The Rapid City Rush and Missouri Mavericks concluded their season series in front of a sold out crowd at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center on Saturday night. The Rush used a well balance offensive attack, receiving five goals from four different skaters in a 5-2 victory to claim the series. The Rush have now won three of their last four games. The contest served as the final home game before the Rush embark on their annual two-week stock show road trip. The opening forty minutes were controlled by Rapid City as the Rush jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Team Captain Scott Wray opened the scoring at the 5:19 mark of the first period, blasting a slapshot in from the high slot. The veteran forward would strike again at the 16:44 mark, deflecting home his 13th goal of the season off a shot from Jordan Behler. Midway through the second, rookie Winston Day Chief capitalized on an 2-on-1 with veteran Damian Surma, tapping in a rebound from the crease. Day Chief's goal was his first as a pro and served as the eventual game winner. With five minutes left in the period, Jesse Schultz converted on only the second penalty shot of the season for the Rush, extending the lead to 4-0 heading into the third. Just 1:19 into the final stanza, the Mavericks got on the board when league-leader Sebastien Thinel capitalized on a breakaway chance, making it 4-1. Later, veteran defenseman Kyle Peto blasted in his sixth goal of the season while on the powerplay to regain the four-goal advantage. However, Thinel struck back just ten seconds later on a wrist shot from the right circle to make it a 5-2 game. But Thinel's two-goal third was not enough as the Rush held on for the 5-2 victory.
