MOLINE, Ill. – Andrew Yogan scored once and piled up three assists and Joe Basaraba scored the winning goal and added two assists as the Cincinnati Cyclones (3-1-0-0) outlasted the host Quad City Mallards (2-3-0-0) 5-4 Saturday night.
The Cyclones were already on top 4-3 before Basaraba converted a Yogan centering pass for what to proved the decisive goal at 1:44 of the third period.
Justin Fox rifled in his second goal of the game from the left wing circle to narrow the gap to 5-4 at 6:48 of the third, but despite outshooting Cincinnati 13-5 in the final frame the Mallards could not produce an equalizer even after pulling goaltender Parker Milner for an extra attacker in the final minute.
The Cyclones were able to take a lead into the third period after outscoring the Mallards 2-1 in the second period. The Cyclones struck for back-to-back power play goals early in the second. Michael Neal jammed the puck in from the doorstep to snap a 2-2 deadlock at 1:34 . At 4:16 Josh Shalla’s tip-in doubled the Cincinnati lead. Just 47 seconds later, the Mallards’ Todd Fiddler converted Logan Nelson’s centering feed from close range and trimmed the margin to 4-3.
It was Yogan who had kick-started a back-and-forth night by scoring on a breakaway just 1:29 into the game. Joe Perry responded in short order by pouncing on a rebound to knot the score at one at 4:02 of the first period. The Mallards were on the power play when Fox fired in a tie-breaking wrist shot from the slot at 12:16 of the first. At 17:11, Stephan Vigier erased the Mallard lead from point blank range.
The Mallards earlier today activated forward Evan Haney from the team’s reserve list while moving forward Kevin Baker to the reserve list.
The Mallards return to action on the road Thursday night against the Brampton Beast. The Mallards next play at home on Wedensday evening, November 19 at 7:05 p.m. against the Tulsa Oilers. Fans purchase four tickets to that game or any Mallards Wednesday night home game for just $20. In addition, fans can join the Mallards at T.G.I. Friday’s for a post-game party after each Wednesday home tilt, including the November 19 contest.
Single game tickets for all remaining Mallards regular season home games- including the November 19 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.
With Quad City Mallards team release
Photos courtesy of Rich Guill (Sean Flynn Photography)