RAPID CITY REMAINS UNDEFEATED DUE TO LATE GAME Winning%20Goal IN OVERTIME

(RAPID CITY, SD) – Saturday night marked the first rematch of the CHL season for the Rapid City Rush, as they took on the Brampton Beast, who looked to avenge last night’s 4-1 loss to the Rush. The Rush would foil their attepts to do so, as they took the decision in overtime 2-1, thanks to Tristin Llewellyn’s game Winning%20Goal with 7.9 seconds left in the extra session, propelling them to their fourth consecutive win to start the 2013/14 CHL campaign.

The first period picked up right from where both clubs left off in last night’s contest, as bodies were thrown around, and discipline became a factor. Two power play opportunities for either side would not be enough to crack the goal lines of Tim Boron and Kris Westblom for both the Rush and Beast respectively, and both teams would enter the locker room intermission with scoreless hockey.

The second period would see much of the same as the first period did. Rapid City would send out their power play unit four more times in the second frame, however they would not capitalize on their opportunities. Discipline came at a premium for the second night in a row, as through 40 minutes of play, 18 combined penalty minutes would be handed out, although toned down from the previous night’s 32 minutes after two periods of play. With about five minutes to go, however, Rapid City would turn the puck over in the neutral zone, leading to a 2-on-1 breakaway for the Beast’s Rob Collins and Jeff Martens. Arguably the play of the game, Tim Boron would stone the opportunity cold, and allow the Rush to go into the locker room session still looking at a scoreless game through two frames.

Then the third period happened. On their 10th power play opportunity of the night, something would give, and Rapid City would ignite the goal lamp with 4:55 left in regulation. Riley Weselowski would score his first goal of the season on a heads-up backhand shot that went over the sprawling glove of Beast Goaltender Kris Westblom to give the Rush their first lead of the game. Winston Day Chief and Tristin Llewellyn would pick up the assists, with Llewellyn extending his assist and point streaks for four games. However, calamity would once again be the theme of the game, and the Rush would give up a power play to the Beast with 1:18 left in the third. Westblom would be pulled from the net to give Brampton a 6-on-4 advantage in the waning moments of regulation. It would work. Matt Caruana would score with 59.7 seconds left in the third frame, taking advantage of a tied up pile of hockey players in front of the net, and burying his pass from Tylor Michel and Andrew Fournier. Extra-curricular activity would ensue.

After starting off overtime shorthanded for 30 seconds, Rapid City and their full strength play would pick up the pace of the extra session. Madness ensued, as Tristin Llewellyn would roof the goal of Kris Westblom on a great pass from Jared Brown and Rush Captain Scott Wray with 7.9 seconds left in overtime to give the Rush a hard-fought 2-1 win, propelling them to four consecutive wins and a tie atop the CHL with their geographical rivals, the Denver Cutthroats.

Tim Boron was stalwart in the net, as he stopped 33 shots in consecutive nights, earning him 2nd star honors. Riley Weselowski captured 3rd star honors, and Llewellyn 1st star honors. Jared Brown would extend his assist and point streaks as well on the game Winning%20Goal to four games. Rapid City now heads to the desert, as they take on the Arizona Sundogs three times in four nights, with the series beginning next Wednesday night.

Other Rush News:

Season tickets for the 2013-14 season are available now by calling the Rush office at 716-7825.

Stay informed on Rush happenings through the official Rapid City Rush team website, www.RapidCityRush.com, and the Rapid City Rush mobile app, available on iTunes and GooglePlay

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