Rush Downed By Allen, TX in Overtime Friday

The expansion Allen Americans made their first trip
to the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center a success on Friday with a 5-4
overtime victory over the Rush.  The loss was the first overtime loss of
the season for the Rush who came into the game 6-0 in the extra frame.
The Rush had their 7-game home win streak snapped, with the last home
loss coming back on January 23rd.  The Rush picked up a point in the
loss, maintaining the lead in the Northern Conference.

The Americans came storming out of the gate with a pair of goals in the
opening seven minutes of play.  The first came at the 2:09 mark with a
powerplay goal from Tyler Wooddisse who fired a shot that deflected off
of a Rush skate and into the net.  The second came at 6:29 when Bruce
Graham was the recipient of good puck movement that led to his
team-leading 29th of the season, and a 2-0 lead.  Less than six minutes
later, the Rush would finally light the scoreboard with Colt King's 23rd
goal of the season.  With a loose puck in the offensive zone, Derek
LeBlanc used his speed to collect the puck and find King in front of the
net, and the veteran slid the puck five-hole, cutting the lead in half.
Just over two minutes later, Brendan Cook was given a clear lane to the
front of the net, and he took advantage of the chance, cutting across
the goal-mouth and sliding a backhand shot home for the equalizer.
Despite trailing 2-0 early, the Rush ended the first period tied with
the Americans and leading in shots 15-11.

In the second, the Rush would take their first lead of the game with
Blaine Jarvis' 15th goal of the season coming at the 12:31 mark.  A
defensive zone turnover by the Americans found the tape of Les Reaney
who centered the puck to Jarvis, and the second-year pro buried over the
outstretched Whitley.  With the 3-2 lead, the Rush looked to take the
advantage into the third, but the Americans scored a second powerplay
goal with under two minutes left in the period.  Off of a faceoff, a
shot by Tyler Wooddisse was stopped by Battochio, but the rebound was
sent home by Jarret Lukin just five seconds into the powerplay.  Both
sides exchanged goals in the second despite the Rush holding a 21-7 edge
in shots.

The third period began the way the second ended, with the Christian
Gaudet picking up a goal just 47 seconds into the period to give the
Americans a 4-3 lead.  The Rush battled back at the 8:16 mark when Derek
LeBlanc found the back of the net to tie the game at 4.

The game then headed to overtime where Rapid City was a perfect 6-0 on
the season, but the Americans had other plans.  At the 3:54 mark of the
extra frame, a 2-on-1 for the Americans allowed Tobias Whelan to find
Tyler Wooddisse for the game-winner.

The Rush outshot the Americans 51-28, an all-time high for the
second-year squad.

The Rush take on the Americans again Saturday at 7:05pm.  That game is
sold out.

Tickets are still available for Tuesday and Wednesday's contests against
the Texas Brahmas.