THIS WEEK
Friday, December 13, 8:05 p.m.
Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, Rapid City
Quad City Mallards vs. Rapid City Rush
Saturday, December 14, 8:05 p.m.
Rushmore Plaze Civic Center, Rapid City
Quad City Mallards vs. Rapid City Rush
LAST WEEK
Friday, December 6
Quad City 6 Brampton 1
Saturday, December 7
Brampton 4 Quad City 3 (OT)
Sunday, December 8
Quad City 3 Brampton 2
Quad City
9-3-5 (23 points)
tied 6th place
Coach: Terry Ruskowski
Rapid City
16-2-0 (32 points)
1st place
Coach: Joe Ferras
QUACK TRACKS
Last Weekend
The Mallards earned five of a possible six points by going 2-0-1 in three home games in 48 hours against the Brampton Beast last weekend. The Mallards rolled to a 6-1 win last Friday before squandering a 3-1 lead and falling 4-3 in overtime one night later. Yesterday it was the Mallards who came from behind, overcoming a 2-0 deficit to take the rubber match 3-2.
Streaking
While last Saturday's overtime setback did halt the Mallards' three-game winning streak, the Mallards are now unbeaten in regulation in their last nine games (5-0-4). The Mallards have lost just once in regulation in their last 12 games (7-1-4).
Deadlock
With yesterday's win the Mallards moved into a tie for sixth place with the Beast. The Mallards find themselves tied for sixth despite boasting the league's third best winning percentage (.676) because they have played fewer games (17) than any other CHL club.
Home Sweet Home
The Mallards yesterday finished a five-game home stand 4-0-1. While last Saturday's sudden death defeat ended the Mallards' five game home winning streak, the Mallards remain unbeaten in regulation in their last seven home tilts (6-0-1).
On the Road
The Mallards play their next four games- and eight of their next nine- on the road. Each of the Mallards' last four road games and five of their first six away contests went to the shootout. The Mallards won just one of those shootouts. They have gone 1-1-4 on the road overall.
Goals, Goals, Goals
The Mallards remain the league leaders in goals per game (4.1). Yesterday the Mallards for the first time this season won in regulation while scoring fewer than four goals.
Late Show
Yesterday, the Mallards got a game winning goal in the final minute of regulation- from Gergo Nagy with 27 seconds remaining- for the second time this season. Mike Hellyer scored with 55 seconds left in the Mallards' November 9 game against Denver to give the Mallards a 4-3 win over the Cutthroats.
Shorty
Yesterday's game winner was also Nagy's second shorthanded goal of the season and the Mallards' fourth man-down goal in just their last seven games. Three of those four shorthanded goals have either tied or won the game for the Mallards in the third period..
Streaking, Take 2
Jim McKenzie is on a five-game point-scoring streak (4-3-7) while Vladimir Nikiforov yesterday saw his five-game point streak (1-5-6) come to an end. Nagy has recorded seven points (three goals and four assists) in just his last four games.
Between The Pipes
Thomas Heemskerk remains unbeaten in regulation (5-0-3) and has gone 3-0-1 while playing four straight games.
Leaders
Thomas Frazee is tied for seventh in the CHL in plus/minus rating (+11) while Jeff Lee and Nicholas Roux (+10) are tied for ninth...Among rookies Frazee is tied for second in assists (12), ranks fourth in points (17) and is tied for sixth in goals (5)...Heemskerk ranks fourth in goals against average (2.68) and fifth in save percentage (.915).
Milestones
Matt Duffy collected his one hundredth career point- an assist- last Saturday after playing his one hundredth game as a Mallard last Friday...Vladimir Nikiforov recorded his two hundredth career point- an assist- last Friday...Darren McMillan has collected 96 career CHL assists...Matt Boyd has played 193 career games.
OK in OKC
Goaltender Ty Rimmer was recalled from the Mallards by the American Hockey League's Oklahoma City Blazers last Monday and last weekend went 1-0-1 in three AHL games with a 2.65 goals against average and .930 save percentage.
Special Teams
The Mallards have dipped to eighth in the CHL in power play efficiency (15.2 percent) after going 1-for-12 on the power play last weekend and 1-for-18 over their last three-plus games. Duffy's power play goal in the second period of yesterday's game ended an 0-for-16 man advantage drought for the Mallards. The Mallards rank fifth in penalty killing (83.1 percent) and are now tied for second in shorthanded goals (4).
Head to Head
Friday's game is the second of six this season between the Mallards and Rush. The Mallards dropped their opener to Rapid City 6-4 on home ice on October 19. All-time the Mallards have gone 9-7-1 against the Rush and have posted a record of 4-3-0 in Rapid City. The Mallards' Jeff Lee skated for the Rush last season while there are four former Mallards on the Rapid City roster- Jared Brown, Eric Giosa, Ryan Palmer and Bob Preece. Brown and Preece are currently on injured reserve.
Ins and Outs
In the wake of Rimmer's AHL recall last Monday the Mallards signed goaltender Nick Niedert last Tuesday..
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 for the Mallards' December 21 game at the iWireless Center will receive free Mallards knit caps courtesy of CBS 4 and Bierstube.
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 Saturday's contest- 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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