RUSH LOSE SECOND STRAIGHT TO AMERICANS

(ALLEN, TX) – The Allen Event Center played host to the latest edition of the Rapid City Rush and Allen Americans season series, with this installment showcasing yet another close game of hockey. The Americans dominated early in the game, but the Rush bounced right back, forcing a tie game with just 20 minutes remaining. Despite the spirited effort, the Rush fell at the hands of the Americans by a 4-3 score, despite a two-goal performance by Winston Day Chief.

Normally the Rush and the Americans are prone to low scoring games, and with those are prone to low scoring periods. The first period of Saturday’s rematch bucked that trend, as goals were scored early and often. Winston Day Chief got the Rush on the board first, pick-pocketing an Allen defender in front of the net and rifling it over the shoulder of Americans goaltender Bryan Pitton to give the Rush a 1-0 lead 3:55 into the game. But the Americans came back with a vengeance, and would go on to score three unanswered goals. Americans Rookie Alex Lavoie would skate through traffic and score from between the faceoff dots in the Rush zone to tie the game up at 1-1 with 7:45 left in the first. Moments later, Gregor Hansen would force a turnover on his own blue line and lead a two-on-one charge down the ice with Phil Fox tagging along. Hansen would hit Fox cross-ice with a pass, which Fox buried, to give the Americans a 2-1 lead with 4:27 left in the frame. To make matters worse, Eric Giosa would go to the penalty box for hooking, and the Americans would cash in on the advantage. Tyler Ludwig would score his second power play goal in as many games, giving the Americans a 3-1 lead going into the first intermission.

The Rush, one of the best adjustment teams in the league, came storming back in the second period. Rookie goaltender Keaton Hartigan would relieve Tim Boron to start the period, and from there, the Rush would come back. The Rush would have to kill of a five-on-three power play first, and in the midst of the Americans two man-advantage would be awarded a penalty shot, as Matt Larke was hooked on his way to the net on a breakaway. Larke would miss the opportunity, but shortly after began the Rush comeback. The Rush would get an offensive rush going in front of the Americans net, and at the back of it all was Jesse Schultz, who sent the rebound in behind Pitton to cut into the deficit and make the score 3-2 with 5:42 left in the middle frame. With 1:55 left, Jesse Schultz would engineer a solid east-west centering pass from behind the net to Winston Day Chief who would connect for his second goal of the game, tying the contest at 3-3 heading into the final 20 minutes.

Both teams played an even final period of regulation, but something would eventually give in this heated rematch. The Rush would kill of the Americans fifth power play of the game, but in the following moments, the Americans would take advantage of traffic in front of the Rush net, and Kale Kerbashian would send the rebound behind Hartigan to give the Americans a 4-3 lead with 7:21 left in the game. Despite earning a power play with 2:35 left in regulation, and pulling Hartigan for the extra attacker, the Rush would be unable to even the score, and would fall to the Americans for a second night in a row by just one goal.

Keaton Hartigan took the loss coming in relief for Tim Boron, and moves to 3-2-0 in his pro career. Both Hartigan and Boron stopped 17 shots each. The Rush and the Americans played in their fourth one-goal game of their season series so far, which has only seen four games played out of a possible six. The Rush penalty kill allowed a power play goal for the eighth game in a row, where they have gone 26/38 (68.4%) in that span. Matt Larke was awarded a penalty shot in the second period, but the attempt was stopped. The Rush are back in action on Tuesday night, January 7th, as they take on the Tulsa Oilers for the first time this season, back home in Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.

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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