Cutthroats Win Fifth Straight by 2-1 Final

Published on December 12, 2012 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Denver Cutthroats News Release


DENVER - Luke Fulghum scored the game-tying goal in the second period and then again in the shootout to help the Denver Cutthroats defeat the Rapid City Rush, 3-2, on Tuesday night at Denver Coliseum.

Denver (14-8-1) improves to 4-2-1 on the season against Rapid City (11-8-4), with four of their seven games this year having now gone past regulation and the Cutthroats going 3-1 in those games. Brad Smyth was credited with the game-winner after scoring in the first round of the shootout. Troy Schwab scored in round four to end the game.

It was the fourth consecutive shootout between the two clubs.

The win was Denver's fifth straight and ninth in their last 11 contests. The Cutthroats are now tied with the Allen Americans in the standings, just one point back of first place Wichita. Denver and Allen meet for a pair of games this weekend.

J.P. Chabot also scored in regulation for Denver while goaltender Kieran Millan stopped 25 of 27 shots for his seventh win of the season.

Chabot got things started scoring wise with a goal late in the first period. The tally was his fifth goal of the season; coming after he whacked the puck out of mid-air for a 1-0 lead for the Fish.

The Cutthroats controlled play early in the second period and the Rush didn't have a shot on goal until 9:20 of the frame. However, Rapid City soon went on the power play and Scott Brannon tied the game at one at 10:48. Brannon would add his second of the game with 5:22 left in the middle stanza, scoring on a shot that beat Millan between the pads on a delayed penalty.

Fulghum tied things back up before the second intermission after scoring a power play goal off a crossing pass from Schwab in the right-wing corner. A.J. Gale also assisted on the play to keep pace as the second-leading scorer in the Central Hockey League with 30 points on the year.

Smyth (10 games), Gale (seven games), and Schwab (six games) all extended their individual point streaks. Millan earned his sixth win in his last eight appearances, giving up two goals or less for the seventh time during that run.

The Cutthroats continue their six-game home stretch on Friday when they host the Allen Americans at Denver Coliseum for the start of Hometown Heroes Weekend. The team will wear specialty American flag jerseys and the puck will drop at 7:05 PM MST.

Three Stars:

1. Luke Fulghum (DEN)

2. Scott Brannon (RPD)

3. Kieran Millan (DEN)

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Central Hockey League Stories from December 12, 2012


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