RUSH GO THE DISTANCE IN SHOOTOUT, DEFEAT THUNDER 3-2

(RAPID CITY, SD) – After sixty-five minutes of play, the Rapid City Rush and Wichita Thunder required needed a shootout to determine a winner for the first time in their head-to-head series. Tim Boron stopped all five shooters and made 31 saves in winning his 25th game of the season, a new career-high for the Rush net-minder in a single year.

For the sixth game in a row, the Rush were down early after the first period. Tomas Klempa would cash-in for the Thunder on the first power play of the game to give the Thunder a 1-0 lead. The Rush would see some opportunities come to them in the first twenty minutes, but would not even up the game until the second period. On their third power play of the game, the Rush evened the score on Eric Giosa’s sixteenth goal of the year to knot things up at 1-1 with 14:14 left in the second. The Thunder would go back on top though moments later, and retake the lead. In a strange turn of events, the Thunder would be awarded a four-on-three power play, and Jesse Dudas would take advantage and put his team up 2-1 with 7:43 left in the middle frame. Less than four minutes later, the Rush would once again even things up, as Jared Brown would finish a cross-ice passing play and bank it in to tie the game at 2-2.

Overtime would befall Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in this final confrontation in the Black Hills. The Rush almost ended the extra session just seconds into overtime, but Konrad Reeder clanked the post. Both sides would go to a shootout, where Tim Boron would shine once more. After three and a half scoreless rounds, Anthony Perdicaro would send the puck past David Brown in the fourth round, and Boron would stone the final shooter. The Rush would win the game 3-2, their fifth win in their last seven.

Tim Boron stopped 31 shots in the game and all five shooters in the shootout round for his 25th win of the season (25-11-1). With the win, Boron sets a new career high for most wins in a single season, eclipsing his high from last year. In the shootout, Boron has stopped eight straight shooters, and 14/15 over his last three appearances after overtime. The Rush move into second place in the CHL with 67, jumping the Denver Cutthroats and the Allen Americans who are tied at 66 points. The Rush are back in action on the road against the Tulsa Oilers on Friday night, with puckdrop scheduled for 6:35 MST.

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 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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