Rush Spoil Mallards Home Opener with Convincing 5-1 Victory
October 23, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rapid City Rush News Release
(Moline, IL) - On Saturday evening, the Rapid City Rush wrapped up the opening weekend of their 2011-12 season with a convincing, 5-1 triumph over the Quad City Mallards. The Rush received goals from five different players while goaltender Danny Battochio turned away 33 shots for his first win of the season. The Rush exit the first weekend having collected three out of a possible four standings points and now head home for a pair of games against the Dayton Gems. Those first home contests of the season are set for October 28th and 29th and tickets are still available.
After collecting just one goal in 20 games with Rapid City last season, Jesse Schultz has started his first full season in a Rush uniform off on the right foot. Schultz notched the only goal of the game at 7:36 by accepting a pass from team captain Scott Wray and then snapping a laser over the glove hand of David McKee. Tempers flared throughout the period, featuring two fights and a combined 46 penalty minutes.
Despite the Mallards having the slight advantage in shots, 10-9, the second period was controlled by the visiting Rush. Doubling the lead at the 5:30 mark was Andrew Smale who bounced home a rebound on an offensive rush that was led by Schultz and Konrad Reeder. Five minutes later, Reeder was again part of an offensive opportunity. This time Reeder dropped a pass to Anthony Perdicaro on 2-on-1, allowing the rookie to snap home a wrist shot the top-left corner for a 3-0 lead.
Rapid City continued to pour it on in the third, extending the lead to five, just over five minutes into the final frame. At the 2:31 mark, defenseman Carl Hudson continued his hot start, unloading a cannon of a slapshot from the right faceoff dot that found the short-side, top-shelf. Two and half minutes later, Schultz sprung Reeder on a 1-on-1 and the sniper used the defenseman as a screen, burying a shot past Mallard goaltender David McKee. With just 2:39 remaining in regulation, Shane Lovdahl fired a one-timer from the point that deflected off of a body and in, spoiling the shutout bid for Battochio. Still, the Rush preserved the 5-1 victory secured the three-point weekend.
The Rush penalty kill remained perfect on the season, denying all five powerplays by the Mallards.
Danny Battochio exits the weekend having turned away 54 of 57 shots for a 1.44 goals against average and .947 save percentage.
Central Hockey League Stories from October 23, 2011
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- Rush Spoil Mallards Home Opener with Convincing 5-1 Victory - Rapid City Rush
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