SHOOTOUT WIN GIVES RUSH SHARE OF LEAGUE HISTORY OVER ARCHRIVALS

(DENVER, CO) – The Denver Cutthroats and the Rapid City Rush resumed their rivalry on Friday night in Denver Colliseum. The Rush, winners of two of the first three games against the Cutthroats looked to pick up another key road win against their rivals and tie CHL history. That feat would be accomplished Friday night. The game would go the distance to a shootout, as the Rush hung on for a 2-1 win, with Tim Boron stopping 4/5 shooters, and Eric Giosa netting the game-winner in the 4th round.

The first period picked up where it last left off, as the intensity of the rivalry was apparent from the drop of the puck. The Rush would maintain the early moments of possession in the opening moments of the game, including a five-on-three power play that would be turned aside by the Cutthroats. Denver, sporting the best power play in the league once again, would get two chances to exert themselves on the man-advantage. The first time around would be thwarted by the Rush penalty kill, but Rapid City would not be so lucky the second time around. Roughly five seconds into their man-advantage, J.P. Chabot would take a rebound in front of Rush goaltender Tim Boron and send in the rebound to give the Cutthroats an early 1-0 lead with 2:15 left in the opening frame, a lead they would take into the first intermission.

Rapid City would quickly rebound from the deficit in the early moments of the second period. Exactly 1:30 into the frame, Konrad Reeder would lead a three-on-one charge down the ice, play give-and-go with Jesse Schultz, and score from a sharp angle to knot the game up with 18:30 left in the middle frame. The Cutthroats thought they regained the lead moments later on rebound behind Tim Boron, but the referee blew his whistle, as he lost site of the puck. Despite a combined 58 shots on net in regulation, and combined with the previously nullified goal, neither side would break the deadlock after 60 minutes, and overtime would follow.

The Rush and Cutthroats played an even extra session, but the Cutthroats would have the best chance of anyone to end it. They were awarded a power play with 2:12 left in overtime, but the Rush penalty kill and Tim Boron stepped to the occasion and turned aside the Cutthroats and the number one power play in the league, setting the stage for a shootout.

Denver would jump out early in the shootout thanks to T.J. Fox’s turn to start the rounds, but Jesse Schultz would pull things even when his turn came about. Two more misses for either side set up the fourth round, where Eric Giosa would score to give the Rush a 2-1 lead with one Denver shooter remaining. Troy Schwab’s shot would clank the post, and the Rush would hold on for the win in the shootout by a 2-1 score, and would not only set a franchise record, but also tie CHL history by winning their tenth straight road game.

Tim Boron stopped 27 shots and 4 out of 5 shooters in the shootout round to earn his league-leading 16th win of the season (16-3-0). The Rush have a chance to set CHL history on two fronts tomorrow night in their rematch against the Cutthroats. Should the Rush win, they would set the CHL record the most consecutive road wins in league history at 11. On top of that, the Rush would be the first team in league history to win 20 of their first 23 games played in a season. The Rush are the last undefeated team on the road in the CHL with a 10-0 record. The rematch for tomorrow night is set for 6 PM MST at Denver Colliseum, and will be broadcast on CHL TV and 100.3 The FOX, the official radio home of your Rapid City Rush.

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, January 13th. Show starts at 6 PM at Boston’s Restaurant and Sports Bar, 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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