SLAPSHOT POSTGAME COVERAGE PRESENTED BY ASSURANT SOLUTIONS

RUSH DEFEAT MALLARDS, EARN TIE FOR SECOND PLACE

(RAPID CITY, SD) – Daniel Barczuk scored twice, Jesse Schultz added his 30th goal of the season, and Danny Battochio made 26 saves as the Rapid City Rush defeated the Quad City Mallards by a 3-1 score on Friday night. The Rush win, coupled with a Wichita Thunder regulation defeat and the Tulsa Oilers remaining idle, now share second place in the ECHL’s Central Division with the Quad City Mallards with 9 games to go.

The Mallards struck first halfway through the opening period, despite being man-down. On a vicious penalty-killing forecheck, Mario Lamoureax set up rookie Joe Perry in the slot for a one-timer that beat Danny Battochio at 9:41 of the first, shorthanded, giving the Mallards a 1-0 lead. The Rush would answer towards the end of the first period and send the game into the intermission knotted up. With 3:33 remaining in the first, Brett Kostolansky sent a soft wrist shot that got through to Mallards netminder Parker Milner. Daniel Barczuk potted the loose puck on the rebound for his 15th ignition of the goal lamp this season, evening the score at 1-1.

At 4:07 of the second frame, the Rush took the lead on Barczuk’s second of the night. In the Mallards zone, Milner played the puck behind his net to the far wall, where Scott Brannon intercepted his pass and found Barczuk streaking towards the net. Barczuk sent the puck by Milner, lifting the Rush to their first lead of the game at 2-1, which would hold until the final period of play.

Jesse Schultz doubled the Rush lead to 2 goals in the early moments of the third. Michael Dorr rifled the puck towards Milner in his crease, with the rebound coming to an open Schultz in front. Schultz tapped the puck five-hole on Milner, and gave the Rush a 3-1 lead at 3:41 of the final period, with Dorr picking up his first point in a Rush uniform with the assist. Danny Battochio stood tall and thwarted the Mallards late with the extra-attacker, hanging on for a 3-1 Rush win.

Battochio stopped 26 of 27 shots on net, earning his 20th win of the season (20-17-2). Battochio has now won 5 of his last 6 starts, including 3 straight.

The Rush and Mallards faceoff again tomorrow, with puck drop slated for 7:05 p.m. MST at Premier Home Mortgage Ice in Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.

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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