RUSH EDGE MAVERICKS IN A SHOOTOUT

SLAPSHOT POSTGAME COVERAGE PRESENTED BY ASSURANT SOLUTIONS

RUSH EDGE MAVERICKS IN A SHOOTOUT

(RAPID CITY, SD) – For the sixth time this season the Rapid City Rush and Missouri Mavericks collided on the ice. For the third time in this series, wins were once again traded between clubs. The Rush denied the Mavericks attempt to be the first team in this rivalry to claim back-to-back wins, thanks in part to a 2/5 performance from the power play and Dylan Clarke’s game-tying goal, which eventually led to a 4-3 win in a shootout.

This time out, it was the Rush that struck twice for an early 2-0 lead, with both goals coming on the man-advantage. First up was J.P. Chabot, deflecting a shot from Jeremy Gates 29 seconds into the first Rush power play of the game, giving the Rush an early 1-0 lead 8:20 into the game. Almost seven minutes later, the Rush, on the front end of a double-minor power play, doubled their lead to 2-0 from Jesse Schultz’ shot from the near wall 20 seconds in to extend the Rush lead to 2-0 heading into the break.

The Mavericks stormed back in the second period, and scored three unanswered goals to usurp the lead heading into the final period. Two nights in a row it was Dallas Erhardt that started the Mavericks scoring rally, walking a puck into the high-slot for a shot past Danny Battochio just 1:43 into the frame. 3:03 later it was John-Scott Dickson that sent a loose rebound past Battochio to tie the game at 2-2. Capping off the Mavericks rally was Evan Vossen taking advantage of a defensive zone breakdown to give the Mavericks their only lead of the game at the 16:44 mark of the second.

It seemed as though the Mavericks would squeak away with a second win over the Rush, but Dylan Clarke and company proved that wrong. With 3:56 left in the game, Sean Erickson rifled a shot from the point after a key offensive zone draw, which was deflected by Clarke to tie the game at 3-3, forcing overtime. The Rush had an opportunity with 1:43 left in overtime on their fifth power play of the game, but could not capitalize, leading to a shootout. Jesse Schultz scored first for the Rush after David Rutherford missed his initial attempt, but Josh Brittain followed up with a goal in the top of the second round. After consecutive misses by J.P. Chabot and Lindsay Sparks, Joey Sides scored the go-ahead shootout goal for the Rush in the bottom of the third, burning Mike Clemente up high on his shot. Jared Brown followed up with a miss, as did his former teammate Winston Day Chief, setting up a final showdown between Battochio and Mavericks Captain Sebastien Thinel. Thinel fumbled the puck leading up to Battochio, and the Rush netminder poked the puck away, sealing a 4-3 Rush win.

Danny Battochio earns his ninth win in his twenty-third appearance: his eleventh start in twelve consecutive appearances (9-11-2). It also marks the first win at home in the shootout for the Rush, who now improve to a 2-2 record when play goes past overtime. On the weekend, the Rush power play went 4/8 against the Mavericks, scoring two goals in each game. Jesse Schultz, Sean Erickson, and Winston Day Chief extend their point streaks to five games each, combining for 8 goals, 10 assists, and 18 points. Both the Rush and the Mavericks have traded wins and losses between eachother in the six games played to date. Back in action on Tuesday, the Rush take on the Tulsa Oilers next Tuesday night, beginning a stretch of 8 games in 12 nights for the Rush.

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