GAME NOTES: November 4 - Rush at Kansas City Mavericks

(INDEPENDENCE, Mo.) - The Rapid City Rush, proud affiliate of the NHL's Calgary Flames, will face the Kansas City Mavericks at Cable Dahmer Arena at 5:05 p.m. MT on Saturday Night. 

The Rush have dropped the last four to the Mavericks and are in danger of being swept in the five game series. K.C. is trying to trying to tie their 2013-14 team with eight consecutive wins to open the season. 

 THE SATURDAY GAME

Rapid City’s dam broke against the K.C. Mavericks in last night’s contest. K.C. won their first game in the series by more than a single goal. Max Andreev scored with just five seconds left in the first period and the Mavericks would not look back. The Rush bright spots included outshooting their opponent for the first time all season and logging their first fight of the year, but the penalty kill buckled late in the second period and the Rush could not solve Jack LaFontaine in net. 

ON THE HOOK FOR AN UNENVIABLE BIT OF HISTORY

The Rush lost five-in-a-row twice last season, including a seven-game losing streak in December. However, the Rush never dropped five-straight to a single opponent. The Mavericks can win the season series with a win tonight, secure a 5-0-0 series vs. the same opponent and tie the 2013-14 Mavs team with an 8-0-0 start. 

WELL SHOOT!

The Rush peppered K.C. goaltender Jack LaFontaine with 28 shots in the loss last night and outshot the Mavericks 28-20 in the game. It marks the first time this season the Rush have outshot an opponent. In his post-game comments, Head Coach Scott Burt mused, “How many times do you think we missed the net on our grade-A’s?” The Rush have been victimized by back-to-back 15-blocked-shot performances by the Mavericks. 

CALGARY’S CAVARLY

Matt Radomsky and Connor Murphy, both on AHL contracts, are still leading the charge for the Rush. Neither goaltender has allowed four goals in regulation this season and both goalies hold above-..910 save percentage. The tandem has combined for 3.00 goals against on an average of 35 shots per game.

SHUTOUT DROUGHT

Friday’s loss marks the seventh time that Rapid City has been shutout since the last time the team recorded a shutout. The Rush did not record a single shutout last season and were shutout on six separate occasions. The last Rush goaltender to log a shutout win was Lukas Parik who made 46 saves in December 2021. The Rush have nearly gone two full calendar years without a shutout win. 

GETTING SHOTS THROUGH

Now six games deep into the season, the Rush have managed only 153 total shots this season. While Jimmy Soper is shooting at 50% on the season, he only has been credited with two shots on net. The team leader in shots? Co-captain Logan Nelson with 20 (averaging just under four shots per game), however despite his net-front attempts, Nelson has yet to score a goal this season. 

FINALLY SOME FISTS

Tyson Helgesen’s tilt with known tough-guy Justin Nachbaur saw the Rush log their first fight of the season. Helgesen wrestled Nachbaur to the ice in a 15-second scrap and landed two more punches than his opponent. After the fight, Rapid City has their best scoring chances of the game, but remained unable to capitalize on the momentum. 

TRACKING IN THE DIVISION

Rapid City will not see an out-of-division opponent until Dec. 29 when Iowa comes to town, but need to start finding their way. Kansas City is the top of the Mountain Division with their perfect 7-0-0 record, but the Rush, despite being a game below .500, have yet to win a divisional game. It’s difficult to pace last year’s divisional success because the Rush only played two non-divisional series vs. Toledo and at Fort Wayne. They did not win a regulation game in non-divisional play last year. 

SEALING THE FINAL STAGES

While most of the conversation of this series has centered around Kansas City scoring in each third period and overtime, the Rush have also given up five goals in the last seven minutes of the third period in. These aren’t just third period goals, but late third period goals. Over the past two games, Rapid City has given up four goals inside the final five minutes of a period as well, at a time where momentum shifts. There has been emphasis on finishing each period with strength. 

SPLITTING ON THE ROAD

Head Coach Scott Burt has a goal in place to take at least half of all road trip’s available points. The Rush are still within that metric, needing wins tonight in Kansas City and tomorrow in Tulsa. The Rush are 2-2 on the road this season, with an overtime win in Iowa holding up as the team’s second road triumph. 

KENTON RETURNS TO RUSH BLUELINE

Defenseman Kenton Helgesen signed with the Rush on Wednesday afternoon and will look to join into the Rush lineup in the coming weeks. No timetable has been set for his return, but the Rush believe that his presence will bolster the defensive group. Upon his return, he will be the most-tenured ECHL defenseman on the roster, joining Carter Robertson as the only other blueliner with 100 games played in the league. 

STOP PLAYING THE PONIES

After five grueling games, the Rush will see a new opponent tomorrow at the BOK Center. Rapid City will face Tulsa for four straight before heading to Wichita in two weeks. After tonight, the Rush will not see any other single opponent in five straight games, but will play two more four-game stretches vs. the same opponent after the series with Tulsa concludes.