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Cutthroats Bounce Back with 3-0 Shutout Win

December 19, 2012 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Denver Cutthroats News Release


DENVER - Goaltender Kieran Millan stopped every shot he faced and Brad Smyth extended his point streak to a league-high 13 games to lead the Denver Cutthroats to a 3-0 victory over the Rapid City Rush on Tuesday night at the Denver Coliseum.

Millan made 22 saves for his second shutout and eighth win of the season. His previous shutout came on Nov. 14 against Arizona.

Captain Aaron MacKenzie scored his first goal of the season while also adding an assist for his first multi-point game of the year. Smyth and A.J. Gale also scored for the Fish. Smyth's goal extended his point streak to 13 games, which passes Allen's Brett Skinner for the longest point streak of the season in the CHL.

Smyth opened up the scoring for Denver (15-10-1) at 13:17 of the first period, tipping in the puck on a 2-on-1 rush. Smyth has 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) during his point streak.

MacKenzie, who recorded an assist on the Smyth goal, picked up his own tally late in the first period on the power play. The Cutthroats defenseman snapped a wrist shot from the slot and off the crossbar for the goal with just four seconds remaining in the frame. The score was his 99th career point and came just seven seconds after the Rush's Alex Penner took a cross checking penalty.

Gale capped off the Fish's scoring and gave Denver a 3-0 lead on a wrist shot from the right circle with 1:28 left in the second period. The goal was his 15th of the season and the British Columbia native now has four goals and six assist (10 points) in his last 10 games.

The Cutthroats outshot the Rush 27-22 in the contest.

Denver and Rapid City (12-9-5) will next meet again on Dec. 26 for the start of four games in six days between the two clubs.

The Cutthroats close out their home stretch this weekend with a pair of games against the visiting Arizona Sundogs. Friday's puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 PM MST.

Three Stars:

1. Kieran Millan (DEN)

2. Aaron MacKenzie (DEN)

3. Brad Smyth (DEN)

Post-Game Notes: Denver leads the season series 5-2-1. The Fish have won the last four games against the Rush. Denver signed Todd Orlando on Tuesday. He was in the lineup against Rapid City and had a fight in the first period. Troy Schwab has four goals and eight assists for 12 points in his last nine games. Denver is 11-1-1 this season when leading after the first period. The Cutthroats are currently 2-2-0 on their six-game homestand.

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