Rage to Face Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs in First Round
March 21, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rocky Mountain Rage News Release
Amarillo - While the Rocky Mountain Rage were busy desperately trying to hang on to a win in their final game of the regular season, their first round playoff opponent was being decided in a shootout in Bossier City, La. The Rage overcame a furious third period rally by the Amarillo Gorillas to prevail 8-7, and the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs dropped a shootout decision to the Corpus Christi IceRays to finally establish the Northern Conference's best-of-three opening round series.
After a two week wait, the fifth-seeded Rage now know they will square-off against the fourth-seeded Mudbugs in Game One of the former's first-ever playoff series at Broomfield Event Center on Monday, March 23, at 7:05 p.m. Game Two and, if necessary, Game Three will be held on March 25 and 26 at the CenturyTel Center on the Mudbugs' home ice.
Playoff tickets for Game One are already on sale, with prices remaining the same as the regular season: $5 kids tickets (12 & under); $10 student tickets with ID; and $22 - $44 adult tickets. Tickets will be available at the BEC Box Office, www.Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, or Charge-by-Phone at 800-745-3000.
Rocky Mountain entered tonight's third period in Amarillo holding a comfortable 7-3 cushion. But the Gorillas rallied in their final period of the season, generating a 21-5 edge in shots and pulling within 7-6 at the 13:59 mark. The Rage seemingly stemmed Amarillo's momentum with an insurance goal at 17:37 when Daymen Rycroft tallied his second of the night, but the Gorillas responded just 11 seconds later to set-up a frenetic final two minutes. In the end, Rocky Mountain repelled Amarillo's comeback bid behind a solid effort from goaltender Scott Reid - despite the seven goals against - and will head to the post-season having snapped a season-high five-game winless slide (0-3-2).
The Rage concluded the regular season in second place in the Northwest Division with a record of 32-26-6 and 70 points. Tonight's win also helped establish the best road mark of their three-year history, two games above .500 at 16-14-2.
Although Rocky Mountain eventually built its large lead through 40 minutes, the club still yielded the first goal for the seventh consecutive game when Amarillo's Austin Sutter scored at 3:17 of the opening frame. The Rage answered with four straight off the sticks of Rycroft, Nathan Gillies, Aaron Davis, and Mark Smith to take a 4-1 lead 16 seconds into the second period. The teams then traded a pair of goals before Scott Wray handed Rocky Mountain its four-goal edge at 13:16 of the middle frame.
For more playoff ticket information, visit www.rockymountainrage.com, or contact the Rage Ticket Sales Staff at (303) 439-RAGE or tickets@broomfieldsports.com.
Central Hockey League Stories from March 21, 2009
- Playoff Schedule Released, RiverKings Meet OKC - Mississippi RiverKings
- Rage to Face Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs in First Round - Rocky Mountain Rage
- Scorpions Trick and Save Way to Victory in Season Finale - New Mexico Scorpions
- Mudbugs to Open Playoffs vs. Rage - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- IceRays Edge 'Bugs in a Shootout - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Jacks Lose Physical Battle with Bucks, 5-2 - Odessa Jackalopes
- Frenetic 8-7 loss ends Gorillas 2008-09 campaign - Amarillo Gorillas
- Ray Miron President's Cup Participants Finalized - CHL
- Sundogs Eliminated from Postseason, Fall 7-1 in Regular Season Finale - Arizona Sundogs
- IceRays clinch playoff spot, tickets on sale now - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Bucks Beat Up On âJacks In 5-2 Win - Laredo Bucks
- IceRays clinch playoff spot in thrilling 3-2 SO win - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Thunder's Season Ends in Loss to Blazers - Wichita Thunder
- RiverKings Win Season Finale, Ready For Playoffs - Mississippi RiverKings
- Rage Lose Butler for the Season - Rocky Mountain Rage
- Bucks Finish Regular Season With Playoff Preview - Laredo Bucks
- Controversial End To Scorpions Loss - New Mexico Scorpions
- Sundogs' Playoff Hopes Still Alive - Arizona Sundogs
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