Andrew Courtney scored and added an assist and Scott Howes piled up three assists as the host Missouri Mavericks (51-11-5) jumped out to a 3-0 lead on the way to a 5-2 victory over the Quad City Mallards (33-28-6) Wednesday night.

Despite that defeat the Mallards remain three points ahead of the ninth place Tulsa Oilers in the race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the ECHL's Western Conference.

The Mavericks were on the power play when Courtney scored the game's first goal by rifling home Howes' centering pass at 10:15 of the first period. With just over a minute left in the first, David de Kastrozza buried Howes' cross-ice feed to double Maverick lead.

Sebastien Sylvestre pounced on a rebound to stretch the Missouri advantage to 3-0 at 1:20 of the second period. After Vladimir Nikiforov got the Mallards on the scoreboard from close range at 4:52 of the second, Darian Dziurzynski reestablished the three-goal Maverick lead on a breakaway at the 11:49 mark.

Tyler Barnes tipped in the fifth Missouri goal at 5:50 of the third period. The Mallards' Jordan Knackstedt scored on the power play from the doorstep at 8:07 of the third to make it 5-2, but the Mallards would get no closer.

The Mallards return to action Friday night at 7:05 p.m. with a vital home game against Tulsa. Friday also brings the return of $1 Dog/$1 Beer Night presented by 97X and MetroLINK College Night. After Friday night’s game fans can head to Blackwater Jack’s Saloon at Stoney Creek Inn for a postgame party at which Mallards players will be among the guests. Stoney Creek Inn is located at 101 18th Street in Moline, just blocks from the iWireless Center.