Mike Stinziani scored at 16:12 of overtime and Thomas Heemskerk made 45 saves as the host Quad City Mallards came from behind to defeat the Allen Americans 3-2 Saturday night and take a three games to two lead in the best-of-seven Central Hockey League semi-finals.  The Mallards are now one victory away from their first finals appearance in 11 years.

 

Stinziani jammed the game winner in from the crease after Allen goaltender Bryan Pitton (29 saves) made an initial save on a spectacular solo rush by the Mallards’ Justin Fox.

 

The Mallards’ Jordan Mayer- who also had an assist- forced overtime by rifling in the tying goal from the slot with just 51 seconds left in regulation after the Mallards had pulled Heemskerk for an extra attacker.

 

The Mallards found themselves in need of a late goal after the Americans scored twice earlier in the third to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead.  Allen was up a man when Alex Lavoie evened the score at one by burying Darryl Bootland’s centering pass at 1:42 of the third.  It was Bootland who pounced on a loose puck in the slot to break the deadlock at the 8:57 of the mark.

 

The Mallards had first moved in front while on the power play with just 33 seconds left in the first period when Mike Monfredo raced down the left wing and closed on the Allen net to finish off a give-and-go with Mayer.

 

Heemskerk, who was made a series of superb saves throughout the evening, was at his busiest while stopping 33 shots over the final two periods of regulation.

 

Should the Mallards win the series they will advance to the CHL President’s Cup finals for the first time since entering the league in 2010 and play for a league title for the first time since reaching the United Hockey League finals in 2003.

 

The series shifts to Allen for game six next Tuesday night.  If the series goes the distance, the Americans would host the seventh and deciding game next Wednesday evening.