KOMETS END RUSH WIN STREAK IN NAIL-BITER

(RAPID CITY, SD) – Andrew Radjenovic’s team-leading goal gave the Rapid City Rush an early advantage against the Fort Wayne Komets, but Phelix Martineau’s pair of shorthanded goals in the second period put the Komets up for good, and provided the visitors with a 2-1 win on Wednesday night.  The game marked the first of three to be played this week between the teams.

The Komets absolutely hammered the Rush offensively, outshooting them 15-6 in the first 20 minutes, but it was the Rush that came out of the first frame with the lead.  With 1:58 remaining in the first, Dylan Quaile started an offensive zone shift when he jumped off the blue line, fired a shot on net, and recovered the rebound.  Andrew Radjenovic rotated back to his spot on the blue line, and Quaile found him with time and space, which Radjenovic used to rifle a shot by Komets goalie Lukas Hafner to give the Rush a 1-0 lead with his team-leading sixth goal of the season (Quaile had the lone assist).

The Komets came back and found a pair of goals from Phelix Martineau in a situation unlikely to provide offense: killing off a five-minute major power play.  After Ryan Lowney was ejected for kneeing Mason McCarty, the Rush went on the man-advantage, but 1:02 into the five minutes, Martineau and Marc-Olivier Roy caught a loose puck in neutral ice and carried into the Rush zone.  With 6:09 left, Roy found Martineau with a backhand in the slot, and Martineau squeaked one through the legs of Rush net-minder Adam Carlson to square the game at 1-1 (Roy had the lone assist).  Martineau struck again 1:42 later, finishing on a Jason Binkley rebound, barely beating an out-stretched Carlson to give the Komets a 2-1 lead with 4:27 remaining in the second (Binkley had the lone assist).  Despite their resilient effort in the third period, the Rush couldn’t muster a game-tying goal, and the Komets held on for a 2-1 win, extending their winning streak to three games, ending the Rapid City win streak at 4 games, and point streak at seven games.

Adam Carlson stopped 40 of 42 shots on goal in the contest, suffering his first regulation loss of the season (3-1-1-0).

Both teams rematch on Friday, November 9th, with puck drop slated for 7:05 p.m. at Premier Home Mortgage Ice in Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.  Prior to Friday’s game, the Rush invite all fans to paint the names of loved ones that served, or are serving in our proud nation’s military on the ice.  The end product will showcase all names in the pattern of the flag of the United States of America.

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