Mavericks Fall to Rush, 5-2

The Rapid City Rush defeated the Missouri Mavericks, 5-2, Saturday night at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Arena. Jordan Behler and Jesse Schultz each had a goal and an assist in the win for the Rush, and Jared Brown and Damian Surma each recorded two assists. Rush goaltender Danny Battochio stopped 29 of 31 shots in the win while Mavericks goaltender Mike Clemente had 34 saves on 39 shots. The CHL’s leading scorer, Sebastien Thinel, scored both of the Mavericks goals as they head home for a pair of games next weekend.

Rapid City scored a pair of goals in each of the first two periods and took a 4-0 lead into the third period. Scott Wray and Jordan Behler scored in the first period to give the Rush a 2-0 lead.

In the second period, Winston Day Chief scored on a scrum in front of the net and Jesse Schultz scored on a penalty shot to give the home team a 4-0 lead.

Missouri continued to battle in the third period and Thinel scored the first of his two goals just 1:19 into the period. Kyle Peto regained the four-goal lead for the Rush at the 7:32 mark on a power play goal, but again the Mavericks fought back. Only 10 seconds later, Thinel notched his second goal of the game to make it 5-2 in favor of the Rush, but that would be as close as the Mavericks would get.

Rapid City outshot the Mavericks 39-31. Missouri was 0-for-2 on the power play and the Rush finished 1-for-4.

The Mavericks return home on January 25 and 26.