MOLINE, IL – Adam Vay made 32 saves and five different Quad City Mallards scored as the host Mallards (35-23-4) shut out the Missouri Mavericks (28-26-8) 5-0 Saturday night.
The Mallards can clinch a Kelly Cup playoff berth with a win, overtime loss or shootout loss in their game against the Indy Fuel tomorrow in Indianapolis. The Mallards’ win combined with the Tulsa Oilers’ loss to the Toledo Walleye Saturday evening to reduce the Mallards’ magic number for locking up a postseason spot to one.
Sam Warning rifled the opening goal in under the cross bar from the top of the left wing circle after making a full circuit of the offensive zone at 8:07 of the first period. Chase Lang doubled the Mallard lead by burying Warning’s centering pass at 18:17 of the first.
The Mallards were on the power play when Justin Kovacs’ wrist shot from the top of the right wing circle stretched the gap to 3-0 at 8:52 of the second period. Guillaume Gelinas scored the fourth Mallard goal from the left wing circle at 17:43 of the second.
Andrew Panzarella capped off the Mallard onslaught by blasting the puck home off Missouri goaltender Josh Robinson at 9:01 of the third period.
Vay was at his busiest in closing out the Mallards’ second win over the Mavericks in as many nights by making 15 third period saves.
The Mallards next play at home next Friday at 7:05 p.m. against the Fort Wayne Komets.
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