Bucks Keep Winning Streak Alive

LAREDO, TX: The Laredo Bucks, of the Central Hockey League, defeated the Rapid City Rush 4-3.

Box Score

The Laredo Bucks and the Rapid City Rush met for the first time this season Wednesday night at the Laredo Energy Arena.  This was the first of four meetings between the two teams.

The Bucks got on the board first when Kyle Mariani scored his third goal of the season from Matt Pierce and Tyler Stitt at 9:26 in the first period.  Matt Boyd was next to light the lamp at 13:02.  Rusty Masters and Matt Hanson had assists on the goal that gave the Bucks a 2-0 lead.  The Rush would cut the lead in half in the final minutes of the period, when Konrad Reeder scored a powerplay goal at 18:38.  The Bucks outshot the Rush 14-8 in the first.

The Rush began the second period scoring two more powerplay goals to take a 3-2 lead.  Mike Vaskivuo scored both powerplay goals for the Rush.  The Laredo Bucks would battle back and tie the game 3-3, when Justin Styffe scored a breakaway goal that slipped by the Rush netminder at 14:04.  Tyler Stitt and A.J. Hau assisted on the goal.  Just over one minute later, Joseph Harcharik scored at 15:09 when he put one between the goalies legs giving the Bucks a 4-3 lead.  Harcharik was assisted by Kyle Sibley and Erik Boisvert.  The Bucks once again outshot the Rush 10-9 in the period.

The Bucks began the final frame on the powerplay, but were unable to convert.  The Rush tried to stage a comeback, but the Bucks held their ground.  The Bucks penalty kill played an important role late in the game, killing off a penalty at the 17:02 mark.  The Rush were awarded a penalty shot with less than one minute left in the game, but Torrie Jung was there and made the save, keeping the one goal lead. The Bucks outshot the Rush 29-28 in the game.