Brown, Mallards Ground Eagles

MOLINE, Ill, – Despite out-shooting the Quad City Mallards 40-18, the Colorado Eagles lost 3-2 in the first of back-to-back games against their first-time foes. The teams entered the game tied for second place in the Turner Conference, but David Brown stopped 38 of 40 shots for Quad City, and the Mallards scored on two of five third period shots to steal the win.

The Eagles controlled much of the play in the first period, out-shooting the Mallards 17-7, but after getting the opening goal just over 13 minutes in, a somewhat fluky score sent the teams into the first period tied at 1.

The game’s first goal came on maybe the prettiest play of the season for Colorado. Aaron Schneekloth carried the puck down the left wing and sent a blind, backhand pass from the goal line to Steve Haddon low in the left circle. Haddon then sent a blind, backhand pass across the ice to Adam Hogg stationed all alone on the doorstep where he slammed the puck home.

Quad City countered at 16:20 when Eric Giosa gloved down the puck in the neutral zone, entered the offensive zone and took a shot from the high slot. Former Mallard Kyle Jones was challenging at the top of his crease and got his glove on the puck, but it fluttered off and directly behind the goaltender into the net.

The Eagles were even more dominant in the second period, out-shooting the Mallards 17-6 and getting the period’s only goal. At 16:12, Kevin Ulanski sent a pass from the right circle that Riley Nelson, who was stationed in the low slot, directed past David Brown. Both Colorado players extended their respective point streaks to 10 games on the tally.

Quad City played a much better game in the final frame, and scored on their first and third shots — of just five total in the period — to take the lead. At 4:31, Tyler Kindle scored on a sharp-angle shot from the left wing to tie the game at 2. And under a minute later, Zac Pearson got the game-winner, converting a breakaway by slipping a shot past Jones’ left toe and inside the right post.

The two teams — who met for the first time in this game — will go head-to-head again Saturday night.