Wray-Watson Hat Trick Scores Rage a Shootout Win

Broomfield, Colo. – The Rapid City Rush kept Rocky Mountain Rage fans on the edge of their seats tonight at the Broomfield Event Center as they forced Rocky Mountain all the way to an eventual 4-3 Rage shootout win.

Rage/Rush Box Score

Rage forward Scott Wray scored a hat trick and forward Simon Watson assisted on all three goals to lead the team in Central Hockey League action. Rocky Mountain outshot Rapid City 45-15.

Rapid City’s Derek LeBlanc scored the lone goal of the first period despite the Rage outshooting the Rush 12-4.

By the second period, the Rage was warmed up. Rocky Mountain kept Rapid City to just one shot on net in the first nine minutes. The Rage opened up scoring at 1:33 when Wray tipped the puck in net on the third rebound. Watson was credited with the assist on the play.

At 11:56, Watson wristed the puck on net from between the circles, Wray picked up the rebound, skated around two Rush defenders and shot the puck under the left pad of goaltender Lanny Ramage.

The Watson-Wray duo struck again and for a third time at 14:46 when the two forwards skated inside the blueline together passing it back-and-forth. Watson passed to Wray just in front of the crease who flipped it in net for the hat trick.

Rapid City’s Chris Lipsett stole some of Rocky Mountain’s thunder at 15:38 with a powerplay goal, bringing the Rush back within one goal.

In the third period, Rapid City’s Brady Olsen tied the score at 10:33 with a long wrist shot over the stick of goaltender Marty Magers.

The Rage poured on the pressure following Rapid City’s goal including two more scoring chances by Wray, but was forced to overtime. Rocky Mountain got the eventual game-winning point in a shootout.