Eagles' Special Teams Lead Colorado to 7-4 Win
May 4, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rapid City Rush News Release
(Loveland, CO) - The Colorado Eagles took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-7 series for the Turner Conference Championship. The Eagles collected four special teams goals, netting a pair of shorthanded tallies while going 2-for-11 on the powerplay. Game #4 is set for Thursday at 7:05pm in the Budweiser Events Center.
The Eagles quickly got the Budweiser Events Center crowd to its feet, potting the opening goal just 54 seconds in. Capitalizing on a neutral zone turnover and shift change by the Rush, Adam Chorneyko sprung Daymen Rycroft on a breakaway and the veteran ripped it off the post and in. However, the lead only lasted 63 seconds as Ryan Menei's centering pass was lifted home by former Eagle Konrad Reeder, tying the game at the 1:57 mark. With less than four minutes left in the period, a cycle by Kevin Harvey and Derek LeBlanc set up a chance for Les Reaney who snapped home a wrist shot from the right faceoff dot. Reaney's goal gave the Rush a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes.
Despite sending just six shots in the second period, the Eagles netted a shorthanded and powerplay goal to take a 3-2 lead. The first came at 6:01 from Jason Beatty who went coast to coast blasting home a shorthanded goal from the left faceoff circle. At 9:39, the Eagles capitalized on a 5-on-3 when Riley Nelson's rink-wide pass was wristed home by Kevin Ulanski,
Less than three minutes into the third, the Rush powerplay answered off of Brendon Hodge's second goal of the playoffs, tying the game at three. The tie lasted all of 39 seconds before Adam Chorneyko took advantage of a Rush turnover, wristing a shot over the glove hand of Danny Battochio. Just 51 seconds later, the Eagles doubled the lead when Kyle Peto's wrist shot from the blueline was tipped home by Rycroft for his second of the game. A minute and a half after the Rycroft goal, Dan Sullivan picked up a powerplay marker by walking to the right hash marks and snapping a shot through the five hole of Battochio, ending the goaltender's night. At 8:22, Scott Wray gave the Rush a breath of life by sending home a wrap around, making it a 6-4 contest. With less than three minutes left however, Nelson netted another shorthanded tally, icing the 7-4 win for Colorado.
Other Rush News:
Playoff tickets for the 2011 postseason are now available. To purchase, call the Rush office at 716-7825.
Stay informed on Rush happenings through the official Rapid City Rush team website, www.RapidCityRush.com.
Central Hockey League Stories from May 4, 2011
- Late Goal Gives Bugs Game 3 Win, 2-1 Series Lead - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Mudbugs Edge Americans 3-2 to Take 2-1 Lead in Series - Allen Americans
- Ron Vogel Set to Lead the Jr. Brahmas - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Sundogs Re-Ink Veteran Butler for 2011-12 Season - Arizona Sundogs
- Eagles' Special Teams Lead Colorado to 7-4 Win - Rapid City Rush
- Eagles Take 2-1 Series Lead with 7-4 Win Over Rush - Colorado Eagles
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
