From Rapid City Rush.com:

(Rapid City, SD) – For the fourth time in this playoff run, the Rapid City Rush found a way to win in overtime, this time tying the Ray Miron President’s Cup Finals at 1-1.  A pair of second-year forwards led the way as Derek LeBlanc tipped home the game-tying, extra attacker goal with just 39 seconds left in regulation and Blaine Jarvis netted the overtime tally, lifting the Rush 5-4 over the Allen Americans.

Scott Wray picked up the lone goal of the opening period, giving the Rush their first lead of the finals at 13:45.  Veteran Brendon Hodge picked up one of his three assists when he slid the puck to the goal mouth for Wray who jammed it home for the 1-0 lead.

The teams would exchange goals in the second, beginning at 9:21 with Christian Gaudet’s second of the playoffs off of a scramble in the crease.  The Rush powerplay then got on the board when Derek LeBlanc netted his first of two on a one-timer from the right left circle that got over the glove of Chris Whitley.

With Rapid City leading 2-1 in the third, the Americans picked up two straight to garner their first lead of the game.  The first came at 2:26 from Colton Yellow Horn when a centering attempt went off of a Rush skate and in behind Battochio.  The go-ahead goal was picked up by Bruce Graham near the midway point of the period on a snap shot that found the short side, giving the Americans a 3-2 lead.  Rookie defenseman Dave Grimson would answer just 45 seconds later, trying the game on a slapshot from the slot that trickled through Whitley and in.  The Americans regained the lead with just over five minutes left when Battochio was caught out of net and Nino Musitelli capitalized poking home his third goal of the weekend.  It looked bleak for Rapid City until Dave Grimson fired a slapshot that was redirected by Derek LeBlanc for his second of the game, tying the contest at 4-4 with just 39 seconds left.

In overtime, it was Blaine Jarvis who accepted a centering pass and snapped a shot through the five-hole for his first career overtime tally.  The goal lifted the Rush to a 5-4 win and a 1-1 tie in the President’s Cup best-of-7 series.

The Rush now head to Allen for the next three games, beginning on Wednesday at 6:30pm MST.

Editor's Notes:
Unfortunately I wasn't able to attend this game due to prior commitments, but was able to catch parts of it via the webcast.  Its great to see that our PK unit held the Americans in check, and that our powerplay line was able to produce a goal.  Our intensity seemed to be back on par with the one I witnessed during the 1st period of Friday night's game, which I am very pleased about.

We need to carry that same level of play to Allen, TX next week.  I predict a similar output as to our performance in Bossier City and think we'll come back to Rapid City up 3-2 in the series but will be able to close it out in 6 games.

If you haven't already, make sure to buy your series pass to watch the games live at CHL TV (brought to you by Insinc).