MALLARDS TAKE RUBBER GAME 4-1 OVER RUSH

SLAPSHOT POSTGAME COVERAGE PRESENTED BY ASSURANT SOLUTIONS

MALLARDS TAKE RUBBER GAME 4-1 OVER RUSH

(RAPID CITY, SD) – Tuesday night at Premier Home Mortgage Ice in Rushmore Plaza Civic Center saw the Rapid City Rush and the Quad City Mallards play for the third time in five nights. After splitting the weekend series and taking three of a possible four points, the Rush looked to put their division rivals away for the time being, but fell short of that goal. Behind a 2-point performance from Benjamin Dieude-Fauvel, and 27 saves on 28 shots from Parker Milner, the Mallards flew to a 4-3 win over the Rush.

In a twist in the recent renewal of this rivalry, the Mallards etched themselves on the scoreboard first. After the first Rush power play of the game expired, Ben Woodley shot out of the penalty box and started a three-on-one rush for the Mallards. Justin Fox took the initial shot that was stopped by Wayne Savage, but Benjamin Dieude-Fauvel sent the rebound home to give the Mallards a 1-0 lead with just 8:21 left in the opening frame.

The Rush fought back in the second period, earning two power plays in the second twenty-minute session, but weas unable to cash-in on their man-advantages. For the only the second time in eight periods of regulation between both teams, the Mallards shot total eclipsed 10 shots, and it would eventually lead to a second goal. With 43.7 seconds left in the second period, Mike Monfredo scored his first goal of the season, moving through the low slot and pushing the puck past Savage to give the Mallards a 2-0 lead through forty minutes.

The final period would not be any more kind to the Rush, as the Mallards increased their cushion just over the midway point of the period. Unassisted on a turnover down low in the Rush zone, Jeff Lee would score his first of the season to give the Mallards a 3-0 advantage with 8:01 left in the game. Eventually the Rush would get on the board late in regulation on their final power play of the game, with Alex Szczechura scoring his first goal as a pro. The goal came with 1:29 left in the game, but it was quickly answered by Kevin Baker’s empty-net goal, to ultimately give the Mallards a 4-1 win.

Wayne Savage receives the loss, stopping 24 of 27 shots on the evening (0-2-0). The Rush power play has scored in two consecutive games, going 2/8 in that span (25%). Alex Szczechura scores his first goal as a professional, and through three games played has two points (G, Ast). The Rush outshot the Mallards 29-28, and have held the Mallards to less than 10 shots in a period in all but three of the last nine periods played in regulation between these clubs. The Allen Americans travel to Rapid City for a Friday/Saturday series, with puck drop on Friday night scheduled for 8:05 MST.

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