(TULSA, OK) – Brenden Walker scored on the power play and Mark Cooper scored his first goal as a professional, but despite the tallies it was Adam Morrison who once again stole the spotlight, stoning all 37 shots thrown towards his net to power the Rapid City Rush to a 2-0 win against the ECHL’s best team, the Tulsa Oilers, on Wednesday night.
For a third consecutive game, the Rush got on the board first, striking in the latter moments of the opening frame. Just 21 seconds into the first Rush power play of the night, Brenden Walker took a Lindsay Sparks pass from the far wall and crept into the slot. Walker unloaded a blast that beat reigning ECHL Goaltender of the Month, Jamie Phillips, top shelf to give the Rush a 1-0 lead with 3:57 left in the first period (Sparks and Josh MacDonald garnered the assists).
Following the theme of their first tally in the contest, the Rush doubled their lead late in the second. With 4:10 left in the second, a Tulsa defender collided with the referee, and new Rush captain Ryan Walters found an opportunity to spring Josh MacDonald and Mark Cooper on a two-on-one. MacDonald found Cooper down low on the far post and the latter finished for his first goal as a professional to put the Rush up 2-0 (MacDonald earned his second assist, while Walters earned his first with the assist also being his first as the new captain of the Rush).
Adam Morrison was spectacular in the waning stages of the game, and held the Oilers at bay. On multiple occasions the home side rattled the posts, but it did not phase the Rush net-minder as he powered his team to a 2-0 win over the best team in the ECHL.
Morrison stopped all 37 shots he saw, winning both starts with the Rush in consecutive games (2-0-0).
Both the Oilers and Rush rematch Friday night at the BOK Center, with puck drop slated for 6:05 p.m. MST.
######
Adirondack Thunder
Allen Americans
Atlanta Gladiators
Bloomington Bison
Cincinnati Cyclones
Florida Everblades
Fort Wayne Komets
Greensboro Gargoyles
Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Idaho Steelheads
Indy Fuel
Iowa Heartlanders
Jacksonville Icemen
Kalamazoo Wings
Kansas City Mavericks
Maine Mariners
Norfolk Admirals
Orlando Solar Bears
Rapid City Rush
Reading Royals
Savannah Ghost Pirates
South Carolina Stingrays
Tahoe Knight Monsters
Toledo Walleye
Trois-Rivières Lions
Tulsa Oilers
Utah Grizzlies
Wheeling Nailers
Wichita Thunder
Worcester Railers