Michael Parks fought to win a battle along the boards and chipped the puck to Chris Francis.

Francis had a look at the net, but passed to Nolan LaPorte for an even better chance and a game-winning goal.

The connection between the trio of Quad-City Mallards continues to grow.

"We've been together all year and once you find chemistry, it makes the game a lot easier," LaPorte said. "I think, with Francis' veteran leadership and Parksy just being an awesome player, it's been a good combination for us."

It's hard to pick one top line for the playoff-bound Mallards this season, who have been successful through their balance.

The Mallards have seven players with 40-plus points, including four with 50 or more, as well as four 20-plus goal scorers. At this point last season, the team had just two players with 40-plus points and one with 20-plus goals.

"They're all pieces of the puzzle," head coach Phil Axtell said. "Guys are playing a team game ... they're starting to have a great buy-in as a whole and that's what we need."

Though balance has been at the forefront, there's no denying the impact of LaPorte, Francis and Parks has had on the team. The trio has combined for nearly a third of the team's goals and since the Mallards tabbed Axtell as their coach in January, has been the team's most consistent scoring threat.

Francis is tied for the team lead with 53 points, while Parks leads the team with 26 goals and LaPorte has added 14 goals and 27 assists.

LaPorte and Parks are rookies, while Francis is a veteran of the ECHL who has played in the Kelly Cup championship back in 2012 with the Las Vegas Wranglers. Having that veteran influence has helped the two rookies acclimate quickly.

"It makes the game a lot easier, it slows the game down for us," LaPorte said. "He's been around for years, he's been everywhere and he's played a lot of different game styles. It's good to have him there on your line and after a shift, come back and he'll say a word or two to you about whether you should be here or there. It's like having a second coach with you on your line."

Flanked by two rookies has also been extremely beneficial for Francis, a seventh-year veteran center. The 27-year-old has 24 goals and 29 assists, potentially in line for career numbers in both if he has a strong close to the season.

"They definitely keep me young," Francis said. "It's good, we all compliment each other pretty well. We all have different things we're good at. I always tell them I'm going to slow the game down and Parksy's speed and LaPorte's all-over (ability) ... we're just comfortable right now, we know where each other's at on the ice and that's something you want to have."

The line combination has been together most of the season, but has really come on strong in the last seven games. LaPorte was gone for three games, on a professional tryout agreement with the Iowa Wild, but since his return, that trio has combined for 11 goals and 12 assists.

"It doesn't matter who you put on your line, you've got to be going every game, but yes, having Nolan back in the lineup definitely gives me and Michael a boost," Francis said. "Nolan's been the same all year for us, we can always count on him. He's gritty, goes to the corners and gets the puck. He's got a great shot when he wants to shoot the puck but he's always in the dirty areas and he gets the puck to me and Parksy and lets us make the plays and we can always count on him being responsible out there for us."

Even though that line has been productive, Axtell isn't averse to breaking it up like he did Wednesday night. With Justin Kovacs on personal leave and Jack Nevins out with a lower body injury, Parks was partnered with Adam Gilmour and Chase Lang.

Parks responded with his first career hat trick.

After being held scoreless for eight games, Parks now has five goals in his last five.

"When hes getting the opportunity to shoot hes shooting," Axtell said. "Hes getting the interior of their zone and staying away from the perimeter and shots from that area are more likely to go in."

There's still some question marks for the lineup tonight when the Mallards take on Fort Wayne, but it's a good sign of the adaptability of the team that Axtell can move the pieces around without fear of a letdown. The team's balance again remains its biggest strength.

"We've got to keep going," Francis said. "We can't just look back at the last game and think since we were good the last game we can take the night off. This team needs everybody going every night and that's how we're going to be successful."

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Chemistry of Mallards' trio continuing to grow - Quad City Times