DESPITE ERICKSONS TWO-GOAL GAME, RUSH LOSE FOURTH OF SEASON TO MAVERICKS

(RAPID CITY, SD) – Fresh off of setting CHL history last Saturday night, the Rush were back in action against the Missouri Mavericks, the team responsible for handing them their first loss of the season. The game, and the start of this three game in three night series, picked up from where it left off, with an intense game played throughout all 60 minutes. As the clock read triple-zero, however, the Rush would fall to the Mavericks for their fourth loss of the season 4-2 behind two Mavericks power play goals, despite Sean Erickson’s two goal night.

Both teams went end to end in the first period, with the physicality and speed of the showdown picking up from where it left off more than a month ago. Despite three power plays in the period, the Rush would be unable to capitalize on the opportunity, until the Mavericks received one of their own. 17:27 into the action, Andrew Courtney would rifle a shot past Rush net-minder Tim Boron to put the Mavericks on the board first via a power play goal, giving Missouri a 1-0 lead heading into the locker room.

The Rush would respond midway through the middle frame and knot the game up. On a delayed penalty call, Sean Erickson would send in a rebound past reigning CHL Goaltender of the Week Shane Owen to knot the game up at 1-1 with 8:27 left in the second. Exactly five minutes later, Erickson would get a second tally of the night, this time off of a power play goal, to give the Rush a 2-1 lead, their only lead of the game. Unfortunately for the Rush, that goal would be met and countered, as Mike Ramsay would score on a vicious one-timer on the power play, once again tying the game at 2-2 heading into the third.

The third period was all Missouri’s for the taking, despite some spirited chances from the Rush offense. John-Scott Dickson of the Mavericks would take Tim Boron head on and would send the puck into the top shelf of the goal, giving the Mavericks their second lead of the game with 7:10 left in regulation. The Rush would have a few more power plays to try and knot the game up once more, but would be unable to cash in on their man-advantages late in the game. Pulling Boron for an extra-attacker, the Rush would turn the puck over in the neutral zone to John-Scott Dickson, who for his second goal of the night would score an empty-netter to seal the 4-2 win for the Mavericks.

Tim Boron stopped 23 shots in receiving his fourth loss of the season in 21 games played (17-4-0). The Rush fired 23 shots on Shane Owen’s net, the lowest shot total in a loss all season (previously 38 against Denver in November). Sean Erickson had a two-goal night, his first multi-goal game as a member of the Rush this season. He and Konrad Reeder would both extend their point streaks to four games, as would Jesse Schultz, who also extended his assist streak the same amount of games. The Mavericks, responsible for the first Rush loss of the season, became the first team this year to defeat the Rush multiple times. The Rush are back in action tomorrow night at 7:05 MST against the Mavericks, playing in game two of their first three game in three night set this season.

Other Rush News:

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

Don’t forget to join Mark Binetti, “Voice of the Rush”, and Head Coach/GM Joe Ferras for “The Rush Hour with Coach Ferras”, presented by Miller Lite. The show returns to the air next year on Monday, January13th, and will be held at 6 PM at Boston’s Restaurant and Sports Bar. The show is broadcast on 100.3 The FOX, the official radio home of 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 Google Play.

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