(BOISE, ID) – Adam Carlson stopped 56 of 58 shots in 61:53 of hockey to help the Rapid City Rush earn a crucial point in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Idaho Steelheads on Saturday night. With the first half of six consecutive matchups in the books in Boise, the Rush took 3 of a possible 6 points heading back for the shift of the series to Rapid City next week.
For a third consecutive game in the series, Idaho started off the scoring entries, but the Rush battled back to draw the game level after 20 minutes. While on the first Rush power play of the game, a turnover on the attacking blue line led to a breakaway for Idaho’s leading scorer, Steve McParland. With 7:36 played in the first, McParland broke down “Main Street” and beat Rush net-minder Adam Carlson to give the Steelheads a 1-0 lead (Kyle Schempp had the lone goal). The Rush tied things up with their physical brand of play, when, with 2:31 left in the first, Michael Turner dislodged the puck behind the Steelheads goal line with a body check. The loose puck came to Pierre-Luc Mercier, who found Mason McCarty all alone in front of the net. McCarty had enough time to settle the puck and rifle a shot by Steelheads goalie Colton Point to square the game at 1-1 (Mercier had the lone assist).
Both teams couldn’t muster a go-ahead or game-winning goal in the last two periods of regulation, forcing overtime for a second game in the three-game set. Idaho took the second point in the extra-curricular activity this time when, 1:53 into overtime, Spencer Naas skated around the Rush zone and found Eric Sweetman in front of the net. Sweetman flipped a centering pass behind Carlson to get the win for the Steelheads at 2-1.
Adam Carlson stopped a season-high 56 shots on 58 faced, suffering just his second post-regulation loss of the season (4-2-2-0).
The Rush continue their stretch of six consecutive matchups against the Idaho Steelheads, with the next three games coming in Rapid City next week. Games will be played at Premier Home Mortgage Ice in Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, with puck drop slated for 7:05 p.m. MST on Wednesday, November 21st, Friday, November 23rd, and Saturday, November 24th.
######
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