ALLEN, TX – Gabriel Chabot provided the Rapid City Rush with a 2-1 lead heading into the third, but Nolan Kneen’s first professional goal and Tyler Sheehy’s winner with 3:58 left in the game vaulted the Allen Americans to a 3-2 win on Saturday night. The loss marks three in a row for the Rush, and results in a weekend sweep at the hands of the Americans.
Both teams skated to a scoreless deadlock after 20 minutes of play. It took 33:55 of action for the game’s first goal, and it came of off Alex Rodriguez’ stick for the Rush. With 6:05 left in the second, Rodriguez collected an offensive zone turnover and fired a backhand shot that beat Allen goalie C.J. Motte under his blocker to give the Rush a 1-0 lead with the unassisted goal. However, Allen countered quickly, and 2:01 later tied the game up. With 4:04 left in the second, Samuel Laberge rifled a wrishshot over the blocker shoulder of Rush net-minder Adam Carlson to square the game up at 1-1.Alex Lavoie and Turner Ottenbreit assisted on the score.
Not to be outdone in the feverish exchange of goals, Rapid City’s Chabot potted his first professional goal 2:21 later to re-establish the Rush lead at 2-1 with 2:43 left in the second. Tyson Empey earned his first professional assist on Chabot’s tally while Kevin Spinozzi earned his first Rush point with the other helper.
The Rush carried their 2-1 lead into the third period, however it did not last very long. Just 2:06 into the final frame, Allen’s Kneen carried the puck into the Rush zone on the far wall and threw a wrist shot past Carlson to square the game back up at 2-2 . Joseph Garreffa and Matt Register assisted on the goal.
Allen stuck the dagger into the Rush late on an offensive zone faceoff won by Corey Mackin back to 2020 ECHL All-Rookie selection Sheehy. With 3:58 left in the game, Sheehy buried Mackin’s pass with a wrist shot that beat Carlson’s glove to give the Americans a 3-2 advantage. Mackin had the lone assist on the play. The Rush pulled Carlson for an extra attacker, but couldn’t muster one final offensive shift, leading Allen to claim the weekend sweep with a 3-2 win.
Carlson suffered his second straight loss in net, stopping 38 of 41 Americans shots on net (1-2-0-0).
The Rush return to action after the Christmas holiday with the continuation of their five-game road trip against the Utah Grizzlies for a “three-in-three”. Puck drop for New Year’s Eve on Thursday, December 31st, is slated for 5:00 p.m. MDT, while puck drop for New Year’s Day on Friday, January 1st, and Saturday, January 2nd, are slated for 7:10 p.m. MDT.
From all of us to all of you, have a healthy, safe, and Merry Christmas, Rush Nation.
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