BRAMPTON, Ontario (December 30, 2013) - Mike Stinziani scored twice and Thomas Heemskerk made 31 saves as the Quad City Mallards defeated the host Brampton Beast 3-2 Monday night. With the victory, the Mallards extended their season best wining streak to five games, claimed sole possession of third place in the Central Hockey League and completed a three game sweep of the Beast.
Stinziani's second goal proved to be the game winner. He split the Brampton defense to break a 2-2 tie at 5:12 of the second period- just over three minutes after Josh McQuade had evened the contest by snapping home a power play goal from the bottom of the left wing circle.
The Mallards successfully protected what was their third one-goal lead for the final 34 minutes and 48 seconds due in good part to fine work from Heemskerk. The Mallards' netminder was at his busiest in the third period, making 14 saves as the Mallards closed out the Beast.
The Mallards had twice grabbed the lead in the opening period. Stinziani opened the scoring on a breakaway at 13:52 of the first period. The Beast was on the power play when Andrew Fournier tipped in the tying goal at 17:42 of the first. That deadlock lasted just 33 seconds before Matt Boyd's shorthanded goal put the Mallards back on top 2-1. Boyd steered home Gergo Nagy's centering feed to reestablish the lead.
Mallards forward Jordan Lane missed Monday night's game after being assessed a two-game suspension by the Central Hockey League. Lane, who was suspended after picking up a game misconduct in the Mallards' win in Brampton last Saturday night, will also sit out the Mallards' game Friday evening against the St. Charles Chill.
The Mallards return home to meet the Chill at 7:05 p.m. Friday. Friday 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.Tickets for Friday'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.
