Rush-ed News
February 24, 2014 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rapid City Rush News Release
THIS WEEK:
RAPID CITY RUSH (31-18-1, 63 Pts, 2nd) VS DENVER CUTTHROATS (26-14-10, 62 Pts, 3rd)
Friday, February 28th-7:05 MST (Rushmore Plaza Civic Center)
Saturday, March 1st-6:00 MST (Denver Coliseum)
Sunday, March 2nd-4:00 MST (Denver Coliseum)
Rivalry week is upon us in Rapid City for one last time. This weekend, the Rush finish their 14-game season series against their archrivals, the Denver Cutthroats. After winning six consecutive games against their Rocky Mountain opponents, the Rush have lost two straight in the series, losing both games by two goals or less. It is a three game in three night set, starting in Rapid City on Friday night, and finishing in Denver on Saturday and Sunday.
WHERE WE LEFT OFF-EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITY:
RAPID CITY RUSH vs ARIZONA SUNDOGS
Game 1: Friday, February 21th; Rapid City 2, Arizona 1 F/SO (RPD: Brown-GWSOG)
-->On "Team USA" Night, the Rush were back in action against the Arizona Sundogs, beginning the conclusion of their season series against their desert foes. As the Rush came out in their "Miracle on Ice" jerseys, they kept the memories of their last meeting fresh in their heads: a three-game sweep given up at the hands of the Sundogs back at the beginning of the month. Goals came at a premium in this highly defensive bout, but eventually something would have to give. It took 42 minutes of playing time, but Riley Emmerson scored first for the Sundogs 2:02 into the final period to give his team a 1-0 lead. Moments later, however, the Rush would knot the game up with a boost from their special teams that couldn't have been timed any more perfectly. On a play started by Rush captain Scott Wray, Sean Erickson would launch a cruise missile from the point, only to be deflected by Kevin Harvey for his first goal in a Rush uniform with 13:47 left in the game. With the game tied at 1-1, both Andrew Engelage and Tim Boron would keep the score the way it was for the remainder of regulation, as well as the full duration of overtime that followed, so to a shootout we would go. Boron stopped all three shooters and was backed up by completed shots from Jared Brown, Jesse Schultz, and Konrad Reeder, helping the Rush go the distance to a hard-fought 2-1 win.
Game 2: Friday, February 22nd; Rapid City 2, Arizona 1 F/OT (RPD: Larke-GWG in OT, Boron-39 Sv)
-->Both the Rush and the Sundogs geared up for another great contest, sending their season series finale out with a bang. This time around we would have a first period goal, but like it's Friday night counterpart, the Sundogs would score first on Saturday. With 32 seconds left in the first period, Kevin Baker would swoop in on a hustle play, picking up a rebound and sending it past Tim Boron to give his team a 1-0 lead heading into the locker room session. Once again the Rush were down, but would tie the game up in the second frame. Konrad Reeder sent home his 32nd goal of the year, shooting from a sharp angle on the far wall that made it past Engelage to even the game up at 1-1 midway through the second. Each goaltender would shut the door from here on out, and we would once again play free hockey in Rapid City. With 1:18 left in overtime, Riley Weselowski would start a play from his own zone, passing to a streaking Konrad Reeder in neutral ice. Reeder would power through not one, but two checks and attempt a shot on goal, only to be stopped by Engelage. Swooping in from the bench off of a change was Matt Larke, who moments later would send in the rebound from Reeder's shot for the game-winner, his first goal since December, helping the Rush sweep the Sundogs in the weekend series with their second straight 2-1 win in post regulation play.
CRUNCHING NUMBERS: The Week That Was
- 2 - the number of consecutive overtime/shootout games played for the Rush. The last time this happened was all the way back at the beginning of the season, as the Rush defeated the Brampton Beast 2-1 at home, and then immediately followed that Wednesday with a 3-2 shootout win against the Sundogs in Arizona.
- +1 - the shooting differential of the series, in favor of the Sundogs. The series was so evenly matched that the Sundogs put 68 shots on Tim Boron, while the Rush put 67 on Engelage. Boron had 66 saves in the series, 39 of them coming in the last game.
- 0 - the number of power play goals for the Sundogs. Last time these teams met in Arizona at the start of the month, the Sundogs PP unit wrecked the Rush, going 7/19 (36.8%). This is the third straight game that the Rush have not allowed a power play goal.
RUSH TO THE TOP
League Leaders for the Rush (min Top-5 in a category)
- Tim Boron (Goaltending)- T-2nd in Wins (23), 1st in GAA (2.45), 3rd in Save Percentage (.918)
- Konrad Reeder - 4th in league scoring (67 pts), 3rd in goals (32), T-10th in assists (35), 1st in +/- (+36) and shots (209), T-3rd in GWG (6)
- Jesse Schultz - 3rd in assists (51), 2nd in +/- (+35), holds league-high for point streak at 15 games (7-19-26), T-5th in GWG (5)
- Justin Sawyer - 4th in PIM (137)
- Ryan Palmer - T-3rd in +/- (+22)
- Sean Erickson - 2nd amongst defensemen in points (38), T-3rd in goals amongst defensemen (10), 3rd amongst defensemen in assists (28)
CURRENT IR STATUS
- Tristin Llewellyn - 30-Day IR (Concussion)
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