Huge Third Period Comeback Lifts Bucks To Win

Published on January 23, 2010 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Laredo Bucks News Release


RAPID CITY, SD- The Laredo Bucks of the Central Hockey League beat the Rapid City Rush 5-3 Saturday night at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. The Bucks improve to 18-13-7 (43 points) and finish their three-game road trip with a 2-1 mark. Laredo still trails Texas by two points for third place in the Southern Conference.

Laredo trailed 3-1 entering the third period but scored four unanswered goals in the final 20 minutes to pick up the comeback win.

Kevin Desfosses stopped 36 of 39 shots in net to improve to 3-1 in a Bucks uniform this season.

Paul Elliott put the Bucks on top 4-3 when he hammered a slap shot in from the top of the circle with 10:16 left in the third period. The tally was Elliott's first goal since coming out of retirement on January 8th.

Darryl Smith added an empty-net goal with 1:04 left in the game to put Laredo up 5-3. Smith had two goals on the night and six on the road trip to increase his team-leading total to 22.

Laredo improves to 2-10-1 when trailing after two periods this season.

Brent Cullaton cut the Rush lead to 3-2 when he scored from the bottom of the left circle 5:36 into the third period. The goal was Cullaton's second in three games for Laredo.

Mark O'Leary tied the game at 3-3 just 55 seconds later when sent a slap shot in from the top of the slot. The goal was O'Leary's third of the season.

Laredo was outshot in the game 39-29.

Rapid City falls to 26-10-1 and lead Colorado by two points in the Northern Conference.

The Rush quickly jumped out to a 2-0 lead as they scored twice in the first 6:50 of the game.

Luke Erickson put the Rush up 1-0 when he jammed in a rebound at the left side of the crease 5:09 into the first. The goal was Erickson's 13th of the season.

Scott Wray increased the Rush lead to 2-0 when he scored a breakway goal 6:50 into the first period. Wray has 18 goals on the season.

Laredo cut the lead to 2-1 when Darryl Smith scored on a backhander at the right side of the crease 8:11 into the first period. Smith's tally was his team-leading 21st on the season.

The Bucks outshot the Rush 12-10 in the first period.

Laredo kept the score 2-1 when Kevin Desfosses stopped a penalty shot by Blaine Jarvis just 2:11 into the second period.

The Bucks had an opportunity to tie the game at 2-2 eight minutes into the second period but could not score on a four-minute power-play thanks to a Rush high sticking double minor.

Rapid City increased their lead to 3-1 with just 30 seconds left in the period when Gio Flaminnio jammed in a rebound on the power-play. The goal was Flamminio's first of the season.

Laredo was outshot in the second period 19-10.

Saturday night South Dakota became the 11th different state that the Bucks have played in in franchise history. Laredo has played in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Louisiana, Kansas, Colorado, Ohio, Arizona, Missouri and South Dakota.

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Central Hockey League Stories from January 23, 2010


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