Bucks Rally Falls Short in 2-1 Loss

Published on March 18, 2011 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Laredo Bucks News Release


RAPID CITY, SD- The Laredo Bucks of the Central Hockey League fell to the Rapid City Rush 2-1 Friday night at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. Rio Grande Valley also lost Friday night keeping the Bucks two points behind the Killer Bees for the final playoff spot in the Berry Conference with four games remaining. The Bucks lost their second straight game to fall to 22-32-8 (52 points).

Danny Battochio stopped 23 of 24 shots he faced as the Rush improves to 37-22-4 (78 points).

The Bucks mounted a furious rally in the third period cutting the Rush lead to 2-1 with just 2:51 left when Jeff Hazelwood scored a power-play goal from the blue line. The goal was Hazelwood's 17th of the season.

Laredo was granted another power-play with less than two minutes left and had several chances to tie the game but Battochio made key saves as the Rush hung on.

The Bucks were outshot 10-4 in the third period and for the game 29-24.

Pier Pelletier stopped 27 of 29 shots as the Bucks lost their second straight game.

The Rush jumped out of the Bucks scoring twice in the first period to take a 2-0 lead.

Derek LeBlanc put Rapid City 1-0 at the 4:29 mark of the first when he scored from an odd-angle just above the end line. The goal was LeBlanc's 24th of the season.

The Rush would go up 2-0 with 3:52 left in the first when Ryan Menei scored from the top of the right circle on an odd-man rush to collect his team-leading 37th goal of the season.

Rapid City outshot Laredo 13-6 in the first period.

Neither team was able to the lamp in the second period as the Rush held a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes of play.

Rapid City improves to 27-0 this season when leading after two periods.

Laredo outshot Rapid City 14-6 in the second period.

The Bucks continue their four-game road trip Saturday in Rapid City. Game time is 8:05pm.



Central Hockey League Stories from March 18, 2011


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