Gems Battle Rush In 3-2 Shootout Win On Friday Night At Hara

Box Score | Game Live

Dayton, OH – The Dayton Gems would lock horns early and battle the Rapid City Rush to a physical and thrilling shootout victory inside the historic Hara Arena on Friday night. Scoring for the Gems were Charlie Townsend, David Nimmo and Brandon Naurato (shootout winner).

The Rush would help kickstart the game with controversy, seemingly scoring the game's first goal just seconds off the opening draw before being waved off by referee Zak Blazic. Rapid City again lit the lamp, this time ruled legal, to take the 1-0 lead off a screened shot past Gems netminder Larry Sterling just :57 into the opener. Dayton's offensive machinery would awaken after the Rush goal, and an odd man rush would set up Charlie Townsend to snap the twine and tie the game at the 1:17 mark. In an increasingly physical period, the Gems would jump out to the 2-1 lead at the 4:10 mark, with an unassisted goal by David Nimmo for his third since being acquired from Arizona earlier this month. As the period wore along, tempers continued to flare up on both ends of the ice before finally Gems toughguy Robin Richards engaged in fisticuffs to energize the Hara crowd and lead his Gems into the intermission ahead 2-1. Shots in the first period would be edged towards the Gems 9-7.

The Rush would tie the game at two with a quick rebound goal past Sterling at the 16:13 mark of the second, but neither team would be able to mount any further offense through forty minutes of play. Shots in the second would favor the Rush 10-8.

After a scoreless but end to end third period, the game would traverse into a sudden death overtime period. After five minutes of nail biting extra frame hockey, the Gems would secure the win in the shootout thanks to Brandon Naurato's shootout sniper. Dayton outshot the Rush through regulation and the extra periods 32-28.

With the shootout win, the Gems improve their record to 14-19-7 and 2-2-1 this season against the Rush.