Game Notes: at Wichita
February 8, 2020 - ECHL (ECHL)
Rapid City Rush News Release
Rapid City Rush @ Wichita - 6:05 p.m. MDT
INTRUST Bank Arena
THIS SEASON
Wichita: 51gp, 19-24-8-0, 46pts (6th Mountain)
Last Game - 2/7 @ Kansas City (5-3 L)
Rush: 46gp, 25-17-4-0, 54pts (4th Mountain)
Last Game - 2/1 @ Idaho (2-1 W)
HEAD TO HEAD - 8 of 10 Games Played
Wichita: 3-4-1-0, 7pts
Power Play: 18.9% (7/37)
Penalty Kill: 73.8% (31/42)
Leading Scorer(s): Jason Salvaggio (10gp, 1g-7ast-8pts)
Rush: 5-3-0-0, 10pts
Power Play: 26.2%% (11/42)
Penalty Kill: 81.1% (30/37)
Leading Scorer(s): Keeghan Howdeshell (8gp, 2g-10ast-12pts)
NOTES
IF YOU AIN'T FIRST...: It has been a consistent topic of conversation on the Game Notes, but once again, the Rush find themselves earning the first goal of their most recent stretch of contests. Dating back to January 24th, the Rush have scored first in five straight games, winning three and earning points in four (3-1-1-0). Entering tonight's first matchup against Wichita this weekend, the Rush have the first goal in 29 of their 46 games, and are 21-5-3-0 when igniting the goal lamp first. To put this in perspective, the Rush had 19 wins all of last year when scoring first.
DEFIEL-ING AWESOME: A major reason to the win last Saturday, and 3 of 4 points against Idaho for that matter, was Rush net-minder Gordon Defiel, who stopped all but one of 39 shots in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Steelheads. Defiel finished as a runner-up for ECHL Goaltender of the Week for his efforts, stopping 78 of 82 shots in both games in Boise. What's ridiculous about his performance is that, of his 78 saves, 64 came in the last two periods of regulation plus overtime.
DO AS THE ROMAN-KOS DO: Since his signing right after the Christmas holiday, Rush rookie Darian Romanko has been a consistent presence on the scoresheet, and on Saturday, had a hand in both goals in the 2-1 win over Idaho, including an assist on the game-winner in the third period. Romanko now has 4 points (1g-3ast) in his last 4 games, and 10 points (3g-7ast) in 15 games since joining the Rush on December 27th.
THE BIG PICTURE: Entering this game against the Wichita Thunder, the Rush are currently sitting in 4th place in the Mountain Division, meaning they are in the playoffs if the season ended today. The main advantage of the Rush, outside of every remaining game of their 26 coming against the Mountain Division, is the games-in-hand that the team owns. The Rush have a minimum of two games in hand against their division rivals, including five against the Thunder. Additionally, of the remaining 26 games, 15 are against teams currently in the playoffs.
WE'RE GOING STREAKING!: Only one player carries a streak into tonight's matchup against Wichita:
Brennan Saulnier - has assists and points in four straight games (4gp, 5g-4ast-9pts)
ECHL Stories from February 8, 2020
- Steelheads Stave off Grizzlies in 2-1 Win, Share Second Place in Sellout - Idaho Steelheads
- Mavs Take Down First Place Allen with Offensive Outburst - Kansas City Mavericks
- Berschbach Sets Franchise Record as Walleye Prevail in Shootout - Toledo Walleye
- Rush Edged by Thunder in Narrow Affair - Rapid City Rush
- Vallorani Rips OT Winner as Beast Sink Mariners - Brampton Beast
- Wichita Snaps Skid with Win vs. Rush - Wichita Thunder
- Sweet Sweep: 'Blades Top Swamp Rabbits as Point Streak Hits 11 - Florida Everblades
- Oilers Down Komets Thanks to Pleskach Hat Trick - Tulsa Oilers
- Best Crowd in 4 Seasons Watches Come-From-Behind Win - Reading Royals
- Americans Open Road Trip in Kansas City with 6-4 Loss - Allen Americans
- Cyclones Fall in First Shootout of the Season - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Glads Knock Railers off the Tracks with OT Win - Atlanta Gladiators
- Wings Fall in Uphill Battle against Fuel - Kalamazoo Wings
- Railers Lose in Overtime in Front of Sell out Crowd 5-4 to Atlanta - Worcester Railers HC
- IceMen Sweep Two-Game Set at Norfolk with 7-3 Win - Jacksonville Icemen
- Swamp Rabbits Stymied by Everblades - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Indy Continues Winning Ways with 4-2 Win over Kalamazoo - Indy Fuel
- Royals Rally Back to Edge Wheeling, 5-3 - Wheeling Nailers
- Growlers Top the Thunder 4-2 - Newfoundland Growlers
- Mariners Rally to Gain Point in OT Loss to Brampton - Maine Mariners
- Forward Anthony Nellis Joins Texas Stars on Recall from Steelheads - Idaho Steelheads
- Preview: 'Blades Shoot for Sweep of Swamp Rabbits on Saturday - Florida Everblades
- Hershey Bears Recall Tommy Hughes - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Transactions - February 8 - ECHL
- Allen Americans Begin Four-Game Road Trip Tonight in Kansas City - Allen Americans
- Cyclones Game Preview: vs. Toledo - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Game Notes: at Wichita - Rapid City Rush
- Mavericks Hosting Sled Hockey Game Saturday Night - Kansas City Mavericks
- Pink in the Rink, Pres. by Adams & Associates, Alvernia University and Lamar Advertising, Tonight - Reading Royals
- Tomas Sholl Makes History, Steelheads Shut out Grizzlies 4-0 in Sellout - Idaho Steelheads
- Sholl, Steelheads Shutout Grizz 4-0 - Utah Grizzlies
- Gluchowski Scores Twice as Walleye Defeat Cyclones in OT - Toledo Walleye
- 'Blades Run Point Streak to 10 Games with 6-2 Triumph over Greenville - Florida Everblades
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