Game Notes: vs Allen
February 14, 2020 - ECHL (ECHL)
Rapid City Rush News Release
Rapid City Rush vs Allen Americans - 7:05 p.m. MDT
Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Ice Arena
THIS SEASON
Allen: 51gp, 33-10-6-2, 74pts (1st ECHL)
Last Game - 2/12 @ Rapid City (1-0 L)
Rush: 49gp, 26-19-4-0, 56pts (4th Mountain)
Last Game - 2/12 vs Allen (1-0 W)
HEAD TO HEAD - 6 of 9 Games Played
Allen: 5-1-0-0, 10pts
Power Play: 11.1% (3/27)
Penalty Kill: 93.3% (28/30)
Leading Scorer(s): Tyler Sheehy/Corey Durocher (5pts Each)
Rush: 1-3-2-0, 4pts
Power Play: 6.7%% (2/30)
Penalty Kill: 88.9% (24/27)
Leading Scorer(s): Tyler Coulter (6gp, 2g-2ast-4pts)
NOTES
PUTTIN ON THE SPLITS: For the second time in team history, two goalies split a shutout win. Gordon Defiel started the game and stopped all 8 shots he saw in the first 20 minutes, but could not continue at the start of the second period. Merrick Madsen was tasked with continuing the last 40 minutes of play, and stopped all 21 shots he saw in relief, securing the win and the Rush's fourth shutout win of the season. The last time two goaltenders combined for a shutout was on December 19, 2014 when Etienne Marcoux (W, 25 sv in 28:11 of start) and Danny Battochio (16 sv in 31:49 of relief) teamed up in a 4-0 win against the Tulsa Oilers.
BLANK SPACE: As mentioned above, the Rush earned their fourth shutout win of the season in the split between Defiel and Madsen. The other three shutouts this year came from Tyler Parks (twice, most recently December 28th vs Wichita) and Ivan Prosevtov (November 9th vs Idaho). All of last season, the Rush had 4 shutouts, all belonging to Adam Carlson.
99 PROBLEMS AND A GOAL AINT ONE: For just the seventh time in Rapid City Rush history, winning or losing, the Rush played in a game that ended with a 1-0 score. Gordon Defiel and Merrick Madsen split the shutout and became the third and fourth goaltenders to play in such a game, joining Adam Carlson and Danny Battochio in the feat. In such games, the Rush are now 4-3-0-0, and have won three straight 1-0 finishes.
HOME SWEET HOME: We're on fire with the music puns, aren't we? After Wednesday's win against Allen, the Rush now have 16 wins and 32 points on home ice this season. Last year, the Rush finished 15-18-1-2 on home ice with 33 points. Additionally, the Rush only managed 15 wins or less in each of the last three seasons at home (15 last season, 15 in 2017-18, and 11 in 2016-17). The last time the Rush won more than 15 games at home was in 2015-16, when they finished 17-16-1-2. The franchise record for most home wins in a season is 25 back in the 2009-10 CHL Championship season.
THE BIG PICTURE: Coming into this morning's game, the Rush are currently in the last playoff spot, and have 24 games remaining in the season, all against Mountain Division opponents. The Rush still have a minimum of 1 game in hand on their division rivals. Of the 23 remaining games this year, 14 are against current playoff teams (3 against Allen, 5 against Idaho, and 6 against Utah), while the remaining 9 games are against chasers of the Rush (4 against Tulsa, 5 against Kansas City). Tonight, the Rush rematch the Americans, while Tulsa visits Wichita and Utah visits Kansas City. Idaho is idle tonight, making this a game-in-hand against the Steelheads, currently five points ahead of the Rush in 3rd place.
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 14, 2020
- Oilers Dominate Thunder on Valentine's Day Thanks to Ian McNulty Hat Trick - Tulsa Oilers
- Hensick Scores a Pair, But Walleye Fall to Wings in OT - Toledo Walleye
- Sol Train: 'Blades Down Gladiators to Push Home Point Streak to Seven - Florida Everblades
- No Love for Swamp Rabbits in OT Loss to Jacksonville - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Grizzlies Win 5-1 at Kansas City - Utah Grizzlies
- Fucale, May Lead Solar Bears to 4-0 Win over Admirals - Orlando Solar Bears
- Taylor Completes K-Wings Dramatic Comeback in Overtime - Kalamazoo Wings
- IceMen Win Fifth Straight with 4-3 Overtime Victory over Greenville - Jacksonville Icemen
- Oilers Skate Past Wichita, 7-1 - Wichita Thunder
- Mavs Drop Front End of Weekend Set against Utah, 5-1 - Kansas City Mavericks
- Rays Get Sweet Ending with Valentine's Day Win - South Carolina Stingrays
- Komets Erupt in Third Period to Overpower the Fuel - Indy Fuel
- Tough Love for Gladiators on Valentine's Day - Atlanta Gladiators
- Cyclones Fall in Opener of Homestand - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Lots of Hearts for the Nailers in 5-3 Win - Wheeling Nailers
- Curti's Late Goal Earns Thunder Point in Overtime Loss - Adirondack Thunder
- Royals' Valentine's Day Sweetness Is 3-1 Win at Brampton - Reading Royals
- Growlers Capture ECHL History - Newfoundland Growlers
- Mariners Can't Stop Growlers Win Streak in Newfoundland - Maine Mariners
- ECHL Transactions - February 14 - ECHL
- Forward Luke Nogard Returns - Atlanta Gladiators
- Game Preview: Solar Bears vs. Admirals - Orlando Solar Bears
- Preview: 'Blades Try to Push Home Point Streak to Seven on Friday - Florida Everblades
- John McCarron Signs PTO with AHL's Stockton Heat - Florida Everblades
- Royals Add Beer Fest to Fri., February 21 Game - Reading Royals
- Game Notes: vs Allen - Rapid City Rush
- Mariners Celebrate 40th Anniversary of 'Miracle on Ice' February 23 - Maine Mariners
- Komets Host Indy Tonight - Fort Wayne Komets
- Cyclones Game Preview: vs. Wheeling Nailers - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Game Preview: Swamp Rabbits at IceMen, February 14, 2020 - Jacksonville Icemen
- Road Trip Continues Tonight in Rapid City - Allen Americans
- Grizzlies Preview: Utah at Kansas City. February 14, 2020 - Utah Grizzlies
- Preview: Royals Lead Beast by 2 Points for 2nd Place - Reading Royals
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