MOLINE, Ill. (October 31, 2014) - Joe Basaraba had a goal and and assist, Stephan Vigier delivered what proved to be the game winner and Sam Brittain made 20 saves in his professional debut as the Cincinnati Cyclones (2-1-0-0) defeated the host Quad City Mallards (2-2-0-0) 3-2 Friday night.
The Cyclones twice in the second period staked themselves to two-goal leads. At 7:44 of the second Byron Froese scored in a goalmouth scramble to double what had been a 1-0 Cincinnati advantage. The Mallards' Antti Pusa cut the gap in half from the slot at 13:55, but Vigier would respond by scoring the third Cincinnati goal from the high slot at the 18:30 mark.
Jani Hakanpaa intercepted a pass and weaved between the circles to snap a backhander past Brittain and make it a one-goal game at 11:52 of the third period but the Mallards could not complete the comeback.
The Cyclones had first moved in front with just 18.2 seconds left in the first period. Basaraba's wrist shot from the high slot opened the scoring.
The Mallards host the Cyclones again tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. on Military Appreciation Night. Tickets for tomorrow evening's game are available to current and former military personnel and their families for just $5. Single game tickets for all remaining Mallards regular season home games- including tomorrow night's- are on sale now at the iWireless Center box office, Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com and Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000. The box office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and game days from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the second period. Tickets are available for $10, $16, $20 and $28.
About the Quad City Mallards
A proud affiliate of the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild and the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild, the Quad City Mallards are in the midst of their eighteenth season and their first in the ECHL. One of the winningest teams in all of minor league hockey, the Mallards competed in the United Hockey League from 1995 through 2007; in the International Hockey League in 2009-10; and in the Central Hockey League from 2010 through 2014. The Mallards' proud history has seen them capture the UHL's Colonial Cup Championship three times (1997, 1998, 2001) and secure that league's Tarry Cup four times (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002) for the best overall regular season record. In 2001, the Mallards made professional hockey history, recording their sixth consecutive season with 50 or more wins, a feat that has yet to be matched. The iWireless Center provides a unique environment for hockey and features one-of-a-kind seating areas such as the Nest for groups and functions and the exclusive Drake Club. For more information on the Quad City Mallards or for Mallards tickets go to www.myqcmallards.net. Fans can also follow the Mallards via Twitter at twitter.com/myqcmallards
