MOLINE, Ill. – Matt Carey scored twice and Vladimir Nikiforov provided a goal and two assists as the Quad City Mallards defeated the host Evansville IceMen 6-4 Thursday night.
With the win, the first place Mallards finish 2015 three points ahead of the Cincinnati Cyclones and Fort Wayne Komets in the race for the top spot in the ECHL’s Midwest Division.
A roller coaster second period saw the IceMen rally from a 2-0 deficit to take a 3-2 lead only for the Mallards to rebound with two goals of their own and move back on top for good. Alex Wideman kick-started the Evansville comeback at 2:17 of the second. Wideman scored the IceMen’s first goal from the hight slot. At 6:22 Alex Guptill backhanded home the tying goal from the left wing circle. Vincent Dunn snapped the deadlock with a blast from the right wing circle just a minute and 22 seconds later. Undaunted, the Mallards knotted the contest at three with Ryan Tesink’s tip-in at 10:45. Vladimir Nikiforov raced into the right wing circle to snap in the tie breaker at the 14:17 mark.
At 11:20 of the third period Brady Brassart- who also had an assist- converted a Nikiforov centering pass from close range for what at the time was an insurance goal but would later prove to be the game winner. Carey’s empty net goal stretched the gap to 6-3 with 2:02 remaining. Evansville’s Mike Duco scored from close range with just 49 seconds left, but that goal had no impact on the outcome.
Early in the evening it seemed the Mallards might have an easier time securing victory. Anthony Collins gave the Mallards a 1-0 lead by burying a centering feed from Austin Coldwell- who assisted on the first three Mallard goals- at 7:16 of the first period. The Mallards were on the power play when Carey doubled the advantage from the doorstep with two minutes left in the first.
The Mallards return home to take on the Allen Americans Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. After that game fans can join Mallards players for a postgame party at Blackwater Jack’s Saloon at Stoney Creek Inn. Stoney Creek Inn is located at 101 18th Street in Moline, just blocks from the iWireless Center.
With Quad City Mallards team release
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