Box Score

Jared Brown and John Snowden converted penalty shots after Brandon Marino rang up a hat trick and an assist in regulation as the Quad City Mallards scored a wild 6-5 shootout win over the host Rapid City Rush Saturday night.  With the win, the Mallards improved to 29-22-1 (59 points) on the season and pulled within three points of the fourth place Rush- who picked up one point for the shootout loss- in the Central Hockey League’s Turner Conference.

Jared Brown- on the first Mallard penalty shot and- Snowden- on the fourth and final Quad City chance- converted in the shootout while Mallard goaltender David Brown turned aside all four Rapid City penalty shots.

The shootout followed on the heels of overtime after the Rush’s Riley Weseloski blasted the only goal of the third period from the high slot to even the contest at five at the 7:46 of the final regulation frame.  Weseloski’s strike was Rapid City’s third tying goal of the night.

The Mallards took the lead on three different occasions during a roller coaster second period, and would, after the Rush battled back twice in the second to tie the score, take a 5-4 advantage into the second intermission.  Mickey Lang gave the Mallards their first lead by snapping a 2-2 deadlock from close range just 25 seconds into the period.  At 2:34, the Rush’s Jeff Kyrzakos buried a rebound to knot the score at three.   Marino responded for the Mallards by driving his third goal and Quad City’s fourth in off the post at the five-minute mark.  After giving up that goal, Rapid City goaltender Tim Boron was replaced by David Wilson.  The 4-3 Mallard lead lasted until Scott Wray converted Konrad Reeder’s cross-crease pass and made it 4-4 at 9:55- only for Obi Aduba to walk in alone and score the fifth Mallard goal at 12:38.

It was the Mallards who had battled from behind in the first period as Marino scored back-to-back goals to erase a 2-0 Rapid City lead.  The Mallards were up 5-on-3 when Marino cut the gap to 2-1 with a blast from the right wing circle at 11:29 of the first.  Marino caught up with puck- again in the right circle- to drive the tying goal home at 17:44.

Marino’s outburst proved vital after the Rush’s Reeder- who would finish the evening with a goal and three assists- had charged into the goalmouth to open the scoring at 5:43 of the first and Rapid City’s Anthony Perdicaro had doubled the margin at 10:21 with a wraparound power play goal.

However, thanks in no small part to Marino’s efforts, the Mallards would, in the end, outlast the Rush.  By scoring three times Marino moved into a tie for the league lead in goals (32) with Evansville’s Brian Bicek.   With four points on the evening Marino reached 71 for the season and joined league-leader Todd Robinson of the IceMen as the second player in the CHL to top 70 points.

The Mallards return to action on home ice next Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. against the Fort Wayne Komets.  Fans can purchase $2 soft drinks and $2 beers at i wireless Center concession stands during all Tuesday night home games this season.