Rush Roundup: Rapid City gains a point, but drop three against Wichita
It hasn't been the smoothest of starts for the Rapid City Rush.
Since starting their season on Oct. 19, the win column has evaded the red and black, despite strong efforts and late rallies. The rough trend continued this past weekend, as the Rush dropped a three-game series against the Wichita Thunder at the INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas.
On Nov. 1, the Rush pushed the first game into overtime before coming up short against the Thunders, 2-1. Last Saturday, the red and black fought back from a three-goal deficit, before falling in a 3-2 contest.
In the matinee held this past Sunday, the Thunder shut out the Rush with a 3-0 final score.
With those three setbacks, the Rush tumbled to a 0-5-1-1 record to begin the 2024-25 season. Rapid City did gain a point in the standings, but fell behind the Allen Americans, who now three points thus far.
Rapid City has an opportunity to turn things around in a hurry, playing host to the Kansas City Mavericks for a three-game home series. The first contest begins at 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday at The Monument Ice Arena.
The Rush and Mavericks face off again on Friday, with the puck drop scheduled for 7:05 p.m. The two square off for the third time at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday.
The Mavericks (4-1-0-1, 9 points) are currently second in the Mountain Division, after dropping two games to the Kalamazoo Komets last weekend at the Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence, Missouri.
Rush push into overtime, but fall to Thunder
For the second time this season, the Rush rallied late to push an opponent into the proverbial fourth period.
However, an overtime goal by Wichita's Michal Stinil handed the Rush a heartbreaking 2-1 loss on Nov. 1 at the INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas.
Down 1-0 with 8:27 left in the game, forward Mason McCarty slipped the puck past Wichita goaltender Gabriel Carriere. Forward Maurizio Colella and defenseman Billy Constantinou were credited with the assists.
Stinil's game winner was made less than three minutes into the sudden death period. Wichita opened the scoring in the second period, with a power play goal by Jay Dickman.
Goaltender Christian Propp had a solid showing in his first start. The Milton, Ontario, native picked up 27 saves.
The Rush outshot the Thunder by way of a 40-29 differential, which was the fourth time in five games that the red and black had outshot their opponents.
Rapid City's late rally falls short
The skid continued for the Rush, as a late comeback came up short in a 3-2 contest against the Wichita Thunder last Saturday at the INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas.
The Thunder jumped out in the second period, scoring three goals within the span of seven and a half minutes. This left the Rush in a 3-0 deficit.
Rapid City got on the board with five and a half minutes left in the stanza, as forward Trevor Janicke scored a power play goal. Janicke took advantage of a fortunate bounce while unmarked in front of the Thunder's net.
Forward Chaz Smedsrud, who just joined the Rush from the Allen Americans earlier last week, was given the assist.
Less than five minutes into the third, captain Ryan Wagner smacked a one-timer into the left side of the net. Smedsrud picked up his second assist of the weekend.
Goaltender Connor Murphy recorded 30 saves against Wichita.
Thunder blanks Rush in Sunday matinee
In the final game of their lone trip to Kansas this season, the Rush had a hard time containing the Thunder before falling in a 2-0 outcome in a Sunday afternoon contest at the INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita.
Despite outshooting the Thunder, 38-37, the Rush were dealt with their first shut out of the season.
Jay Dickman scored a power play goal in the first period for the Thunder, before Dillon Boucher scored on an empty-netter in the third period.
Goaltender Matt Radomsky tallied 34 saves for the Rush.
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