Rush Advance to Northern Conference Finals with 7-6 Overtime Thriller
April 2, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rapid City Rush News Release
(Rapid City, SD) - On Friday night, in front of a packed house, the Rush and Mavericks battled back and forth in a nail biter that ended in overtime with Rapid City topping Missouri 7-6. The Rush now advance to face the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs in the Northern Conference Finals, beginning Saturday, April 10th at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. The Rush were led by Les Reaney who picked up three points including the game-winning goal and Rich Hansen who set a season-high with a four-point evening.
For the second time this postseason and for the second consecutive contest, the Missouri Mavericks were the first to light the lamp. The Mavs got on the board with their first playoff shorthanded goal scored by Nick Sirota at the 4:59 mark when a neutral zone turnover led to a breakaway chance that was buried. The Rush would come back with an even strength goal at 14:20 scored by Brendan Cook, his second of the playoffs. Les Reaney was outnumbered as he entered the offensive end, but found Brendan Cook late on the play, and the winger snapped a shot through the five-hole of Gerry Festa for the 1-1 tie. The Mavs would regain the lead at 16:53 while on the powerplay when Jeff Christian fired a wrist shot that found the lower-left corner and for the first time in the series, Missouri would have the lead heading into an intermission.
The Rush came flying out of the gate for the second period, scoring three goals to earn the first two-goal lead of the contest. Luke Fritshaw opened it up with his first goal of the postseason at 4:27 when he fired a shot that made its way through a screen for the tie. The Rush continued on when Derek LeBlanc was able to poke home a rebound, then Rich Hansen slid a puck home from the side of the cage to give Rapid City a 4-2 lead with over three minutes left. Before the buzzer sounded, the Mavs would cut the lead in half when Mike Burgoyne stopped an outlet pass then fired home Missouri's second powerplay goal of the game.
To start the final frame, Rapid City picked up another two-goal lead when Gio Flamminio slapped a shot through a screen for his third career playoff goal. It was then Missouri's time to make a run as Brett Hammond, Toby Lafrance and Nick Sirota all found the back of the net just 3:05 apart to take a 6-5 lead. Only one minute after the Sirota goal, LeBlanc would net his second of the contest when Hansen found him all alone in front, and LeBlanc tucked the game-tying goal under the crossbar.
In overtime, the Rush would come out victorious when Brendan Cook worked the puck behind the Mavs net, then found a wide open Les Reaney in front who buried the puck to the far side for the 7-6 win.
Despite allowing six goals, Danny Battochio remained perfect in the postseason moving to 4-0 while Gerry Festa made 31 saves in the loss.
The Northern Conference Finals are set in the quest for the Ray Miron President's Cup as the Northern Conference Champion Rapid City Rush will meet the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs in a best-of-7 series.
The entire series schedule is as follows:
Northern Conference Finals - Series "G" (best-of-7) Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs vs. Rapid City Rush
Game 1 - Sat., Apr. 10- Bossier-Shreveport at Rapid City, 7:05 PM Game 2 - Sun., Apr. 11 - Bossier-Shreveport at Rapid City, 5:05 PM Game 3 - Wed., Apr. 14 - Rapid City at Bossier-Shreveport, 7:05 PM Game 4 - Fri., Apr. 16 - Rapid City at Bossier-Shreveport, 7:05 PM *Game 5 - Sat., Apr. 17 - Rapid City at Bossier-Shreveport, 7:05 PM *Game 6 - Tue., Apr. 20 - Bossier-Shreveport at Rapid City, 6:35 PM *Game 7 - Wed., Apr. 21 - Bossier-Shreveport at Rapid City, 6:35 PM
*if necessary All Times Local
Tickets are on sale now. Contact the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center at 1-800-GOT-MINE or gotmine.com. Playoff packages and discounted group rates are available through the Rush office at 605-716-PUCK (7825).
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Central Hockey League Stories from April 2, 2010
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