BATTOCHIO WINS 100th WITH RUSH AS RUSH SWEEP ROAD TRIP

SLAPSHOT POSTGAME COVERAGE PRESENTED BY ASSURANT SOLUTIONS

BATTOCHIO WINS 100th WITH RUSH AS RUSH SWEEP ROAD TRIP

(TULSA, OK) – Mathieu Brisebois notched a pair of power play goals, Jesse Schultz scored for a fourth consecutive game, and Danny Battochio made 53 saves to win his 100th game with the Rush as Rapid City ran away in the second period over the Tulsa Oilers for an eventual 4-2 win at the BOK Center in Oklahoma on Saturday night. With the sweep of the road trip complete, the Rush now lie one point behind the Oilers for the final playoff spot in the Central Division of the ECHL’s Western Conference.

For the second straight night, the Rush drew first blood. Dallas Ehrhardt helped spearhead a Rush offensive break with a stellar defensive play, eventually getting the puck to Cody Ferriero and into the zone. Ferriero deferred to Johan Ryd, who found a wide open Jesse Schultz, slamming the puck home for his 20th ignition of the goal lamp this season to give the Rush a 1-0 lead 2:18 into the game.

Jeff Jubinville tied the game for the Oilers on their second power play of the game in the second period, capitalizing off of a turnover on a Rush clearing attempt at the 5:36 mark of the frame. His tying tally was dwarfed by the fastest three-goal outburst for the Rush this season. Starting off the 3:16 Rush rally was Mathieu Brisebois, rifling the puck by Oilers net-minder Kevin Carr on the fourth Rush power play of the night to re-establish the Rush lead at 2-1 at the 10:25 mark of the period. Exactly 1:57 later, Kale Kerbashian and Cody Ferriero went on a two-on-one break, with Ferriero finishing over an outstretched Carr to double the Rush advantage at two goals to 3-1. Capping off the rally was Brisebois again, carrying the puck through the Oilers zone and sniping a wrister over Carr’s blocker to lift the Rush to a 4-1 count ahead of their hosts with 5:19 to play in the second. Kevin Carr’s evening came to an end and Brandon Anderson played the remainder of regulation.

Tommy Mele brought Tulsa closer on the scoreboard, tipping a T.J. Caig shot by Rush goaltender Danny Battochio, bringing the game to our final 4-2 score at the 9:04 mark of the third, but the Oilers comeback efforts were thwarted, leading the Rush to their fourth consecutive win and a complete sweep of the road trip in the building in which it began on Thursday night.

Danny Battochio won his fourteenth game of the season, and became the first goaltender in franchise history to win 100 games in a Rush uniform, making 53 saves in the effort (14-15-2).

The Rush head back home to start a five game home stand next Tuesday against the Brampton Beast, with puck drop slated for 6:35 p.m. MST.

Other Rush News:

Join Rush Nation for only $10 per game! Call the Rush office at 716-7825 for details, and stay informed on all Rush happenings this summer 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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