Kalamazoo Survives Late Push, Hangs on for 3-2 Win
Published on March 20, 2026 under ECHL (ECHL)
Rapid City Rush News Release
Rapid City Rush defenseman Xavier Bernard (left) and forward Seth Fyten
(Rapid City Rush)
(KALAMAZOO, Mich.)- Jake Ratzlaff and Seth Fyten scored in the third period, but the Rapid City Rush (24-30-5) came up one goal short in a 3-2 loss to the Kalamazoo Wings (27-25-6) at Wings Event Center on Friday.
The two evenly matched teams played a tight, back-and-forth game for 60 minutes. Only one goal, belonging to Kalamazoo, was scored in the first two periods.
The teams traded punches in the third. After the K-Wings struck one minute in, Ratzlaff clapped in a one-timer for his third goal of the season, cutting the lead to 2-1. Kalamazoo struck again, only for Fyten to respond on a turnaround shot at the net-front with 8:15 remaining.
Rapid City controlled the game down the stretch. The Rush only allowed one shot in the last ten-and-a-half minutes but could not break through for the late tying goal on the road.
Secondary scoring came through on both sides. Nobody on either team's top forward line recorded a point.
The Rush were penalty-free for the second time this season. The power play did not score on three chances and eight shots generated.
Kalamazoo, the league's best team at winning one-goal games, improved to 20-6-6 in those situations, which ties Kansas City for the most one-goal victories in the ECHL.
Connor Murphy made 32 saves, while Jonathan Lemieux stopped 33 in the win. Each team recorded 35 shots on goal.
Thanks to a Tahoe regulation loss in Toledo, the Rush do not lose any ground against the Knight Monsters in the playoff race. Rapid City remains 10 points back with 13 games remaining, five of which are against the fourth-place club.
Next game: Saturday, March 21 at Kalamazoo. 2:30 p.m. MDT puck drop from Wings Event Center.
The Rapid City Rush return home to face the Tulsa Oilers on April 1st, 3rd, and 4th at The Monument Ice Arena! We're rolling out the C of Red on Saturday, April 4th for Affiliation Night, presented by KT Connections. Head to www.rapidcityrush.com or call 605-716-7825 to secure your seats today.
Images from this story
 Rapid City Rush defenseman Xavier Bernard (left) and forward Seth Fyten |
ECHL Stories from March 20, 2026
- Homecoming Spoiled in Loss to Kansas City - Wichita Thunder
- Homecoming Spoiled in Loss to Kansas City - Wichita Thunder
- Americans Fall to Stingrays in Weekend Opener - Allen Americans
- Bigfoot Rumble to 6-0 Shutout Win over Oilers - Idaho Steelheads
- Oilers Shut out by Steelheads, Barczewski - Tulsa Oilers
- Fuel Defeat Grizzlies, 4-1, on Friday Night - Indy Fuel
- McKay Stops 36 with Win Over Iowa - Bloomington Bison
- Railers Fall, 6-2, to Maine to Open Weekend - Worcester Railers HC
- Swamp Rabbits Fall in Overtime in First of Two against Ghost Pirates - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Lions Earn a Point against the Nailers - Trois-Rivieres Lions
- Komets Fight Back to Win in Cincinnati - Fort Wayne Komets
- Bison Outlast Heartlanders in Sprint to Finish, 3-2 - Iowa Heartlanders
- Boislard Scores in Grizzlies 4-1 Loss at Indy - Utah Grizzlies
- 'Clones Fall to Komets in Overtime on Friday Night - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Walleye Collect Sixth Consecutive Home Win to Start Weekend Series against Tahoe - Toledo Walleye
- Stingrays Skate by Americans, 5-3 - South Carolina Stingrays
- Nailers Win Memorable Debut for Bennett - Wheeling Nailers
- Three Unanswered Goals Lift Walleye over Knight Monsters in First-Ever Meeting - Tahoe Knight Monsters
- Thunder Win Shootout Thriller 4-3 in Reading - Adirondack Thunder
- Ghost Pirates Snap Skid with 4-3 Overtime Win over Greenville - Savannah Ghost Pirates
- Mariners Roll Through Railers in Worcester - Maine Mariners
- Kalamazoo Survives Late Push, Hangs on for 3-2 Win - Rapid City Rush
- K-Wings Take Series Opener Versus Rush Friday at Home - Kalamazoo Wings
- ECHL Transactions - March 20 - ECHL
- Chase Pauls Called up to Calgary Wranglers - Rapid City Rush
- Solar Bears Sign Goaltender Samuel Richard, Forward Luciano Wilson to ECHL Contracts - Orlando Solar Bears
- Bison Sign Forward Parker Lindauer - Bloomington Bison
- Keaton Mastrodonato Returns Ahead of Weekend Set of Games - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Steelheads Add Ingram, Winters, and Young from College Ranks - Idaho Steelheads
- Knight Monsters Acquire Defenseman Louka Henault in Trade with Fort Wayne - Tahoe Knight Monsters
- Railers Announce Multiple Moves Ahead of Weekend - Worcester Railers HC
- Waugh Signs PTO with Hartford - Savannah Ghost Pirates
- Rush Game Notes: March 20, 2026 at Kalamazoo Wings - Rapid City Rush
- Thunder Sign Forward Jacob Slipec - Adirondack Thunder
- Game Day Preview: a 2015 Kelly Cup Finals Rematch - 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.
