MOLINE, Ill. – Chris Francis and Jack Nevins provided a goal and an assist apiece and C.J. Motte made 42 saves as the host Quad City Mallards (6-3-1) defeated the Toledo Walleye (8-3-0) 4-2 Friday night.
The Mallards scored three times in the decisive second period. Donnie Harris started the Mallard onslaught in the second just 25 seconds into the period. Harris snapped a 1-1 tie by driving the puck home off Toledo goaltender Jake Patterson from the high slot. The Walleye’s Jacob MacDonald responded with a wraparound goal at 6:45 of the second, but the Mallards would take command with back-to-back goals late in the period. Francis gave the Mallards a 3-2 lead by ripping what proved to be the game winner in under the cross bar from the right wing circle at 14:06. Nevins took a feed from Nolan LaPorte- LaPorte’s third assist- and stretched the lead to two from a tight angle with just four seconds left in the period.
The Mallards had first moved in front while on the power play when Guillaume Gelinas’ wrist shot from the blue line opened the scoring at 10:16 of the first period. The Walleye’s Tylor Spink knotted the game at one from the slot at 16:32 of the first, but Motte would dazzle by making 18 saves in the opening period and the contest would turn the Mallards’ way in the second.
The Mallards return to action tomorrow night on the road against the Kalamazoo Wings. The Mallards next play at home next Saturday night, November 19, at 7:05 p.m. against the Wheeling Nailers. The November 19 game immediately follows Lighting on the Commons on John Deere Commons in downtown Moline. Families attending Lighting on the Commons will receive vouchers for free kids’ tickets to the Mallards’ game.
With Quad City Mallards release