Rush Lose Season Opener In Shootout
October 18, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rapid City Rush News Release
(Loveland, CO) - The Rapid City Rush played well but came up just short in a hard-fought, back and forth contest with the Colorado Eagles in each team's season opener. The game was settled with a shootout, as the Colorado Eagles picked up the win with a 7-6 victory.
The Rush came shooting out of the gate in their first game in franchise history, getting out to a two goal lead in the first period. Scoring the historic first goal for the Rush was veteran forward and assistant-captain Chris Lipsett. Lipsett's goal was a power-play tally at the 6:39 mark of the first period as he backhanded a rebound in behind Eagles goaltender Andrew Penner. Picking up the assists on the franchise's first score was Kyle Sheen and Rich Hansen. Shortly thereafter, Rapid City added to the lead at the 7:45 mark with a goal from R.G. Flath, the lone assist on the play coming from Lipsett. Then it was Colorado's turn as Ryan Tobler netted two power-play goals in the first to even the score. Both teams headed into the first intermission tied at two with Rapid City leading in the shot department 14 to 11.
The second period was a much different game as only one goal was scored and it went the wy of the Rush. Chris Di Ubaldo tallied a power-play marker at the 16:05 mark with Rich Hansen and Chris Lipsett picking up the helpers to give Rapid City a 3-2 lead heading into the second intermission.
Colorado was determined to even the contest and take the lead for good early in the third, and it seemed to be the case. Steve Haddon netted a goal just 26 seconds into the final period that evened the score at 3 apiece. Then goals from Kevin Ulanski and Brett Hammond gave the Eagles a two-goal lead with thirteen minutes left in the period.
But the Rush stayed strong and with the help of its veteran players, evened the score with goals thirty seconds apart. Chris Lipsett scored another power-play goal to give him three points on the night, the assists coming from Rapid City's newest addition Blair Manning and Chris Di Ubaldo. Then at the 10:35 mark of the third, Mark DeSantis scored on a screened shot from the point as Rich Hansen and R.G. Flath picked up helpers on the play.
The Eagles answered at the 13:47 mark as Erik Adams scored with assists coming from Ed McGrane and Tom Reimann. Rapid City refused to go down as a great individual effort by Gio Flamminio help set up a goal by veteran Garrett Prosofsky at the 15:11 mark of the period. The final stanza ended with a combined seven goals as regulation time ended with a 6-6 tie.
In overtime, neither team was able to convert during the 4-on-4 and the game headed to a shootout. In the shootout, Eagles goaltender Andrew Penner stood strong and stopped the Rush on each of their four attempts. The Eagles got scores from Riley Nelson in the first shot, and captain Greg Pankewicz sealed the deal as he scored on his attempt.
On the night, the Rush went 3-for-9 with the man advantage with the Eagles also picking up three power-play goals on 10 attempts. Shots were 44 to 34 in favor of the Eagles with Rush Goaltender Miguel Beaudry making 37 saves and Penner making 28. With the shootout loss, the Rush gain one point in the standings as the Eagles gain two points for the victory.
The two teams face-off once again on Saturday night at 7:05 and the game can be heard on 100.3 the FOX and streaming online at foxradio.com.
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