RUSH FALL IN SHOOTOUT DESPITE VALIANT FOUR-GOAL COMEBACK

For Immediate Release – March 11, 2014

RUSH FALL IN SHOOTOUT DESPITE VALIANT FOUR-GOAL COMEBACK

(INDEPENDENCE, MO) – In the finale to this bitter rivalry of top CHL teams, the Rapid City Rush and the Missouri Mavericks needed more than 65 minutes to determine a winner. Both teams came into this matchup on four-game winning streaks, but in this clash of CHL titans, something would have to give. Despite a valiant comeback by the Rush, their largest this season, the Mavericks would score a game-tying goal late in the third to eventually set up a shootout, where they would defeat the Rush 5-4.

Off the opening draw, the intensity of the rivalry picked up from where it last left off in mid-January. The Mavericks would strike first, as Eric Castonguay would take advantage of traffic in front of Tim Boron’s net and send a loose puck in to give the Mavericks a 1-0 lead just seven and half minutes into the game. The Rush would receive four power plays in the period, but would be unable to capitalize on their man-advantage. With less than two minutes to go in the period, the Mavericks would go on their first man-advantage of the game and make it count. With 12 seconds left in the period, Mavericks newcomer Mathieu Gagnon would score his second career CHL goal, giving his home side a 2-0 lead heading into the second period.

The second period started with more of the same, in the sense that the Mavericks picked up from where they left off capitalizing on their scoring chances. Dave Pszenyczny would extend the Mavericks lead to 3-0 just 2:42 into the second period on a top shelf wrister, prompting the substitution of Tim Boron for Rush newcomer Wayne Savage in net. The Rush would eventually storm back into the game, as Anthony Perdicaro tipped in a shot from Winston Day Chief with 6:52 left in the period to put the Rush on the board. Exactly five minutes later, after a flurry of shots in front of Shane Owen’s net producer a rebound, Sean Erickson would come off his blue line to slam it home, putting the Rush down 3-2 heading into the third period.

The Rush would continue their valiant comeback into the third period, and even the game up. Scoring the Rush’s third unanswered goal was Riley Weselowski, tying the game up with 12:01 left in regulation, as he mirrored his game-tying goal from Sunday against the Thunder, coming up from the blue line to knock in an open rebound. Exactly 57 seconds later, Justin Faryna’s hard work on the fore-check would set up a scoring opportunity for Anthony Perdicaro, who would send the puck past Shane Owen to give the Rush their first lead of the game at 4-3 on four unanswered goals with 11:04 left in the game. Unfortunately, former Rush forward Colt King would score a five-on-four extra-attacker goal with 45.1 seconds left to tie the game at 4-4, forcing overtime and inevitably a shootout. The Rush would fail to score in the shootout round, and John-Scott Dickson and Andrew Courtney would score for their side to give them the 5-4 win after sixty-five-plus minutes of play.

Tim Boron stopped 7 of 10 shots faced and Wayne Savage stopped 15 of 16 shots in 42:18 of play, receiving the overtime loss (1-0-1). The three-goal deficit and subsequent four unanswered goals marks the largest comeback of the year for the Rush, despite the shootout loss that followed. The Rush’s winning streak ends at four games, but they claim seven of a possible eight points on the road in the four-game-in-five-night set. The shootout loss keeps the Rush within striking distance of the Mavericks for first in the CHL. The Boys from the Black Hills return to action on Friday night back home in Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, facing the defending champion Allen Americans at 7:05 MST.

Other Rush News:

Playoff tickets are now available for the 2013-14 postseason as the Rush gear up for their Rush for the Ray Miron President’s Cup!! Call the Rush office at 716-7825 for details.

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 on Wednesday March 19th for the FINAL TIME THIS REGULAR SEASON, 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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