RAPID CITY FALLS TO RIVAL DENVER BEHIND TWO POWER PLAY GOALS

(RAPID CITY, SD) – Rivalry week began in Rapid City on Wednesday night, as geographic rivals, the Denver Cutthroats and Rapid City Rush, squared off in the first of a three game in four night set. The game started off slow, but as things progressed in the middle frame, it would be the Cutthroats that would come out on top over the Rush by a close 2-1 score behind the power play goals of CHL leading scorer Garrett Bembridge and Robin Soudek.

It took until the second period to get things going in Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, but both of these rivals picked up the pace as the middle frame resumed. The Rush would be the first ones on the board, as Kyle Stroh, with time and space down low, would score his third career goal on a power play, assisted by Konrad Reeder and Jesse Schultz to give Rapid City a 1-0 lead with 17:14 left in the second period. The Cutthroats would push back though, and on their third power play opportunity of the night would tie the game at 1-1, thanks to Garret Bembridge on his league leading 16th goal of the year with 10:44 left before the second intermission. The tension between both teams would escalate, leading to four-on-four play closing out the period, and carrying into the final twenty minutes of regulation.

After the remaining time for four-on-four hockey concluded, the Rush would control the pace of the game, registering five shots on net within the first three minutes of the final period. However, penalties would cost them, and it would give Denver a series of opportunities within the waning moments of regulation. Eventually, on their fifth power play of the night, the Cutthroats would break the goal line of Rush net-minder Tim Boron, and score on a deflection in front of the net, credited to Robin Soudek, taking over with a 2-1 lead with 4:48 left in regulation. After surrendering the go-ahead power play goal, the Rush would find themselves in the box once more, and would minimize their chances of tying the game, being shorthanded for two of the final 2:28 of regulation. Despite that, the Rush would get a series of scoring opportunities on the penalty kill, with the best one coming from Konrad Reeder with just under a minute to play. Reeder would pass around his defenseman, but as soon as he found a crease to the goal, he would be taken down on the play. While that ensuing power play leveled the playing field, it was not enough, and Rapid City would lose 2-1 to its geographic rivals.

Tim Boron stopped 36 of 38 shots on the weekend in receiving his second loss of the year in thirteen appearances (11-2-0). Jesse Schultz and Konrad Reeder have extended their point streaks to 10 games each, combining for 11 goals, 24 assists, and 35 points in that span. Kyle Stroh scored his first power play goal of his career in the losing effort. Each of the two losses the Rush have faced have been one-goal games. Rapid City rematches the Cutthroats on Friday night at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in game two of a three game in four night set.

Other Rush News:

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

Join Mark Binetti, “Voice of the Rush”, and Head Coach/GM Joe Ferras for “The Rush Hour with Head Coach Joe Ferras”, sponsored by Miller Lite on Wednesday, December 11th. Show starts at 6 PM at H2O Bar and Grill, and will be broadcast on 100.3 The FOX, the official radio home for your Rapid City Rush.

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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