MOLINE, Ill. – Zach Pochiro and Matt Neal provided two goals and one assist apiece and Raphael Bussieres also scored twice as the host Quad City Mallards (5-4-3) defeated the Alaska Aces (4-7-1) 7-4 Wednesday night.
Bussieres put the Mallards in front for good when he broke a 3-3 tie by pouncing on a rebound at 14:36 of the second period; at 5:08 of the third the Mallards were on the power play when he jumped on another rebound to score what proved to be the game winner and widen the Quad City lead to 5-3.
After Tommaso Traversa’s tip-in brought the Aces back within one at 9:43 of the final frame, Tanner Eberle chased Alaska starting goaltender Troy Redmann from the game and gave the Mallards a 6-4 advantage with a power play blast from the left wing circle at the 11:57 mark. The Aces pulled relief netminder Steven Summerhays late in the game for an extra attacker but the gamble backfired when Pochiro scored the empty net clincher with just five seconds remaining.
The Aces spent much of the evening battling from behind after the Mallards first jumped in front early in the contest. Pochiro opened the scoring with a one-timer from the left wing circle at 1:15 of the first period. Neal’s deflection stretched the gap to 2-0 at 11:17 of the first but Joe Perry would score the first Alaska goal from point blank range just over two minutes later.
Olivier Archambault- who, along with teammate Mike Monfredo, piled up three assists- set up Neal on the doorstep for the third Mallard goal at 2:27 of the second period. Undaunted, the Aces produced back-to-back goals to even the score at three. Ben Lake converted a rebound at 3:43 of the second and Tyler Maxwell scored from a tight angle at 7:10 but the Mallards would recover to surge to victory.
The Mallards return to action on the road against the Cincinnati Cyclones Friday night. The Mallards next play at home Sunday at 4:05 p.m. against the Fort Wayne Komets. Just in time for the holidays, the Mallards will team with R.I.A. Federal Credit Union for a teddy bear toss Sunday. Fans are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped stuffed animal and throw it on to the ice after the Mallards’ first goal. Teddy bears will be donated to area children in need. Courtesy of B100, fans can join the Mallards on the ice and skate with the team after each Sunday home game this season.
With Quad City Mallards team release
Contact the photographer: Rich.Guill@prohockeynews.com (Sean Flynn Photography)