points- no other CHL club can boast more who have reached the 20-point plateau.
Trouble at Home
The Mallards have gone without a victory (0-2-2) in their last four home games- their longest home winless streak of the season.
On the Road
The Mallards have won five straight road games for the first time since they strung together five consecutive away victories between November 23 and December 13, 2011. The Mallards last won more than five in a row on the road when they ripped off seven straight wins away from home between December 31, 2010 and February 11, 2011.
Blanked
The Mallards last Saturday were shutout for the second time this season. The Mallards were first blanked on November 15 when they fell 3-0 to the Cutthroats in Denver. Last Saturday's tilt was also the second 1-0 game in which the Mallards have taken part this season. The Mallards defeated St. Charles by that score December 21.
Stingy
The Mallards, who have given up two non-shootout goals or fewer in three of their last four outings and in five of their last seven games, rank second in the CHL in fewest goals allowed per game (2.9).
Goaltender of the Week
While Thomas Heemskerk, who was named CHL Goaltender of the Week last Tuesday, saw his four-game winning streak snapped with last Friday's shootout loss to Wichita, Heemskerk remains unbeaten in regulation in his last five games (4-0-1, 1.57, .944, 2 SO) and has suffered just one regulation loss all season (9-1-4).
Streaks Stopped
Gergo Nagy's team season best seven game point scoring streak (2-6-8) was halted last Saturday as was linemate Matt Boyd's five game point streak (2-4-6). Nagy has produced 20 points (five goals and 15 assists) in his last 18 games.
Leaders
Nagy (+14) and Benjamin Dieude-Fauvel (+14) are tied for tenth in plus/minus ranking...Mike Hellyer is tied for second in game winning goals (5)...Among rookies, Thomas Frazee is tied for third in points (23) and tied for fourth in goals (8) and assists (15)...Heemskerk ranks second in goals against average (2.45) and save percentage (.920)...Ty Rimmer ranks sixth in goals against average (2.86) and ninth in save percentage (.906).
Milestones
Jim McKenzie has recorded 98 career assists...Darren McMillan has played 497 career games and collected 97 career CHL assists...Vladimir Nikiforov has played 297 career games.
Special Teams
The Mallards rank last in the CHL in power play efficiency (11.1 percent). The Mallards have failed to score on their last 12 power plays, converted just one of their last 25, cashed in only 2 of their last 41 and scored on just three of their last 65. The Mallards, who rank sixth in penalty killing (82.1 percent), gave up four goals on their opponents' ten power plays over three games last week. The Mallards are tied for second in the CHL in shorthanded goals (6).
Head to Head
The Thunder last Friday won the first of three games they will play against the Mallards this season. The season series concludes when the Mallards visit Wichita February 22. All-time the Mallards have gone 5-11-1 against the Thunder overall and 2-6-0 on the road.
Ins and Outs
Forward McKenzie (Wednesday) and defenseman Nicholas Rioux (Monday) both signed professional tryout agreements with the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild last week.
NEXT HOME GAME
Friday, January 31, 7:05 p.m.- Mallards vs. Tulsa Oilers
$1 Dog/$1 Beer Friday Presented by 97X
January 31 is another $1 Dog/$1 Beer Night presented by 97X. $1 hot dogs and $1 beers are available at iWireless Center concession stands during each of the Mallards' 11 Friday night home games this season.
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 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
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.
