MOLINE, Ill. – Mathew Maione, Derek Army and John McCarron provided a goal and an assist apiece and Franky Palazzese made 39 saves as the Wheeling Nailers (14-9-3) defeated the host Quad City Mallards (14-9-3) 4-1 Friday night.
The Mallards remain atop the ECHL’s Midwest Division despite seeing their eight-game home winning streak halted.
Maione finished off a 3-on-2 rush from the left wing circle to give Wheeling a 1-0 lead at 7:38 of the second period. The Nailers were on the power play when Army doubled the advantage by converting McCarron’s centering pass at 16:46 of the second.
Zach Torquado stretched the gap to 3-0 from point blank range at 15:15 of the third period. After Guillaume Gelinas ended Palazzese’s shutout bid in a goalmouth scramble with 48 seconds remaining, McCarron’s empty net goal capped off the Nailer victory with just seven seconds left on the clock.
The Mallards host the Nailers again tomorrow night. The first 1,000 youngsters ages 12 and under through the doors for tomorrow evening’s rematch will receive free Mallards/YMCA youth replica jerseys. The Mallards have teamed with Scott County Family YMCA to give away youth jerseys modeled on the special edition “blackout” sweaters worn by the Mallards last month.
With Quad City Mallards team release
Contact the photographer: Rich.Guill@prohockeynews.com (Sean Flynn Photography)
