RUSH SPECIAL TEAMS THRASHES EAGLES TO END SKID

(WINDSOR, CO) – Cody Ferriero, Lindsay Sparks, Winston Day Chief, and James Melindy each recorded 2 points or more on Wednesday night as the Rapid City Rush rode a three-goal second period on three power play goals to defeat the Colorado Eagles by a 4-1 score.

Despite an offensive barrage from the Rush in the opening frame, Colorado opened the scoring entries in the contest. With 3:13 gone by in the game, Trent Daavettila won an offensive zone draw clean to his defense, and Colin Joe sent a one-timer off the ensuing faceoff by Rush net-minder Danny Battochio, affording his Eagles side a 1-0 lead (Daavettila earned the lone helper). The Rush also earned 3 power plays in the game, but were unable to capitalize on the man-advantage to even the score heading into the second.

Ill-advised penalties and a flagrant lack of discipline on the part of the Eagles cost them their lead, as the Rush special teams went into overdrive, earning the Rush a 3-1 lead when all was said and done in the second period. Derek Rodwell committed a holding penalty against James Melindy, followed by Darryl Bootland senseless tripping penalty against Battochio in his crease. It put the Rush on a five-on-three advantage, and they made the Eagles pay. With 5:45 gone by in the second period, Benjamin Diede-Fauvel launched a one-timer from Cody Ferriero by Eagles goaltender Kris Lazaruk, tying the game at 1-1 on the two-man advantage (Ferriero and Winston Day Chief earned the assists). Moments later, pandemonium would break out in front the Eagles bench, resulting in another two-man advantage for the Rush, but for an extended period of time. Cody Ferriero initially was assessed a two-minute minor for crosschecking, but Darryl Bootland swooped in and blindsided Ferriero, starting a line brawl that resulted in 42 PIM between both teams. Bootland and Sean Zimmerman of Colorado would each receive the harshest of the penalties: five-minute majors for fighting, as well as game misconducts for their actions. Zimmerman was ejected as a result. The Rush would eventually have a four-on-three “score at will” power play for two of the five minutes, followed by a five-on-three advantage for the remaining three of the same nature. The Rush would strike twice on the opportunity, first with Winston Day Chief slamming a loose rebound by Lazaruk in front to put the Rush up 2-1 with 9:05 left in the second (James Melindy and Lindsay Sparks registered the assists). Melindy would earn his second point in less than two minutes by blasting a shot from the point by Lazaruk to double the Rush lead to two goals at 3-1 (both Sparks and Ferriero earned their second assists of the game on the goal).

Cody Ferriero would complete his “Gordie Howe Hat Trick” with a highlight reel goal with 3:06 played in the final period. Ryan Misiak, making his Rush debut, helped spring Ferriero on a breakaway, with Ferriero taking hacks and stick checks up the ice. Ferriero was crosschecked to the ice, but despite that, found a way to generate enough leverage for a shot that whizzed by Lazaruk in the top corner to put the Rush up 4-1 (Misiak earned an assist in his debut, while Sparks notched his third assist of the game on the tally). The Rush would see that score hold for the remainder of regulation, and ended their skid at 10 games with the win.

Danny Battochio stopped all but one of 25 shots in the win, his thirteenth of the season (13-13-3).

The Rush and Eagles will play in game 2 of 3 this week on Friday night at Premier Home Mortgage Ice in Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in the Rush’s 8th annual “Pink at the Rink” game. Puck drop is slated for 7:05 p.m. MST.

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