Americans Offense Gives Rush Plenty to Worry About


Americans’ scoring ability causing headaches

by Jim Holland (courtesy of the Rapid City Journal)

ALLEN, Texas — The Rapid City Rush peppered Allen Americans goalie Chris Whitley with everything but the kitchen sink Wednesday night and had but two goals to show for it.

On the other side of the rink, Allen scored Game 3’s first four goals on just 12 shots en route to a 5-2 win at the Allen Event Center  to grab a 2-1 lead in the Ray Miron President’s Cup Finals.

Allen’s scoring prowess, coupled with Whitley’s proficiency on stopping pucks at the other end, is vexing for the Rush.

“They’re a really skilled team, and anytime you make a mistake against these guys, they really make you pay,” said Rush goalie Miguel Beaudry, who entered Wednesday’s game in the second period in place of starter Danny Battochio with Rapid City down 4-0.

“It’s tough. All four of their goals were really nice goals,” Beaudry said. “It’s frustrating that we’re throwing a lot of pucks at the net and they’re not getting through.”

“If we want to go to a skills game with these guys, we’re not going to win. We know that,” Rush forward Scott Wray said. “They’re really skilled. I don’t think we get outworked at all, we just got outskilled.”

Wray said the Rush need to stop trying for the goals and go into what he called the “greasy” areas in front of the net.

“We’re making him (Whitley) look good,” Wray said. “You can put a goalie in the middle of the net and hit him in the stomach all day long.

“It’s not their (defense) that are battling to stop us, (but) it’s not a free pass, either. We have to find a way to get there.”

Rush captain Luke Fritshaw said the Rush need to limit mistakes, especially at the end of a shift, when fatigue becomes a factor.

“The most important time to get the puck deep is at the end of the shift when you’re tired,” he said. “Four goals a game is just too much against, and we have to slow that down a bit.”

At any rate, Friday’s Game 4 at the Allen Event Center is nearly a must-win for the Rush, down 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.

 


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