Eagles pluck Mallards – take 2-1 series lead

MOLINE, Ill. – For the first 56 minutes and 39 seconds of game three in the Turner conference quarter finals goalies David Brown of the Quad City Mallards and Andrew Penner of the Colorado Eagles saved every shot thrown their way in a classic goalie duel.
The defensive-minded Mallards played a perfect game of using their big forwards and mobile defensemen to slow down and thwart the fast-skating skill players that Colorado relies on.
Each team played their game until somebody blinked. In this case it was Quad City who was caught off gaurd by a quick backhander from Dan Sullivan of the Eagles.  Adam Cherneyko and Scott May assisted on the setup for this first goal of the game coming with a mere 3:21 left in the third period.

The never-give-up Mallards fought valiantly to get the game-tying goal as they had in game one of the series. But Eagles Captain Riley Nelson scored into an empty net at 19:44 to seal the deal for Colorado to take a two games to one lead in the best of five series.
For his efforts in stopping 36 of the 38 shots the Eagles threw at him, Mallard’s goalie Brown was chosen as 3rd star of the game. The 2nd star was awarded  to Eagle’s goalie Penner for his 28 save shutout. The 1st star went to Colorado’s  Sullivan  for his breakthrough game-winning goal.
The next game will be April 6th back at the i-wireless Center in Moline, Illinois beginning at 7:05 CST.
Contact the author/photographer at terry.sanford@prohockeynews.com