MOLINE, Ill. – The Quad City Mallards’ Josh MacDonald scored the game winning goal in the third period just 23 seconds after teammate Matt Pohlkamp tied the score as the host Mallards (1-1-0) defeated the Tulsa Oilers (0-2-0) 5-4 Saturday night.
Pohlkamp erased the third Oiler lead with a close range backhander at 12:33 of the third and set the stage for MacDonald to break the deadlock from the slot at 12:56. The Mallards found themselves in need of that rapid and decisive response when Alexandre Ranger’s deflection pushed the Oilers in front 4-3 at 10:38 of the third.
The third period fireworks followed a back and forth second period that produced four goals. Tulsa’s Dylan Hubbs broke a 1-1 tie from the right wing circle at 2:17 of the second. The Mallards answered by grabbing their first lead with goals one minute and 46 seconds apart. The Mallards were shorthanded when Sam Warning knotted the contest on a 2-on-1 at 9:38. Justin Kovacs put the Mallards up 3-2 from the doorstep at 11:24 but Adam Pleskach’s power play goal from the side of the net at 17:12 evened matters at three.
Connor Bleakley gave Tulsa a 1-0 lead on a shorthanded breakaway at 3:19 of the first period. Mallards rookie Keegan Kolesar tipped in his first career goal to tie the game at 10:02 of the first. Kolesar would go on to add two assists. Like Kolesar, Mallards rookie goaltender Ivan Kulbakov also enjoyed a milestone evening. Kulbakov earned the win in his professional debut with 27 saves.
The Mallards return to action on home ice Wednesday night at the early start time of 6:35 p.m. against the Oilers.
With Quad City Mallards release
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