Mavericks Lose to Mallards, 7-2

The Missouri Mavericks (29-22-5) gave up four goals in the opening 15 minutes and ultimately lost, 7-2, to the Quad City Mallards Friday night at Independence Events Center.  Mallards’ forward Mickey Lang had two goals and Obi Aduba led all scorers with a goal and two assists.  Missouri is now 1-2-1 in the last four games against Quad City and the Mavericks are just 1-3-1 in the month of March.  The Mavericks gave up seven goals for the third time this season and first time since a 7-3 loss in Bloomington on Dec. 16.  The two teams will rematch Saturday night in Quad City before the Mavericks head home for a game on Sunday against the Wichita Thunder at 4:05 p.m. at Independence Events Center.
Quad City jumped out to a 4-0 lead less than 15 minutes into the first period.  Aduba opened the scoring on the power play at the 5:59 mark on assists from Anthony Perdicaro and Shayne Toporowski.  Mallards’ leading scorer Mickey Lang notched the next two goals for the visiting team and both were assisted by Aduba.  Mavericks’ goaltender Mike Clemente was pulled in favor of Mathieu Corbeil following Lang’s second goal.  Then, Corbeil misplayed the puck behind his net and Mike Hellyer made it a 4-0 game when he blasted the puck into a wide open net.  The Mavericks got on the scoreboard when Colt King scored on the power play and made it a 4-1 game at the 17:11 mark.  He was assisted by John-Scott Dickson.
The Mallards added two more goals in the second period from Mike Stinziani and Mitch McColm.
Mavericks’ finalist for Rookie of the Year, Kenton Miller, made it a 6-2 game on his 22nd goal of the season, but the Mavericks couldn’t get any closer.  Matt Boyd scored a shorthanded empty net goal at 17:05 of the third period to finalize the scoring at 7-2.
Missouri finished 1-for-4 on the power play and Quad City was 1-for-2.  Missouri outshot Quad City 36-21.
The Mavericks are in Quad City on Saturday night and return home on Sunday for a matinee game at 4:05 p.m. at Independence Events Center.