Mavericks Earn Point In Shootout Loss To Quad City, 3-2

The Missouri Mavericks (28-19-5) earned a point in their fourth straight game, but lost to the Quad City Mallards in a shootout, 3-2, Friday night at Independence Events Center. Both of the Mavericks goals were scored by Sebastien Thinel who continues to lead the CHL in scoring with 78 points (24-54=78).  The shootout lasted seven rounds and Bob Preece scored the game winner for the Mallards who improved to 24-24-6.  Mavericks’ goaltender Mike Clemente had 33 saves on 35 shots in the loss and Neil Conway stopped 28 of 30 shots for Quad City.
Quad City had a majority of the scoring chances in the first period and they took a 1-0 lead on Anthony Perdicaro’s 16th goal of the season.  He came into the Mavericks zone on a two-on-one, stick-handled the puck past a defenseman and beat Mavs’ goaltender Mike Clemente.  Mallards’ forwards Mickey Lang and Matt Boyd assisted on the play. Missouri earned a pair of power play chances but they were unable to convert in the first period and the Mallards held a 1-0 lead.
The Mallards continued to lead, 1-0, through the middle frame.  Each team had one chance on the power play in the second period but neither team was able to light the lamp.
Thinel took control for the Mavericks and he tied the game at the 8:00 mark of the third period.  Ryan Jardine came into the Mallards’ zone along the right wing and made a nice pass to Thinel who beat Mallards’ goaltender Neil Conway.  Just 99 seconds later, Thinel made it 2-1 when he was all alone in front of Conway and he lifted a forehand past the Mallards’ netminder.  Kellan Tochkin also assisted on both goals and the Mavericks held the lead for the first time in the game.
Quad City tied the game with just 1:46 remaining in regulation when Mike Stinziani scored his 20th goal of the season on assists from Darren McMillan and Mike Hellyer.  The teams remained tied through regulation and the overtime period forcing the game into a shootout.  Missouri scored just one goal on seven chances in the shootout and Preece earned the game winner with a goal in the seventh round.
The Mavericks finished 0-for-3 on the power play, but Missouri was perfect on the penalty kill for the fourth straight game killing both of Quad City’s chances.  Quad City outshot the Mavericks 36-30.
Missouri takes to the road for a pair of games this weekend against the top two teams in the CHL.  Missouri is in Allen on Saturday and Wichita on Sunday.  The Mavericks will return home on Tuesday, March 5 to take on the Bloomington Blaze where Price Chopper Two-for-One tickets are available via Ticketmaster.com or at the Silverstein Eye Centers Box Office.