RUSH FALL TO CUTTHROATS DESPITE TWO POWER PLAY GOALS

(DENVER, CO) – The Denver Cutthroats and Rapid City Rush concluded their most recent three game set in a rubber matchup on Saturday night in Denver Coliseum. Building off of last night’s late surge, the Rush dominated the majority of the game and mounted another late comeback. However, despite another spirited late game effort, the Rush would lose consecutive games to Denver for the first time this season by a 5-4 score.

Fireworks erupted for both teams eary, with four goals coming in the first period of play. For the third consecutive game, the Cutthroats got on the board first, with Robin Soudek cashing in on an odd-man rush to give the Cutthroats the early 1-0 lead 5:24 into the game. The Rush would answer, however, and score a first period goal for the first time since last Wednesday against Arizona. On their first power play of the matchup, Konrad Reeder would tip in a shot from Jesse Schultz to tie the game at 1-1 with 12:44 left in the frame. Denver responded moments later and retook the lead, as Troy Schwab scored two consecutive goals, giving the Cutthroats a 3-1 lead after twenty minutes.

The middle frame added more fireworks, as each of the three goals scored were power play goals. J.P. Chabot scored the first of those three on a deflection from in front of Tim Boron’s net, extending the Cutthroats lead to 4-1 just over three minutes into the period, prompting Keaton Hartigan to replace Tim Boron in net. Once again though, the Rush power play would answer, this time with Sean Erickson rifling five-on-three power play goal to cut the Denver lead in half to 4-2 with 12:28 left in the second. CHL leading scorer Garett Bembridge would add another power play tally to the Cutthroats lead, scoring on Hartigan to give his team a 5-2 lead after forty minutes of play. Tim Boron would come back in the game and finish out the period.

Staring down the barrel of a three-goal deficit, the Rush came out “guns blazing” in the third, scoring two goals within the first two minutes of the period. The first came from Jared Brown, wiring the puck past Denver goalie Kent Patterson, cutting the deficit to 5-3 just 1:06 into the action. 42 seconds later, Konrad Reeder would score his second of the night on a deflection, making it a one-goal game at 5-4. Reeder would engage in a fight on the ensuing faceoff, helping ignite the Rush bench, who poured on shot after shot as time wound down. Tim Boron would dart to the bench late to give his team an extra attacker, but the Rush would surrender an empty-netter to Troy Schwab, completing his hat-trick and ensuring a 6-4 win for the Cutthroats.

In total, Tim Boron played 51:35 of the game, stopping 15 shots on the evening (20-9-0), with rookie Keaton Hartigan playing 7:19 of the game in the second period. The Rush more than doubled the shot total of the Cutthroats, outshooting their rivals 48-22 on the evening, including a stretch in the third period which saw the Rush outshoot Denver 17-1 with nine minutes to play in regulation. The Rush scored a first period goal for the first time since January 29th, when Sean Erickson scored late in the period against the Arizona Sundogs. Also shining in the performance was the Rush power play, finishing the night 2/8 (25%), both goals signifying the first two Rush goals in the game. Konrad Reeder was an assist away from a Gordie Howe Hat-Trick, and one goal away from his second hat-trick of the season. The Rush conclude their six-game road trip with a 1-5-0 record, and play at home on Tuesday night for the first time in two weeks against the Tulsa Oilers. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 MST at 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 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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