RUSH FALL TO CUTTHROATS DESPITE SPIRITED LATE COMEBACK

(DENVER, CO) – The Denver Cutthroats and Rapid City Rush were back in action on Friday night, playing in game two of their three game set in Denver Colliseum. The Cutthroats looked to exact revenge on the Rush, who defeated them by virtue of a shootout on Tuesday night. On Saturday, the Cutthroats would return the favor, and would defeat the Rush by a 3-2 score after sixty minutes, despite a spirited Rush comeback late in the game.

Daniel Amesbury started off scoring with his first point of the year for the Cutthroats on a four-on-two rush, giving Denver a 1-0 lead 8:05 into the contest. The Rush would have a plethora of chances in the opening frame, including a double-minor power play, but would unable to convert and would carry 1:18 of the back end into the second period.

The Cutthroats came roaring out of the gates in the second, as Mikael Tam would also record his first goal of the season, scoring on a shorthanded break just 33 seconds into the middle frame. The goal gave Denver a 2-0 lead with practically an entire second period to play, but they would not be done there. The Cutthroats would go on yet another odd-man rush, this time with Lee Moffie sending the puck home to give the Cutthroats a 3-0 lead with 12:58 left in the second. Down, but certainly not out, the Rush would ignite, and eventually capitalize on a turnover deep in the Denver zone. Denver goalie Kent Patterson would come out of his crease without his goalie stick trying to play the puck behind the net, but Rush captain Scott Wray would swoop in and wrap around into an open goal to put the Rush on the board 3-1 heading into the third.

The Rush would outshoot the Cutthroats by a 25-13 margin in the final two periods, and took the game to the Cutthroats. Their only score of the period would come late, as Konrad Reeder would bank in a shot with an extra-attacker to cut the deficit to 3-2 with 1:38 left in regulation. The Boys from the Black Hills would get one final shot to even the game with an offensive zone draw with 12.2 seconds left. Konrad Reeder would win the puck back to Sean Erickson, who would rifle the puck wide of the net, resulting in a 3-2 loss at the hands of the Cutthroats.

Tim Boron stopped 21 shots on the evening in just his eighth loss of the year in his thirtieth appearance this season (20-8-0). Both teams did not capitalize on their power plays, going 0-9 combined in the game. Konrad Reeder scored his team-high sixth goal against the Cutthroats, also recording his team-high twelfth point against the Rush rivals. Mikael Tam’s goal in the second frame marked the fifth time in this series that either team has scored within the first minute of a period. Both teams will conclude their three game set tomorrow night at 6 PM MST at Denver Colliseum.

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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 Wednesday, February 19th, 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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