Team News

MALLARDS DOWN OILERS 5-3

By: Mallards Communications Staff
Photo: Sean Flynn Photography/Quad City Mallards

Raphael Bussieres scored the third period game winner and added a late empty net goal and Brody Hoffman made 25 saves in his professional debut as the host Quad City Mallards (2-1-1) defeated the Tulsa Oilers (2-3-0) 5-3 Saturday night.

Bussieres provided the Mallards' fourth lead of the night by breaking a 3-3 tie with a backhander from the right wing circle at 14:37 of the third.  He clinched victory after the Oilers pulled goaltender Jussi Olkinuora by putting the puck into the unguarded Tulsa net while falling to the ice with just 20 seconds left.

Bussieres finished off the Oilers after Phil Brewer had tipped home his second goal of the night and the Oilers' third equalizer of the contest at 3:08 of the third.  Darren McMillan assisted on three Mallard goals including both of those scored by Bussieres.  McMillan was, along with Bussieres, Miles Koules (one goal and one assist), Logan Nelson (one goal and one assist) and Olivier Archambault (two assists), one of five Mallards who recorded multiple points.

The Mallards first forged in front when Nelson buried a rebound at 6:48 of the first period.  Brian Nugent responded for the Oilers on a 2-on-1 rush with just a minute and six seconds left in the first.  

Koules pounced on a rebound to give the Mallards a 2-1 lead at 2:46 of the second period only for Brewer to jam in a rebound at the other end just over five minutes later.

Guilluame Gelinas's power play blast at 11:05 of the second gave the Mallards the 3-2 edge they took into the final frame.

Hoffman was at his sharpest in the third period, stopping 13 Oiler shots to set the stage for Bussieress's late heroics.

The Mallards host the Wichita Thunder tomorrow at 4:05 p.m.  The Quad Cities this summer were named number one minor league market in the nation.  The Mallards will join with the Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau to thank the fans of the Quad Cities- without whom this achievement would not have been possible- by offering 50 percent off all tickets to the Mallards’ game Sunday at 4:05 p.m. against the Wichita Thunder.  After that contest fans can join the Mallards on the ice.  Skate with the Mallards is presented by B100.

Single game tickets for all Mallards regular season home games- including tomorrow's tilt- 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. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Tickets are available for $10, $16, $20 and $28.



November 04 @ 6:30 PM
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Quad City Mallards   Missouri Mavericks
November 06 @ 7:00 PM
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Quad City Mallards   Wichita Thunder
November 11 @ 6:30 PM
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Quad City Mallards   Alaska Aces
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