The Rapid City Rush took a commanding 3-0 series lead in the Northern Conference Semifinals Wednesday night with a 4-1 victory over the Missouri Mavericks. Rush goalie Danny Battochio stopped 29 of 30 shots, and Blaine Jarvis had a goal and an assist for the Rush who will look to close out the series Friday night in Game 4.
The Rush took control with a three-goal outburst in just two minutes at the end of the second period. Mavericks’ forward Brett Hammond scored the lone goal for Missouri, his fourth of the playoffs, and he is tied among all scorers in the CHL in goals. Missouri has been held to just one goal in each of the first three contests.
Hammond gave Missouri their first lead of the series in the second period. His power play goal came at the 13:59 mark on a partial breakaway and marked the Mavericks’ first power play goal of the series.
The lead was short-lived however, as the Rush bounced back and tied the game on Jon Pelle’s shorthanded goal just over three minutes after the Hammond goal. Les Reaney scored 59 seconds later to give the Rush a 2-1 lead when he jammed a loose puck into the net in a scrum in front of the net. Rapid City took a 3-1 lead at the 19:06 mark when Rich Hansen shoveled the puck behind Mavs’ goalie Charlie Effinger. The three goals for Rapid City were exactly two minutes apart, and the Rush took the two-goal lead into the final period.
The Rush controlled the final period and didn’t give the Mavericks a chance to get back into the game. Rapid City outshot Missouri 15-6 and scored their fourth of the game at the 11:44 mark of the final period.
Game 4 of the Northern Conference Semifinals is Friday night in Rapid City. You can follow the Mavs at www.missourimavericks.com