
GAME NOTES: vs UTAH
Published on December 7, 2019 under ECHL (ECHL)
Rapid City Rush News Release
Rapid City Rush vs Utah Grizzlies - 7:05 p.m. MDT
Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Ice Arena
THIS SEASON
Utah: 20gp, 8-8-3-1, 20pts (T-5th Mountain)
Last Game - 12/6 @ Rapid City (5-4 OTL)
Rush: 23gp, 15-5-3-0, 33pts (T-1st ECHL)
Last Game - 12/6 vs Utah (5-4 W/OT)
HEAD TO HEAD - 3 of 13 Games Played
Utah: 0-1-2-0 (2pts)
Power Play: 17.6% (3/17)
Penalty Kill: 80.9% (17/21)
Leading Scorer(s): Taylor Richart (3gp, 2g-3ast-5pts)
Rush: 3-0-0-0 (6pts)
Power Play: 19.1% (4/21)
Penalty Kill: 82.4% (14/17)
Leading Scorer(s): Saulnier/Phillips (4pts Each)
NOTES
HISTORY WAS MADE: With their exhilarating overtime win last night, the Rush have re-written their history books with 9 consecutive wins on home ice. Peter Quenneville's overtime dagger erased the previous entry of 8 straight home wins, which was set back in the 2011-12 CHL season and never matched. The win also puts the Rush back in a tie for first place in the ECHL, which has been a recurring theme over the last month.
CONTINUED SUCCESS: Against the Grizzlies, the Rush have had great success, regardless of their finish in the standings over the last two-plus seasons. With the win last night, Rush Head Coach Daniel Tetrault improved to a record of 20-7-0-1 against Utah since being named the Head Coach in the 2017-18 season. Additionally, the Rush are on an active 12-game point streak and 7-game winning streak in Rapid City, only suffering a loss ONCE in those games by virtue of a shootout on November 30, 2018 with a 4-3 final score. As a matter of fact, the last time the Grizzlies beat the Rush in regulation in Rapid City was on January 21, 2018.
LET'S SEE THE TEDDY BEARS FLY!: In conjunction with "Hockey N' Hope" cancer awareness night, the Rush also meshed their 12th Annual "Teddy Bear Toss" into tonight's matchup. All-time, when given the greenlight to hurl stuffed animals on the ice, the Rush are 6-3-2, and have won two straight, including against Utah in a 3-0 shutout last season. In the previous 11 Teddy Bear Tosses, a defenseman has scored the "Teddy Bear Goal" three times, and only once has the team been shutout. The "Teddy Bear Goal Scorers" are Rich Hansen (2008), Brenden Cook (2009), Gio Flamminio (D, 2010), Levi Lind (2011), Jarrett Konkle (2012), Johan Ryd (2014), Zach Cohen (2015), Zach Tolkinen (D, 2016), Peter Sivak (2017), Riley Weselowski (D, 2018).
FREAKY FRIDAY: Friday games have proven to be quite freaky for the Rush, despite going 5-0-2-0 at the start of the weekend. Last night, a crazy five-goal third period leads to the Rush forcing overtime, earning the win. Last week, it was Giovanni Fiore at the buzzer to end three unanswered Rush goals for another win. The week before that, Keeghan Howdeshell tied the game late against Tulsa, setting Tyler Coulter up for the game-winner. Two weeks prior to that, the Rush came back from down 2-0 against Idaho to win in a 7-round shootout. And the first Friday home game of the season featured a 4-goal performance from Kelly Klima, the second time ever in Rush history that has been accomplished.
WE'RE GOING STREAKING!: Four players carry statistical streaks into the rematch against Utah tonight:
Peter Quenneville - has points in nine straight games (9gp, 9g-8ast-17pts)
Tyler Coulter - has points in six straight games (6gp, 5g-3ast-8pts)
Stephane Legault - has assists and points in four straight games (4gp, 2g-5ast-7pts)
Brennan Saulnier - has points in three straight games (3gp, 1g-3ast-4pts)
ECHL Stories from December 7, 2019
- Thunder Even Season Series with 4-2 Win over Oilers - Tulsa Oilers
- Solar Bears Rally to Earn Point in 3-2 OT Loss to Gladiators - Orlando Solar Bears
- Mavericks Extend Winning Streak to Four with Commanding 5-1 Win over Fort Wayne - Kansas City Mavericks
- Strong Start Not Enough as Rabbits Squeak by Admirals - Norfolk Admirals
- Just-In Time: 'Blades Rally Late to Upend Stingrays in OT - Florida Everblades
- Thunder Snaps Winless Skid with Victory vs. Tulsa - Wichita Thunder
- Walleye Set Teddy Bear Toss Record, But Fall to Cyclones - Toledo Walleye
- Cyclones Use Big Second Period to Get by Toledo - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Wings Clamp Down in 4-1 Win at Wheeling - Kalamazoo Wings
- Greenville Earns Weekend Split with Norfolk - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- CAA City Is Safe as Batman Defeats Joker - Brampton Beast
- Blades Sneak by Rays in OT After Late Comeback - South Carolina Stingrays
- Hirano Scores Teddy Bear Goal, But Nailers Fall - Wheeling Nailers
- Royals Tie Game Twice But Fall at Brampton, 5-3 - Reading Royals
- Ronning's Shorthanded Goal Gives Mariners Weekend Sweep of Thunder - Maine Mariners
- Thunder Drop Close Game in Maine, 5-4 - Adirondack Thunder
- Maple Leafs Win 3-2 over Worcester in Throwback Night - Newfoundland Growlers
- Railers Come up Short on the Rock Falling 3-2 - Worcester Railers HC
- Penguins Reassign Drozg to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton - Wheeling Nailers
- Preview: Florida Searches for Series Split against South Carolina - Florida Everblades
- ECHL Transactions - December 7 - ECHL
- ECHL Announces Fine, Suspension - ECHL
- Ty Ronning Reassigned to Maine - Maine Mariners
- Cyclones Game Preview: vs. Toledo Walleye - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Game Preview: December 7 Utah at Rapid City - Utah Grizzlies
- GAME NOTES: vs UTAH - Rapid City Rush
- Teddy Bear Toss Game Preview: Solar Bears vs. Gladiators - Orlando Solar Bears
- Royals Visit Brampton for First of Two - Reading Royals
- Komets Defeat Oilers 1-0 in Goaltender Duel - Tulsa Oilers
- Quenneville's Overtime Winner Sets New Franchise Record - Rapid City Rush
- McGauley Gets Hat Trick in OT Loss - Utah Grizzlies
- Steelheads Overcome Deficit in 6-5 Overtime Win over Americans - Idaho Steelheads
- Americans Take a Point in Overtime Loss - Allen Americans
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.