OILERS SLIP PAST RUSH IN FIRST OF FIVE STRAIGHT MEETINGS

SLAPSHOT POSTGAME COVERAGE PRESENTED BY ASSURANT SOLUTIONS

OILERS SLIP PAST RUSH IN FIRST OF FIVE STRAIGHT MEETINGS

(TULSA, OK) – A playoff-type scenario has been presented to both the Rapid City Rush and the Tulsa Oilers, who compete for five consecutive games over the next two weeks. The Rush trail the Oilers by 7 points for the final playoff spot in the Central Division of the Western Conference, but were bested by the Oilers late in the game, 3-1 on Saturday night.

The Rush jumped on the board first 8:56 into the game, with a heads up play started from the blue line. Off of a faceoff win, Jeremy Gates flipped the puck to the slot, where it was deflected by Cody Ferriero to J.M. Rizk, who danced around Kevin Murdock and put the puck past him to give the Rush a 1-0 lead.

The Oilers would remain scoreless in front of rookie goaltender Rapahel Girard for 53:06 of the game, but battled back late in the third to overtake their visitors. Jon Booras got things started for the Oilers, scoring with 6:57 left in the game to tie the game at 1-1, narrowly beating Girard up high. 2:24 later, Jeff Jubinville fanned on a shot, but it still trickled past Girard, who was mislead by the trajectory of the failed strike, to give Tulsa their only lead of the game at 2-1. With 38 seconds left, and the Rush with an extra attacker, Jubinville slammed the puck into an open net for his second of the night, sealing what was a 3-1 Oilers win.

Girard receives his first loss as a professional in his third appearance for the Rush (2-1-0). Cody Ferriero notched his first point in his ECHL career with his assist on J.M. Rizk’s goal, which also proved to be Rizk’s 10th point in his 12th game with the Rush. The Oilers take game one of this five game set, which continues tomorrow at 3:05 p.m. MST at the BOK Center.

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