Lindsay Sparks scored a shorthanded goal and added an assist and Josh Robinson made 34 saves as the Missouri Mavericks (23-30-7) defeated the host Quad City Mallards (31-24-7) 3-1 Sunday.  Despite the defeat the Mallards remain in second place in the ECHL's Central Division, two points ahead of the third place Tulsa Oilers.

The Mavericks were on the power play when Geoff Walker opened the scoring with a wrist shot from the left wing circle at 3:09 of the first period.

John Scott Dickson buried Geordie Wudrick's cross-crease past to stretch the Missouri lead to 2-0 at 6:31 of the first.

The Mallards' Kevin Baker cut the gap to 2-1 by sweeping in a power play goal from point blank range with just 61 seconds left in the opening frame.

Robinson would stop 24 shots while blanking the Mallards over the final two periods and setting the stage for Sparks's late clincher.  With 4:05 left in the third period, Sparks pounced on the rebound after Mallard goaltender Evan Mosher turned aside his initial bid.

Mosher returned to the Mallards Saturday night from the American Hockey League's Lake Erie Monsters after signing a professional tryout agreement with Lake Erie last Wednesday.  The Mallards released emergency backup goaltender Jake Reed Saturday night night.

The Mallards return to action Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. against the Tulsa Oilers on home ice.  Fans can purchase four tickets to each Mallards Wednesday home game this season for just $20.  

Tickets for all remaining Mallards regular season home games- including Wednesday night's game- are on sale now at the iWireless Center box office, Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com and Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000.  The box office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and game days from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the second period.  Tickets are available for $10, $16, $20 and $28.