Mallards Edge Gems in Shootout 3-2
Flock Wins Fourth Straight, Finishes December 11-2-1
 
DAYTON, Ohio (December 31, 2011) – Brad Fogal made 42 saves in regulation and overtime  and stopped all five Dayton Gems penalty shots while John Snowden scored the only goal of the shootout as the Quad City Mallards claimed a 3-2 win over the host Gems Saturday night.  With the win- Quad City’s fourth in a row- the Mallards improved to 11-2-1 in December and kept sole possession of second place in the Central Hockey League’s Turner Conference.
 
Box Score

After the first nine shooters failed to find the back of the net, Snowden dramatically wristed home the final penalty shot of the evening to consign Dayton to a single point for the shootout loss
 
The Gems had to battle back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the game in the second period.  Dayton got on the scoreboard for the first time when Matt Larke swept in a power play goal from the left wing circle at 5:05 of the second.  James Baxter converted Nic Polaski’s centering pass to tie the score at two 13 minutes into the period.  The Gems might have produced more than two goals in the second period had it not been for Fogal, who turned aside 21 shots in the middle frame.
 
The Mallards had used a pair of 4-on-3 power plays to get the early jump on the Gems.  Brandon Marino finished off a give-and-go with Eric Giosa to open the scoring at 12:18 of the first period.  Justin Hofstetter doubled the lead at the 16-minute mark of the first by firing a wrist shot home from the right wing circle.
 
The Mallards visit the Evansville IceMen next Tuesday night.  The Flock next plays at home next Friday night at 7:05 p.m. against the Wichita Thunder.