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MOLINE, Ill. – Special teams proved to be the difference once again on Sunday afternoon as Wichita (2-3-0-0) fell at the hands of Quad City (3-1-0-1) by the final of 5-2 at the i-Wireless Center. The two teams combined for 13 power plays and 36 penalty minutes. The Mallards fended off a two-man advantage in the third and scored two power play goals to pull away late. The season-series is now tied at 1-1-0-0 with each team winning in their building.
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Tanner Eberle had a pair of first-period goals to help the home team to a 2-1 lead through 20 minutes. His first came at 9:06, firing home a long rebound that came off the leg pad of David Shantz and gave the Mallards a 1-0 lead. Wichita answered at 12:42 as Ian Lowe redirected a Brandon Martell shot past Steve Michalek to tie the game. Eberle recorded his second after find a rebound in the slot and sliding it along the ice into the net for a 2-1 advantage.
Raphael Bussieres gave the Mallards a two-goal lead at 4:22 of the second period as he snuck home a rebound at the side of the net. Donnie Harris got the Thunder within one at 15:37, firing a wrist shot from the right circle past Steve Michalek.
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In the third, the Mallards added to their lead with two power play goals. After Wichita failed to capitalize on a five-on-three, Matt Neal re-gained a two-goal advantage with his second marker of the season at 12:08. The two teams continued to send players to the box, combining for six major penalties in the frame. Zach Pochiro fired home a shot from along the goal line that hit the post, slid just behind Shantz to make it 5-2.
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Lowe and Harris each record their first goals of the season. Martell and Sakaris picked up assists in the losing effort. Shantz takes the loss, stopping 26 of 31 shots. Michalek earns the win, stopping 31 of 33 shots he faced.
Wichita went 0-for-6 on the power play. Quad City was 2-for-7 on the man advantage.
With Wichita Thunder team release
Contact the photographer: Rich.Guill@prohockeynews.com (Sean Flynn Photography)
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