Ben Gordon's Four-Goal First Period Downs Rush
February 12, 2014 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rapid City Rush News Release
(RAPID CITY, SD) - The Rapid City Rush and the Tulsa Oilers clashed in the first game in a mid-week two game set in Rushmore Plaza Civic Center on Tuesday night. Playing for the first time at home in two weeks, the Rush looked to shake their 1-5-0 road trip aside and focus on their key game in hand against their inactive CHL rivals. The Oilers would get the best of the Rush behind Ben Gordon's four-goal first period, despite a valiant Rush comeback.
For the first time in seven games, Jared Brown would give the Rush a 1-0 lead to start the game, scoring 11:32 into the game. The Oilers would quickly respond, and go on a tear that saw Ben Gordon score four goals in just 4:29 of playing time. His first came on the first Tulsa power play of the game, scoring wuth 6:09 left in the first period. He would strike again exactly 1:09 later, as he'd give the Oilers a 2-1 lead with five minutes to play in the frame. Kyle Bochek would add one of his own on a two-on-one rush assisted by Gordon, extending the Oiler lead to 3-1 with 2:31 left in the period. On a turnover and a backhanded shot that went bar-down in the Rush net, Gordon would complete his hat-trick 29 seconds later, leaving 2:02 left in the first. On the second and final Tulsa power play of the game, Gordon would close out the first period with his fourth of the game, sending his team into the locker room session with a 5-1 lead.
When challenged with adversity, the Rush show their true colors with their resiliency, and fought to the end to get back in the game. The second period would be crucial for this team, as Scott Brannon scored just over four minutes into the frame, completing a play started by Justin Faryna, cutting the Rush deficit to 5-2. With exactly eight minutes left in the second, Konrad Reeder would score his 29th goal of the season, diving on his chest and tapping the puck past Oilers met-minder Shane Madolora, chiseling the Tulsa lead to 5-3 before the start of the third period. The Rush would out-shoot and out-chance the Oilers in the final two periods, and eventually the Rush would strike within one goal. Konrad Reeder scored his second of the game and his 30th of the year tipping in a Brett Kostolansky shot to make the score 5-4 with exactly one minute remaining in the game. With 13.3 seconds left, the Rush would be unable to win two key offensive zone draws, and the Oilers would stave off a late Rush comeback to hang on for the 5-4 win.
Tim Boron stopped 26 shots on the evening, suffering his tenth loss of the year (20-10-0). The Rush once again out-shot their opponents in the second and third periods, this time by a 25-14 margin. This is the fourth consecutive one-goal game the Rush have played in, having now lost the last three, unable to complete a late drive to tie the game. Tulsa's Ben Gordon scored four goals in a 4:29 span, becoming the fastest player to record a hat-trick against the Rush, and the second one to do so this season. Both teams will rematch tomorrow night for the final time in Rapid City at 7:05 MST in Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. There are still two matchups left in this series, both coming in Tulsa in early March.
Other Rush News:
Season tickets for the 2013-14 season are available now by calling the Rush office at 716-7825.
Don't forget to join Mark Binetti, "Voice of the Rush", and Head Coach/GM Joe Ferras for "The Rush Hour with Coach Ferras", presented by Miller Lite. The show returns to the air next year on Wednesday, February 19th, and will be held at 6 PM at Boston's Restaurant and Sports Bar. The show is broadcast on 100.3 The FOX, the official radio home of your Rapid City Rush.
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