AMERICANS THREE-GOAL FIRST PERIOD TOO MUCH FOR RUSH

SLAPSHOT POSTGAME COVERAGE PRESENTED BY ASSURANT SOLUTIONS

AMERICANS THREE-GOAL FIRST PERIOD TOO MUCH FOR RUSH

(RAPID CITY, SD) – Clad in their Halloween specialty jerseys, The Rapid City Rush took on the Allen Americans on Halloween night. A hot start for the Americans ultimately stifled the Rush’s chances of a Halloween victory, as a 2:48 scoring rally led by Ian Schultz and Jack Combs powered the Americans to a 4-1 win in the Black Hills.

The Americans came firing out of the gate, getting on the scoreboard three times in a six and a half minute span. 3:44 into the game it was Ian Schultz for his third of the year, capitalizing on a four-on-two rush to give the Americans the early 1-0 advantage. Moments later, Jack Combs cashed-in on a faceoff win from Ian Schultz to give the Americans a 2-0 lead with 13:58 left in the first period. Exactly thirty seconds later, Ian Schultz inked himself on the scoresheet for the third time in the period with his second goal, knocking a loose puck through Danny Battochio to extend the Americans’ early cushion to 3-0, warranting the substitution in net with Wayne Savage taking over for the remainder of the game.

The Rush came out with some life in the second period, getting on the board early in an attempt to claw back from their early deficit. On the third power play of the game, Joey Sides would send a shot past Riley Gill to put the Rush on the board 4:04 into the middle act, cutting the Americans advantage to 3-1. Roughly eight minutes later, however, the Americans’ Jack Combs notched his second of the night, re-establishing the three-goal cushion for the Americans at 4-1. The Rush had countless chances in the third period to come back into the game, with almost two-plus continuous minutes of five-on-three hockey, but couldn’t solve Gill late in the game, ultimately falling to the Americans 4-1.

Danny Battochio earns his first regulation loss of the season (2-1-1), allowing 3 goals on 5 shots faced in 6:32 time played. Wayne Savage came in relief of Battochio and allowed 1 goal on 21 shots faced in 53:25 time played. The Rush fell by 4-1 scores in consecutive nights for the first time since February, losing to the Arizona Sundogs in the CHL. Riley Gill stopped 37 of 38 shots thrown his way, allowing only Joey Sides’ second period power play goal. There were ultimately 12 power plays awarded in the game, with 9 going to the Rush. The Rush penalty kill was one of the lone bright spots in the game, stopping all three Americans power plays on the night. Both teams will rematch tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. at Premier Home Mortgage Ice in Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.

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