Rush Celebrate 2011-12 Home Opener with 4-3 Shootout Victory Over Gems
October 29, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rapid City Rush News Release
(Rapid City, SD) - On Friday night, the Rapid City Rush made their long-awaited return to the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, hosting the Dayton Gems in the first home game of the season. Les Reaney and Anthony Perdicaro both had goal and assist efforts for the Rush while Danny Battochio turned aside 24 shots for his second win of the year. The Rush and Gems clash again tomorrow at 7:005pm at the RPCC and tickets are still available.
The Rush continued to get scoring from different avenues with Jeff Kyrzakos collecting the first goal of the game, making him the eighth different player to score for the Rush this season. While on the powerplay, Les Reaney held the puck at the right side of the net and slid a pass to Kyrzakos in the low slot, and the veteran lifted a shot to the top-left corner for the lone goal of the first.
Just 57 seconds into the second period, veteran forward Damian Surma led a Gems attack and after having his pass deflected back to him, chipped a shot off the right post and in for the tie. Then at the midway point of the stanza, Kyle Bochek sprung himself on a breakaway while shorthanded and finished the play off with a deke to the backhand that beat Danny Battochio, giving the Gems a 2-1 lead. Exactly thirty seconds later, the Rush answered back with another powerplay goal. This time, it was Colin Circelli who snapped a pass to the goal mouth where Les Reaney redirected it home, evening the game.
The Rush regained the lead 10:27 into the third period, this time with an even-strength marker. The play was set up by defenseman Carl Hudson by faking a slapshot from the right point, and sliding a tape-to-tape backdoor pass to Konrad Reeder who snapped home the go-ahead tally. The lead lasted less than four minutes later, a screened point shot from James Sanford was deflected home by Nick Fanto, sending the game into overtime.
In the extra frame, both sides had numerous chances, but stellar goaltending from Danny Battochio and Bryan Hogan forced a shootout.
In the shootout, both goaltenders' reign came to an end. With three of the five shooters converting for the Gems, and three of the first four shooters converting for the Rush, the game was decided in the fifth round. In the bottom half of the final round Anthony Perdicaro was called on and converted to secure the 4-3 victory for the Rush.
Rapid City's penalty kill remained perfect this season going four for four on the night, while the power play went two for seven.
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Central Hockey League Stories from October 29, 2011
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- Festa, Mavericks Earn Shootout Win Over Sundogs, 2-1 - Kansas City Mavericks
- Sundogs Fall, 2-1, in Marathon Shootout - Arizona Sundogs
- Rush Celebrate 2011-12 Home Opener with 4-3 Shootout Victory Over Gems - Rapid City Rush
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