GAME NOTES: 3/18 vs Tulsa

Game #59 vs Tulsa

3/18/23 | The Monument Ice Arena | 7:05 p.m.

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LAST TIME OUT:  Alex Aleardi had two goals and an assist and the Rush scored three times in the third period en route to a 6-4 win over the Tulsa Oilers on Friday night at The Monument Ice Arena. Adam Carlson made 37 saves and the Rush won for the third consecutive game.

OILERS IN TOWN: Tulsa arrives in Rapid City for the final three games of the season series between the Rush and Oilers. Rapid City is 8-3-1-0 against Tulsa this season including a 3-1-0-0 mark at home. The Oilers have lost five straight games and sit in last place in the Mountain Division with 46 points.

REINFORCEMENTS: The Rush got a boost on their roster when Quinn Wichers was returned from the AHL’s San Diego Gulls on Thursday and when Jon Martin was activated off injured reserve pregame on Friday. Wichers had been with San Diego since February 10 and appeared in 10 games during his time with the Gulls. Martin returned following a 27-game stint on IR and scored during the second period of Friday’s 6-4 win. In 25 games this season Martin has nine goals and six assists.

TULSA’S TORMENTOR: Alex Aleardi had two goals and an assist during Friday’s win over Tulsa, continuing his season-long dominance over the Oilers. Aleardi leads the Rush with nine goals and 10 assists in the 12 games against Tulsa this season. He is +14 in games against the Oilers and has recorded at least one point in 10 of the 12 meetings.

HITTING A MILESTONE: Matt Marcinew had two points on Friday night and in doing so reached 200 for his ECHL career. In 238 career games in the league, Marcinew has 86 goals and 114 assists.  He has set new career highs this season with 27 goals, 32 assists and 59 points.

THE REST OF THE WAY: Rapid City has 14 games remaining on its schedule and currently sits five points out of a playoff spot. Eight of the remaining games are at home with six on the road. Entering play on Saturday, second place and sixth place in the Mountain Division are separated by just seven points.

ODDS AND ENDS: Adam Carlson has won each of the last five games he has started in goal...the Rush are now 17-11-0-0 on home ice. Conversely, Tulsa is 5-16-4-0 on the road. The Oilers have lost seven consecutive road games...the Rush have scored four or more goals in four of their past five games...Rapid City’s current three-game winning streak represents the third time this season the team has won at least three consecutive games.

UP NEXT: Rapid City and Tulsa will conclude their three-in-three weekend on Sunday afternoon. Puck drop is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. at The Monument Ice Arena.