MOLINE, Ill. – Dajon Mingo scored twice and Nick Riopel made 29 saves as the Kalamazoo Wings (25-24-4) defeated the host Quad City Mallards (30-21-2) 4-2 Friday night.
Mingo scored his second goal from the slot to give the Wings a 3-1 lead at 16:30 of the second period after Josh MacDonald had cut a 2-0 Kalamazoo advantage in half by slamming a rebound home at 2:30 of the second.
The Mallards were on the power play when Chris Francis’ one-timer from the left wing circle again narrowed the gap to one at 9:50 of the third period but Tyler Biggs would respond with a close-range Kalamazoo clincher with just 1:43 remaining.
The Wings had first seized the initiative by scoring twice in 50 seconds late in the opening period. Tanner Sorenson snapped the opening goal under the cross bar from the left wing circle at 18:38 of the first. With just 32 seconds left in the period, Mingo’s tip-in doubled Kalamazoo’s lead.
The evening might have taken a different course had Riopel not kept the game scoreless by making a series of early saves, including excellent stops on the Mallards’ Michael Parks and Nolan LaPorte.
The Mallards next play at home Sunday at 4:05 p.m. against the Wichita Thunder. The first 1,000 kids ages 12 and under through the gates for Sunday’s game will receive free Mallards youth replica jerseys courtesy of WQAD News 8 and Scott County Family YMCA. After Sunday’s game fans will have another chance to skate with the Mallards. Fans can bring their skates and hit the ice alongside all of their favorite players.
With Quad City Mallards release
Contact the photographer: Rich.Guill@prohockeynews.com (Sean Flynn Photography)
You must be logged in to post a comment.