MOLINE, Ill. – Olivier Archambault’s hat trick propelled the host Quad City Mallards (25-23-5) to a 4-2 victory over the Utah Grizzlies (30-21-4) Wednesday night.
With the win the Mallards climbed to third place in the ECHL’s Midwest Division and ninth place in the Western Conference.
The Mallards jumped on the Grizzlies early with shorthanded goals 11 seconds apart just over a minute into the game from Jared Knight and Archambault: Knight finished off a 2-on-1 rush at 1:03; at 1:14 Archambault scored on a breakaway.
Utah was again on the power play when Charles Sarault cut the gap to 2-1 at 5:35 of the first period with a wrist shot from the top of the right wing circle.
Archambault struck again from the doorstep to push the Mallard lead back to a pair at 17:12 of the first.
At 16:16 of the second period Barry Almeida’s backhander from the slot narrowed the gap to 3-2 but debuting Mallards goaltender P.J. Musico- who finished with 32 saves- would shut the door on Utah the rest of the way and set the stage for Archambault to cap of the Mallard win and complete his hat trick at 8:36 of the third period by driving the puck off the goal post, off Grizzlies defenseman Phil Pietroniro and into the net.
The Mallards return to action on home ice Friday night at 7:05 p.m. against the Cincinnati Cyclones. Friday also bring the return of $1 Dog/$1 Beer Night presented by 97X and MetroLINK College Night.
With Quad City Mallards release
Contact the photographer: Rich.Guill@prohockeynews.com (Sean Flynn Photography)
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