Game Notes: vs Wichita
January 25, 2020 - ECHL (ECHL)
Rapid City Rush News Release
Rapid City Rush vs Wichita Thunder - 7:05 p.m. MDT
Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Ice Arena
THIS SEASON
Wichita: 45gp, 18-19-8-0, 44pts (5th Mountain)
Last Game - 1/24 @ Rapid City (4-3 OTL)
Rush: 42gp, 23-16-3-0, 49pts (4th Mountain)
Last Game - 1/24 vs Wichita (4-3 W/OT)
HEAD TO HEAD - 6 of 10 Games Played
Wichita: 2-3-1-0, 5pts
Power Play: 17.9% (5/28)
Penalty Kill: 72.4% (21/29)
Leading Scorer(s): Patrik Parkkonen/Jason Salvaggio (5pts Each)
Rush: 4-2-0-0, 8pts
Power Play: 27.6% (8/29)
Penalty Kill: 82.1% (23/28)
Leading Scorer(s): Keeghan Howdeshell (6gp, 1g-8ast-9pts)
NOTES
HE'S KILLIN(S) IT!: Supplying the game-winner 5:13 into overtime last night was Rush rookie defenseman Ryker Killins, who has been on a heater as of recently. Prior to last week, coincidentally against the Thunder, Killins hadn't ignited the goal lamp since October 13th at Tulsa, ending a personal drought of 23 games that came over the course of the team's last 35. Since scoring against Wichita last Wednesday, Killins now has 3 goals in his last 5 games, all coming on the man-advantage.
ANOTHER GORILLA TOSSED: Rush rookie defenseman Eric Israel came into last night's game against Wichita with 12 points as a professional in 33 games. That all changed in an instant in the second period, as Keeghan Howdeshell his Israel on the back door with 3:41 gone by to put the Rush up 2-0, scoring his first goal as a professional hockey player. Israel now has 5 points (1g-4ast) in his last 7 games, and 14 points (1g-13ast) in 34 games.
SMERECK HAS THE POWER: Rush defenseman Jalen Smereck has been an anchor for the Rush on the blue line in the short amount of time he's been in the Black Hills this season. In 9 games with the Rush, Smereck is just shy of a point-per-game pace with 8 points to his credit, 6 of which have come on the power play (1g-5ast). Speaking of the power play...
POWER SURGE: After last night, the Rush have scored on the power play in four of their last seven games, and are now tied for fourth in the ECHL with 36 power play goals through 42 games this season. What's so impressive is two-fold. First, the Rush are 6/13 against Wichita in their last two meetings, both 3 power play goal performances, clocking in at 46.2%. On top of that, the 36 power play goals through 42 games this season is just 6 off of all of last year's total of 42, which was 23rd out of 27 teams in the ECHL.
WE'RE GOING STREAKING!: Only one player carries a statistical streak into tonight's second of three matchups against the Thunder:
Keeghan Howdeshell - has points in three straight games (3gp, 2g-4ast-6pts)
ECHL Stories from January 25, 2020
- Offense Explodes for Five in the Third Period - Wichita Thunder
- Oilers Extend Season-High Point Streak, Fall in Overtime to Kalamazoo - Tulsa Oilers
- Allen Defeats Utah 6-3 on Saturday Night - Utah Grizzlies
- Iacopelli Scores Twice Late in K-Wings Overtime Win - Kalamazoo Wings
- Mavs Snap Skid with Shootout Win over Steelheads - Kansas City Mavericks
- Happy Cam-Pers: Johnson Leads 'Blades to Shootout Win - Florida Everblades
- Walleye Maintain Perfect Record against Komets - Toledo Walleye
- Steelheads Earn Point in 2-1 Shootout Loss to Mavericks - Idaho Steelheads
- Milner Silences Norfolk for 7th Shutout - South Carolina Stingrays
- Beast Stymied in Loss to Thunder - Brampton Beast
- Royals Split Weekend Series with Newfoundland, Fall, 3-1 - Reading Royals
- Cyclones Drop Weekend Finale in Wheeling - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Nailers Power Past Cyclones, 4-1 - Wheeling Nailers
- Late Goal Stings Mariners in Worcester - Maine Mariners
- A Late Score from Ross Olsson Propels Worcester to a 2-1 Victory over Maine - Worcester Railers HC
- Adirondack Bludgeons Brampton in Saturday Night Bout, 7-4 - Adirondack Thunder
- Growlers Bounce Back in Reading - Newfoundland Growlers
- Indy Dominates Atlanta in Final Game of the Weekend - Indy Fuel
- Atlanta Falls to Indy Fuel to Conclude Brief North Division Trip - Atlanta Gladiators
- Windsor, Solar Bears Freeze out Swamp Rabbits in 3-0 Win - Orlando Solar Bears
- Preview: 'Blades Take on IceMen, Aim for Fifth Straight Win - Florida Everblades
- ECHL Transactions - January 25 - ECHL
- Swamp Rabbits Shut out in Sunshine State - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- ECHL Announces Fine, Suspension - ECHL
- Cyclones Game Preview: vs. Wheeling - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Game Notes: vs Wichita - Rapid City Rush
- Adam Rockwood Recalled by Springfield - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Game Preview: Solar Bears vs. Swamp Rabbits - Orlando Solar Bears
- Royals Seek Second Win of Weekend vs. Growlers - Reading Royals
- Killins Wins It on Strong Power Play in OT for Rush - Rapid City Rush
- Oilers Win Shootout Thriller in Front of 11,651 on Pink in the Rink Night - Tulsa Oilers
- Overtime Game Winner Overturned, Allen Loses in a Shootout - Allen Americans
- Grizz Win 5-4 in Shootout Thriller - Utah Grizzlies
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.
