GAME NOTES: 12/21 @ ALLEN

REGULAR SEASON GAME  TWENTY-NINE - 12/21/2019

Rapid City Rush @ Allen Americans - 6:05 p.m. MDT

Allen Event Center

THIS SEASON

Allen: 29gp, 21-5-3-0, 45pts (1st ECHL)

• Last Game - 12/20 vs Rapid City (5-2 W)

Rush: 28gp, 15-10-3-0, 33pts (3rd Mountain)

• Last Game - 12/20 @ Allen (5-2 L)

HEAD TO HEAD - 4 of 9 Games Played

Allen: 4-0-0-0, 8pts

• Power Play: 6.7% (1/15)
• Penalty Kill: 90% (18/20)
• Leading Scorer(s): Spencer Asuchak/Corey Durocher (4pts Each)

Rush: 0-2-2-0, 2pts

• Power Play: 10% (2/20)
• Penalty Kill: 93.3% (14/15)
• Leading Scorer(s): Tyler Coulter (4gp, 2g-2ast-4pts)

NOTES

FAMILIARITY ALWAYS HELPS: On St. Patrick’s Day, 2018, Rush forward Tyler Poulsen made his professional debut as a forward for the Allen Americans, and scored his first goal as a professional one night later. In Training Camp 2018, Poulsen found a home as a forward with the Rapid City Rush via trade, and ever since, has made the Americans pay for the decision. In eight head-to-head meetings since his acquisition by the Rush, Poulsen has a point-per-game average, scoring 3 goals, 5 assists, and 8 points against his former club. Additionally, in those 8 matchups, Poulsen has successfully registered a point in 6 of them. With his goal last night, Poulsen has 7 goals and 11 points in 22 games this season.

THERE’S A NEW “A” IN TOWN: For the first time in his professional career, Rush defenseman Dane Birks was awarded Assistant Captaincy, taking over the position from recently departed forward Giovanni Fiore. Birks becomes the fifth player to wear an “A” this season, joining current Captain Peter Quenneville, Cedric Montminy, and Josh Elmes as well, and is just the second defenseman to hold a leadership position. Recently, the Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick from 6 years ago has assists in back-to-back games, and totaled a goal and four assists on the season in 20 games.

PHIL IN AT CENTER: Due to recent changes in the lineup, Rush defenseman Trey Phillips has been slotted at the center position starting last Saturday in the conclusion of the Wheeling series. After deflecting a shot from Dane Birks past Zach Sawchenko of Allen last night, Phillips has a point in both games since making the positional switch with a goal and a power play assist to his credit.

EARNING HIS KEEP: Even though his first win in a Rush uniform has been elusive in two starts, Rush net-minder Alex Sakellaropoulos earned his keep last night, stopping 42 of 46 shots in last night’s defeat to the Americans. Last night was the seventh time this season that a Rush net-minder has seen more than 40 shots, and in such scenarios, the Rush have only come out with the win twice (Parks-11/30 @ ID-49sv/51sh; Prosvetov-11/15 @ TUL-37sv/41sh).