RUSH STAVE OFF ELIMINATION, FORCE WINNER-TAKE-ALL GAME SEVEN

(RAPID CITY, SD) – For the Rapid City Rush, their season came down to one game on home ice to decide their fate. The Quad City Mallards, with a 3-2 series opening round series lead coming into the Black Hills, looked to close out the series and await their next opponent, but now both teams are in the same position. After a hard fought sixth game, the Rush kept themselves alive with a 2-1 win behind a stellar defensive performance, only allowing 19 Mallards shots on net.

Fighting for their lives in Game 6, the Rush came out of the gates firing on the Mallards, outshooting them 12-3 in the opening frame. The Rush, unable to capitalize on two power plays prior, found the back of the net late in the period. With 1:27 left in the first, Riley Weselowski soft dumped the puck past the net, as opposed to rifling a shot from the point. This was followed by Anthony Perdicaro picking up the rebound and cashing in on a wrap around, squeaking the puck past Ty Rimmer to give the Rush a 1-0 lead heading into the second period on his second tally of the playoffs.

The Rush carried that momentum into the second period, and sure enough, the third line would come through to bolster the Rush lead. Kyle Stroh and Scott Brannon led the charge, with Brannon throwing a saucer pass to the tape of Scott Wray, finishing for his third goal of the playoffs and a 2-0 lead halfway through the second frame. The Mallards only goal would come from Jordan Mayer and the help of an extra-attacker with 1:05 left in the game, ending Tim Boron’s bid for a Game 6 shutout. The Rush would hold onto their now 2-1 lead in the final minute, and even the series at 3-3, with a winner-take-all Game 7 tomorrow night.

Tim Boron moved his postseason record to .500, only allowing one goal on 19 shots (2-2). Both teams combined for an 0/8 showing on the power play, with the Rush receiving 6 of those man-advantages. Scott Wray, Scott Brannon, and Kyle Stroh added to their stellar postseason performances, with Wray notching his third goal (5 Pts), Brannon his fourth assist (6 Pts), and Stroh his fifth assist (6 Pts) on the second goal of the game. Both teams will meet for Game 7 tomorrow at 7:05 PM MST at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. The winner of tomorrow night’s game will play the #3 Allen Americans in the Ray Miron President’s Cup Semifinals.

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.

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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