Rapid City Rush at Utah Grizzlies Game Notes
January 28, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Rapid City Rush News Release
Where We Left Off: Fished Out - Despite second period goals from Daniel Barczuk and Danick Gauthier, the Idaho Steelheads defeated the Rapid City Rush behind the hat trick of their captain, Carson McMillan, winning by a 5-2 score on Wednesday night. The Rush showcased defense and stalwart penalty-killing in the opening period, and remained close to the Steelheads, who outshot the Rush 12-8 in the first frame, but despite the defensive stand, Idaho scored first. With just 3:21 left in the first period, Emil Molin carried the puck to the high slot and fired a wrist shot through traffic and past Rush net-minder, Danny Battochio, and in the net, giving the Steelheads a 1-0 lead (Corbin Baldwin and Shawn Boutin got the assists). The Rush struck back in the second period, tying things up early. Daniel Barczuk received a pass from Garett Bembridge, the newest Rush forward, cross-ice in the neutral zone and sent a shot off of the arm of Steelheads goaltender, Jack Campbell, and in, tying the game at 1-1 with 4:24 gone by in the second period (Bembridge earned his first Rush point with the primary assist, while James Melindy chipped in with the second on the goal). Roughly 10 minutes later, Steelheads captain Carson McMillan finished a two-on-one break with Andre Bouvette-Morrissette and retook the lead for his club, making it 2-1 with 5:33 left in the frame (Bouvette-Morrissette and Andre Carrol notched the assists). Less than two minutes later, the Steelheads capitalized on their third power play of the game, receiving the 6th goal of the year from Kyle Jean. His one-timer with 3:45 left in the period doubled the Idaho lead to two goals, bringing the score to 3-1 (Zach Yuen and Rob Linsmayer received the assists). The Rush struck back just over a minute later, with Danick Gauthier following a loose puck into the Steelheads zone. His initial shot was blocked by an Idaho defender, but he scooped his rebound and flung it by an outstretched Campbell and cut the Rush deficit to 3-2 with 2:20 left in the frame (Taylor Doherty grabbed the lone assist). Idaho had the last say in the second, as Carson McMillan scored his second goal of the frame on a wrist shot past Battochio, re-establishing the 2-goal Steelheads lead with 68 seconds left in the frame at 4-2 (Tommy Fallen earned an assist, while Andrew Carrol notched his second helper of the game on the goal). McMillan completed his hat trick midway through the third period, skating into the puck at the top of the Rush zone. The Steelheads captain skated in and sent a shot by Battochio to afford his club a 5-2 advantage, which would hold on for the remainder of regulation (Both Shawn Boutin and Corbin Baldwin earned their second assists of the game on the strike).
When That Tie Game is Strong - Rush forward Daniel Barczuk has picked up his scoring stride once again, igniting the goal lamp once in each of the last two games for his club. What's more important about Barczuk's recent offensive contributions aren't just that he's become the third Rush player with 10 goals on the team, but his goals in the last two games have either tied the game in the second or third period, affording his club a solid chance in each scenario.
Are We Home Yet? - The Rush kicked off their seven-game road trip, and stretch of 10 games in their next 11 away from home, with a defeat against the Steelheads on Wednesday night. Six games remain in this current road trip, with exactly half of them coming against their West Division rivals (Utah twice this weekend, Colorado in two weeks). In the 11-game stretch mentioned above, the Rush play divisional opponents 8 times.
CRUNCHING NUMBERS: vs the Grizzlies - The Rush take on the Grizzlies for the 7th and 8th times this weekend in what will be 11 times this season, so let's recap the numbers from the last 6 matchups:
6 - the number of consecutive games in which the Rush have earned standings points against the West Division leaders. The Rush have yet to lose to the Grizzlies in regulation this season, sporting a 4-0-1-1 record against them for a winning percentage of 0.833, the best head-to-head win percentage this season for the Rush against a single opponent with a minimum of three meetings.
5 - the number of games decided by two goals or less between the Rush and Grizzlies this year. The Rush have the only "blowout" in the series, which was a 5-1 win at home thanks to Mikhail Stefanovich's first hat trick of the season. The Rush have won those close calls three times, two of which were by 2 goals.
5% - the Utah power play percentage against the Rush. The Rush penalty kill unit, now ranked 3rd in the ECHL, has only allowed ONE power play goal to the Grizzlies in 20 tries.
ECHL Stories from January 28, 2016
- Rapid City Rush at Utah Grizzlies Game Notes - Rapid City Rush
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- Nailers Announce Ticket Policies from Winter Storm Jonas - Wheeling Nailers
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- Nailers Name Jeff Christian as Assistant Coach - Wheeling Nailers
- Monarchs Game Day Capsule - Manchester Monarchs
- Mallards Sign Goaltender Jacobson - Quad City Mallards
- Faille Reassigned to Solar Bears by Marlies - Orlando Solar Bears
- ECHL Today - January 28 - ECHL
- Appleby Reassigned to Albany - Adirondack Thunder
- Goaltender Martin Ouellette Returns to Reading - Reading Royals
- Americans to Host Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Night on February 6th - Allen Americans
- Cap-Tain Carson: McMillan's Hat Trick Fuels Steelheads' Win - Idaho Steelheads
- Former Rush Standout Jarvis Passes Away - Rapid City Rush
- Steelheads Defeat Rush - Rapid City Rush
- Lazo's Hat Trick Sends Eagles to Fourth Straight Win - Colorado Eagles
- Nelson Carries Thunder to 4-2 Win over IceMen - Wichita Thunder
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