RUSH SCORE WITH 1:03 LEFT, STUN MALLARDS IN GAME 7

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RUSH SCORE WITH 1:03 LEFT, STUN MALLARDS IN GAME 7

(RAPID CITY, SD) – For the first time in four seasons, the Rapid City Rush will be playing in the second round of the playoffs. Cody Ferriero produced both goals, the game-winner with 63 seconds left in regulation, and the Rush defeated the Quad City Mallards 2-1 in Game 7 on Wednesday night. The Rush will play the Allen Americans in the ECHL’s Central Division Finals this weekend.

It took 43:26 of hockey for either side to score, and it was the Rush that drew first blood. Cody Ferriero began the scoring entries as he took a pass from Daniel Barczuk and danced towards the net of Mallards goaltender Parker Milner. Ferriero switched to his backhand and slid the puck by Milner to give the Rush a 1-0 lead with 16:34 left in regulation. A Game 7 would not be complete without drama, and Justin Fox of the Mallards provided it with 1:32 left in the game. On a scramble in front of Battochio’s net, Fox got enough leverage of the puck and flipped it over a sprawled out Rush netminder in Danny Battochio to even the score. Everyone in Premier Home Mortgage Ice in Rushmore Plaza Civic Center believed overtime would be upon us, but Cody Ferriero saved the day with his second goal. Just 29 seconds later, the Rush won an offensive zone draw to Mathieu Brisebois, who blasted a shot to the front of Milner’s net. The shot was deflected by Ferriero and past Milner, lifting the Rush to a 2-1 lead with 1:03 to play. Danny Battochio held on for the win in Game 7, and lifted the Rush to a berth into the Central Division Finals against the top-seed Allen Americans.

Battochio made 14 saves on just 15 shots, and won the second Game 7 of his career (4-3-0).

The schedule for Game 1 of the Central Division Finals will be released by the end of the eveining.

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