In a game where neither team could get a cushion, the Quad City Mallards escaped with a 3-2 victory over the Bloomington Blaze.

Each team kept the other at bay throughout the game, and Mike Stinziani secured the win for Quad City with a goal in the third period.

The Mallards were led by Stinziani, who registered one goal. Stinziani scored 11:30 into the third period to make the score 3-2 Quad City. Shayne Toporowski assisted on the tally.

Quad City relied on a core group of players for most of its offense, as Mickey Lang, Jason Kostadine and Mike Hellyer took 17 of the team's 32 shots.

Quad City also got points from Lang, who also grabbed one goal and one assist. Matt Duffy also scored for Quad City. Other players who recorded assists for Quad City were Obi Aduba and Anthony Perdicaro, who each chipped in one.

The 34 shots that Bloomington put on net surpassed the Blaze's average of 21.1 shots per game this season.

Bloomington was helped by Matthew Larke, who racked up one goal. Larke scored 6:49 into the second period to make the score 2-2. Steve Makway picked up the assist. Bloomington additionally got points from Makway, who also finished with one goal and one assist. In addition, Bloomington received assists from David Gilbert, who had one and Jon Booras, who had two.

The Mallards' Neil Conway stopped 32 shots out of the 34 that he faced. Quad City incurred six minutes in penalty time with three minors. Ross MacKinnon rejected 29 shots on goal for the Blaze. Bloomington incurred 10 minutes in penalty time with five minors.