MOLINE, IL – Justin Kovacs buried the only shootout goal after also scoring in regulation and the host Quad City Mallards (28-18-2) edged the Elmira Jackals (9-33-7) – who had forced overtime by twice rallying to tie the score – 4-3 in a shootout Sunday to extend their winning streak to seven games.
Kovacs snapped the puck in under crossbar in the first round of the shootout and set the stage for Mallard goaltender Adam Vay, who made 28 saves in regulation and overtime, to stop all three Jackal chances.
The Mallards appeared to be on the way to a regulation win before Kenton Miller knotted the game at three with just 2:46 left in the third period by scoring the third Elmira power play goal of the day from close range. Miller erased the 3-2 lead Brady Brassart had provided for the Mallards with a wrist shot the from the slot 11:21 of the third. Alex Gudbranson picked up his third assist on as many Mallard goals by setting up Brassart, but Sebastien Sylvestre would notch his third assist on as many Jackal goals by teeing up Miller’s equalizer.
The Jackals had earlier rebounded from a 2-0 deficit with a pair of Matt Lane man advantage goals. It was during a Jackal 5-on-3 that Lane halved that gap by one-timing home Sam Povorozniouk’s cross-ice feed at 15:34 of the first period. Lane then roofed the tying goal from the slot at 6:12 of the second period.
Sam Warning tipped in the opening goal of the afternoon at 6:01 of the first period with a delayed penalty in effect against Elmira and an extra attacker on the ice for the Mallards. The Mallards were on the power play when Kovacs’ drive from the high slot doubled their lead at 9:55 of the first.
While the Jackals did battle back to push the Mallards to the limit, the Mallards have now strung together their longest win streak since they ripped off ten straight United Hockey League victories between March 20 and April 10, 2004.
The Mallards next play on the road Wednesday night at 6:35 p.m. against the Cincinnati Cyclones. The Mallards will return home Friday evening for a 7:05 p.m. rematch with the Cyclones.
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