Rage Still Alive in Playoff Hunt
March 22, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rocky Mountain Rage News Release
Tulsa - The Rocky Mountain Rage stayed alive in their effort to qualify for the President's Cup Playoffs by overcoming a 2-0 deficit heading to the third period to defeat the Tulsa Oilers, 3-2, at the Tulsa Convention Center.
The Rage's playoff hopes hinge on their ability to overtake the Colorado Eagles for the Northwest Division title. If Rocky Mountain defeats the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs and Colorado loses in regulation to the Youngstown SteelHounds in each team's respective season finale tomorrow, the Rage will win the Northwest and advance to the post-season as the #2 seed out of the Northern Conference.
Tulsa took the lead early in the first period off goals by Jeff Christian on the power play at 3:18 and Paul Kelly at 5:35. Those would be the only two pucks that eluded Rocky Mountain goaltender Scott Reid for the rest of the game.
During the first intermission, the Rage learned Colorado lost to Youngstown tonight, 7-4, to keep the division within their grasp, but the club still could not break through against Tulsa goaltender Guy St. Vincent and headed to the third trailing, 2-0.
Finally, Clay Plume pounced on a rebound at 6:42 of the final frame to cut the Oilers' lead in half. Tyler Butler then made a great individual effort to hold the puck in at the right point before sweeping it toward the goal and through St. Vincent's legs for the game-tying tally at 9:55.
The teams remained tied at two for the next nine minutes until Matt Frick also made a great effort to hold the blue line by extending to whack the puck into traffic in front of the goal. The puck squirted out of the fray to Simon Watson, who potted the game-winner at 18:00 for his 100th career point.
Tulsa skated on the power play with St. Vincent pulled over the final 1:17 looking for the equalizer, but the Rage penalty killers thwarted their seventh consecutive short-handed situation to secure the win.
Rocky Mountain's victory tonight snapped a nine-game road losing streak (0-7-2) dating back to a Feb. 5 loss in Tulsa. The club now has a record of 36-21-6 with 78 points but is still positioned in sixth place in the Northern Conference.
The Rage are unable to catch any other team for the final playoff spot in the conference other than the Eagles. If the scenario outlined above unfolds, the Front Range rivals will end the regular season with identical records, but Rocky Mountain would win the division after having prevailed in the season series with a mark of 7-4-1.
Tomorrow's all-important tilt with the Mudbugs begins at 6:05 MDT from Bossier City, La. Fans can tune into The New ESPN Radio 1600 at 5:55 p.m. for all the play-by-play action. Live audio and video of the game will also be streamed online at www.rockymountainrage.com. For the most up-to-date information on the Rage's playoff situation, please visit http://www.rockymountainrage.com/outlook/.
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Central Hockey League Stories from March 22, 2008
- Bugs End Regular Season With Win - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Gorillas Season Comes to a Close With 5-4 Loss - Amarillo Gorillas
- Rage's Season Comes to a Close - Rocky Mountain Rage
- End regular season with a loss - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Bes Sets Another Record: Bucks Win Finale 6-2 - Laredo Bucks
- RiverKings Beat Rayz 6-1 - Mississippi RiverKings
- Hounds sweep Eagles thanks to dramatic comeback - Youngstown SteelHounds
- Bats Roll Into Playoffs With Win, Face New Mexico or Odessa on Monday - Austin Ice Bats
- Rayz fall to Kings 6-1 in season finale - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Eagles Lose in Shootout, Earn Second Seed Anyway - Colorado Eagles
- Qwest Scorpions Fan Experience Winners - New Mexico Scorpions
- Bucks Close Out Regular Season Tonight In Rio - Laredo Bucks
- Sundogs Extend Win Streak to Eight Games with 7-4 Win - Arizona Sundogs
- Mudbugs Red-Hot Powerplay Burns Brahmas - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Rage Still Alive in Playoff Hunt - Rocky Mountain Rage
- Texas Stumbles In Bossier 7-1 - Fort Worth Brahmas
- RiverKings qualify for playoffs - Mississippi RiverKings
- Bucks Clinch South With 8-2 Romp - Laredo Bucks
- Reeder Hat Trick Leads Scorps To Victory - New Mexico Scorpions
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