MOLINE, Ill. – Former Aces Raphael Bussieres and Olivier Archambault haunted their old team, and goaltender Brody Hoffman made 29 saves as the Quad City Mallards defeated Alaska 7-4 Wednesday night at the iWireless Center.
The Mallards forged a 2-0 lead on goals by Zach Porchiro at 1:15 and Matthew Neal at 11:17.
Alaska answered with Joe Perry’s fourth goal of the season at 13:22.
In the second, Neal struck again at 2:27 to make it 3-1 Quad before the Aces tallied twice to tie. Ben Lake got his third goal of the season at 3:53, then Tyler Maxwell short-sided a wrister at 7:10 to make it 3-3. It was Maxwell’s first goal of the season.
Bussieres banged in a rebound of his own shot at 14:37 to complete second period scoring, and it was 4-3 Mallards going into the intermission.
In the third, the crushing blow to Alaska was Bussieres’ second goal of the game on the power play at 5:08 after the Aces took a costly too many men on the ice penalty.
Tommaso Traversa gave the Glacier Blue some hope with his tip-goal of a shot by Felix Poulin at 9:43.
However, Tanner Eberle at 11:43 on the power play, and Porchiro’s empty-net goal at 19:56 sealed the win.
Archambault, acquired from Alaska by Quad City for Joe Perry, finished with 3 assists, as did Mike Monfredo.
Hoffman finished with 29 saves for the win. Alaska’s Troy Redmann stopped 24 shots before yielding to Steven Summerhays after Eberle’s goal. Summerhays finished the game with 3 saves.
With the loss, Alaska drops to 4-7-1. The Aces next play at Indy Friday and Saturday.
With Alaska Aces team release