Beast Get Rushed in Series Opener
March 26, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Brampton Beast News Release
BRAMPTON, ON- The Brampton Beast always seem to have a little bit of extra incentive when they play against their former head coach Mark DeSantis. Tonight was no different, but the bounces didn't go their way, as the Beast ended up dropping the first of three games against the Rapid City Rush by a final score of 7-2 at the Powerade Centre.
Mathew Maione led the charge for the Beast, adding a goal and an assist to push himself into a tie for second overall amongst ECHL rookie defence scoring. Brandon Devlin notched his first professional goal in his first game as a Beast, while Parker Van Buskirk made 10 saves in a game that saw a fair amount of rough stuff between the two rival squads.
The first period began with a hectic flow of action through out the first five minutes. Both teams went all out at each other, recording six shots on goal between them in that time, with the Rush striking first. Just 3:38 into the frame, Kale Kerbashian took the puck at the top of the Beast zone and wrapped around the net. His shot tipped off a stick in front and went over the shoulder of Van Buskirk for a 1-0 lead. Under eight minutes after that, a new Beast replied. Mathew Maione dumped the puck into the corner that was picked up by Brett Lyon. Lyon found Brandon Devlin at the point, and the offensive defenceman took a step and wired a wrister off the left post and in for his first goal in a Beast uniform. A minute after that, the Rush replied, when Kerbashian took the puck at the Beast blue line and ripped a shot past Van Buskirk for a 2-1 lead heading into the second.
The beginning of the second was terrific for the Beast, as they outshot the Rush 2-0 in the first two minutes, pinning Rapid City in their own zone. After the Beast turned the puck over in their zone just under 7 minutes into the frame, Michael Young fired a shot on goal that got by Van Buskirk and was pushed in by Daniel Barzcuk for a 3-1 lead. Later in the frame, Stephon Thorne dropped the gloves to protect Jason Dale and sparked the Powerade Centre fans in the process. Three and a half minutes after that, the Rush converted on a power play to push their lead to three. Under a minute after that, the Rush struck again, leaving the Beast with a 5-1 deficit heading into the third.
The Beast brought the play to the Rush to begin the third. Mathew Maione was the catalyst for the Beast's effort, seemingly every where the puck was. At 2:33 of the frame after an end-to-end rush by Maione, he fired a shot on goal that was blocked at the hash marks. Maione picked up the loose puck himself, made a move, and then fired a shot that beast Danny Battochio to cut the deficit to 5-2.
That was as close as the Beast would come though, as the Rush added two goals a minute and a half apart seconds after Maione's goal to seal the 7-2 victory for themselves.
The action continues on Friday March 27, Star Wars Episode II, where the Beast will reveal their Lucas Films-approved Star Wars jersey and fans have the opportunity to buy them during a live auction directly following the game! Sunday March 29 is the Frozen Musical, where before the game, the Beast will host a Frozen Musical performance at the Powerade Centre. Fans who buy a ticket to the Beast game gain free admittance to the musical and meet and greet with Elsa and Anna.
For more information on Brampton Beast flex tickets, group tickets, single-game tickets and 2015-16 season tickets, call 905-564-1684 or visit bramptonbeast.com. Listen to all Beast regular season games live on the Beast Radio Network at www.4cornersradio.ca, or watch live at www.echl.tv.
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