Rocky Mountain Rage Weekly Update

Published on December 1, 2008 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rocky Mountain Rage News Release


Nov. 26 @ Colorado Eagles, 6-4 Loss - Down 5-1 with less than a minute gone in the third period, the Rage rallied to make things very interesting in the final moments. Rocky Mountain scored three straight goals, the last of which came off the stick of Pat Sutton at 19:22 with goaltender Marty Magers pulled in favor of an extra attacker. The Rage then pulled Magers again once they controlled the ensuing face-off, but Colorado gained control of the puck and scored an empty-netter to finally vanquish their rivals.

Nov. 28 @ Amarillo Gorillas, 5-4 Win - Aaron Davis led the way by recording the team's second hat trick in three games, which included the game-winning goal with just 2:25 to play. Rocky Mountain led by a single goal on four different occasions, only to see Amarillo fight back to tie the game three times before goaltender Scott Reid finally slammed the door shut with several clutch saves once the contest was tied at four early in the third period. On the evening, Reid made 24 stops to pick-up his second win of the year.

Nov. 29 vs. Amarillo Gorillas, 3-2 Loss - The Rage came up short in their efforts to sweep a home-and-home set from the Gorillas despite out-shooting their visitors, 39-19. Brent Cullaton scored his first of the season just 1:04 into the game. Amarillo then tied the contest at one late in the first, but Sutton tallied his second goal in three games to give Rocky Mountain a 2-1 edge heading to the third. After the Gorillas struck twice to pull in front, 3-2, the Rage were continually thwarted trying to find the equalizer by Amarillo netminder Mike Gorman, who stopped all 17 shots he saw in the third period.

THIS WEEK'S UPCOMING GAMES

Wednesday, Dec 3, @ Rapid City Rush, Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, 7:05 p.m.

Radio: ESPN Radio 1600, LIVE at 6:55 p.m.

Live Audio & Video Webcast: CHL Network on www.rockymountainrage.com

Saturday, Dec. 6, @ Colorado Eagles, Budweiser Events Center, 7:05 p.m.

Radio: ESPN Radio 1600, LIVE at 6:55 p.m.

Live Audio and Video Webcast: CHL Network on www.rockymountainrage.com.

DAVIS' GOAL STREAK COMES TO AN END

Aaron Davis extended his goal streak to sixth consecutive games when he notched his hat trick on Friday in Amarillo, but another consequence of Rocky Mountain's loss on Saturday to the Gorillas was that the All-Star centerman did not find the back of the net for the first time since Nov. 8. He scored eight times over the course of the six games, which currently stands as the longest goal streak in the CHL this season.

QUICK STRIKE CAPABILITY

The Rage have gotten off to fast starts as of late, scoring the first goal in seven of their last eight games. Their quickest start during the stretch, and of the season for that matter, occurred on Friday in Amarillo when Colt King lit the lamp just 21 seconds into the game. While Rocky Mountain dropped to 4-4-1 when scoring the game's first goal as a result of Saturday's loss, the team still fares much better when jumping out to an early lead. The Rage are 1-6-0 when the opposition scores first.

PENALTY SHOT MISFIRES

Rocky Mountain is 0 for 2 on penalty shots this year after Scott Wray misfired on a freebie during Saturday's second period. Former Rage winger John Snowden, who ironically was in the building on Saturday as a member of the Gorillas, also missed on a penalty shot on Oct. 22 against the Eagles.

TRAILING AT THE QUARTER POLE

Exactly one-quarter of the regular season is now in the books after Saturday's game. The Rage currently stand in fourth place in the Northwest Division, two points behind both the Rush and the Wichita Thunder who are tied for second in the division with 13 points, 17 back of the first-place Eagles. While the failure to sweep Amarillo was frustrating for the club this past weekend, Rocky Mountain has played above average hockey since its 1-7-0 start. Over their last eight games the Rage are 4-3-1.

INJURED RESERVE SLOTS FILLED FOR FIRST TIME

It's only a matter of time before injuries start to occur, and the bug has finally hit the Rage. Daymen Rycroft, who has missed seven of the last nine games, and Mark Smith, who's missed three in a row, were both placed on 14-day injured reserve on Saturday.

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Central Hockey League Stories from December 1, 2008


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