Mallards Edge IceMen in the Quad Cities

(Evansville’s comeback effort falls short in 3-1 loss in final meeting with the Mallards.)

 

Records:  Evansville: 26-30-7-2; Quad City: 32-26-4-2

Goalies:  QC – Hoffman (W), 15-16-1-0, 30 saves, 1 GA

EVN – Greenham (L), 10-7-2-1, 34 saves, 2 GA

Scoring:

1^st Period: 1. QC – Carey 21 (PP, Knight, Coldwell, 19:06)

2^nd Period:  2. QC – Pochiro 9 (Knight, Nikiforov, 1:37)

3^rd Period:  3. EVN – Wideman 12 (Morongell, Moon, 6:48); 4. QC – Archambault 17 (EN, unassisted, 19:27)

MOLINE, IL – The Quad City Mallards picked up two key points in the Western Conference playoff race with a 3-1 win Friday over the Evansville IceMen at the iWireless Center.

The Mallards peppered IceMen goaltender Scott Greenham in the opening period, but Greenham made several key saves in keeping the game scoreless for the first 19 minutes of play. The Mallards, however, took a 1-0 lead with 54 seconds left in the frame on Quad City’s first power play, when Matt Carey blasted a one-timer into the net from the right circle.

Quad City extended its lead to 2-0 early in the second period, when Zach Pochiro snuck a backhander over Greenham’s glove 1:37 into the frame. Mallards goalie Brody Hoffman stopped all nine IceMen shots in the period and 17 through the first 40 minutes. Greenham made 11 saves in the middle stanza.

Evansville cut the lead in half, when Alex Wideman jammed in a loose puck at the side of the net out of a goal-mouth scramble midway through the third period. But the IceMen comeback fell short, as Olivier Archambault added an empty net goal for the Mallards in the final minute. Hoffman made 30 saves in the win, while Greenham stopped 34 in the loss.

The IceMen wrap up the week with a 7:30pm EST Saturday contest against the Fort Wayne Komets at Memorial Coliseum. It’ll be the first meeting between the two teams in Fort Wayne, since Evansville won 6-4 back on December 13.

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THIS WEEK

Wed. 3/23 – Missouri 2, Evansville 1, OT – Silverstein Eye Centers Arena (Independence, MO)

Fri. 3/25 – Quad City 3, Evansville 1 – iWireless Center (Moline, IL)

Sat. 3/26 – Evansville at Fort Wayne (7:30pm EST) – Memorial Coliseum

 

FINAL HOME GAMES

Fri. 4/1 – Cincinnati at Evansville (7:15pm) – Ford Center

                        Autism Awareness Night

Sat. 4/2 – Tulsa at Evansville (7:15pm) – Ford Center

Home Finale – TRCI Mini Stick Giveaway – Zooperstars

                       

AUTISM AWARENESS NIGHT – APRIL 1^ST

The IceMen only have two home games remaining at the Ford Center. Evansville hosts the Cincinnati Cyclones on Friday, April 1 at 7:05pm on Autism Awareness Night. Representatives from Inspiring Autism Spectrum Families will be in attendance and have a booth on the concourse with information to raise awareness, and the first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive bandanas.

FRIDAY HAT PACKS

Get a ticket and a limited edition IceMen hat for only $20 for the game Friday, April 1 against the Cincinnati Cyclones at 7:05pm. This is the final Friday game of the season, and the last chance to take advantage of this offer. Call the IceMen front office at 812-421-GOAL (4625) for details.

 

“MEMORIES WEEKEND” – HOME FINALE – APRIL 2^nd

Evansville plays its final game at the Ford Center Saturday, April 2 at 7:05pm against the Tulsa Oilers. As a part of “Memories Weekend”, the IceMen will celebrate memories of the organization’s eight years in Evansville from the AAHL days, to the CHL to the ECHL, including the team’s Davidson Cup Championship in 2010. The first 1,000 fans into the arena will receive team autographed mini goalie sticks, presented by TRCI.

ZOOPERSTARS RETURN

Saturday, April 2 also marks the much anticipated return of the ZOOperstars, when the IceMen take on Tulsa at 7:05pm at the Ford Center for the Home Finale. Dance along with the likes of “Mario Lemule”, “Whale Gretzky” and “Squidney Crosby” as they perform during the first and second intermission. For more information about the ZOOperstars or to see a sample video of one of their performances, visit: http://www.zooperstars.com/top-intermission-entertainment-act-for-nhl-minor-league-hockey.html

FAMILY 4 PACKS ARE BACK

Get 4 Upper Level tickets to either IceMen game next weekend for only $40! Lower level tickets are also available at a discounted rate when buying 4 or more.  The offer is only available online or by calling the IceMen offices at 812-421-GOAL (4625).

Visit us at www.evansvilleicemen.com, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter @EvvIceMen for more information about your hometown professional hockey team.