Thursday Night:

Rush Top Sundogs for 6-2 Win
Arizona Set to Begin Longest Home Stand of the Season

RAPID CITY, SD – Jesse Schultz and Konrad Reeder each scored a pair of goals to propel the Rapid City Rush to a 6-2 win on Thursday over the Arizona Sundogs in front of 4,677 fans at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.

Reeder’s first goal of the night proved to be the game-winner after cutting to the front of the net 4:29 into period two.

The Rush jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of goals in the contest’s first eight minutes. Schultz and Shawn Limpright each scored for Rapid City removing Sundogs starting goaltender Levente Szuper from the game for Scott Reid.

Reeder’s second period strike made it 3-0, but Luke Erickson pulled the Sundogs back with his 100th career goal from the right side of the goal crease midway through. Schultz made it a three-goal cushion again for the Rush just a minute after Erickson’s tally.

Les Reaney added a shorthanded goal for the Rush just 48 seconds into the third period making it a 5-1 game. Samson Mahbod added another for Arizona with nine minutes to play before Reeder capped the scoring late in the frame.

Reid finished the night stopping 25 of 29 and took the loss. Tim Boron made 32 saves in the win for Rapid City.

The Sundogs went 0-for-2 on the power play while Rapid City went 0-for-4.

The Sundogs will take a three-day break for the holidays over the weekend before resuming play on December 30th when they host the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees. The contest will kick off a 10-game home stand for Arizona – their longest of the season. Game time is scheduled for 7:05 PM MST.

Wednesday Night

Rush Outlast Sundogs for 4-2 Win
Hood Scores Two Despite Arizona Loss

RAPID CITY, SD – Kyle Hood scored a pair of goals for the Arizona Sundogs to pull them within one at the end of the contest but an empty-net goal shut the door as the Rapid City Rush held on for a 4-2 win on Wednesday at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in front 4,237.

Jesse Schultz scored the empty-netter for Rapid City (13-11-1) in the game’s closing seconds. Hood’s second goal came with 9:25 to play in the third period off assists from Craig Macdonald and Tyler Butler.

After a scoreless first period, Rapid City jumped out to a 1-0 lead as Shawn Limpright scored from the right circle just 26 seconds into period two. Jeff Kyrzakos then made it a 2-0 lead for the Rush at 7:08 for his 10th of the season. Kyle Hood put Arizona (9-14-4) on the board just two minutes later deflecting Adam Smyth’s shot between the top of the circles for his 10th of year. Macdonald earned the second assist after forcing a turnover behind the Rush net.

The momentum didn’t last long for Arizona as Riley Weselowski finished off a 3-on-1 rush for a shorthanded goal to give Rapid City a 3-1 cushion.

Scott Reid took the loss for Arizona after stopping 29 shots. Tim Boron finished with the win and 25 saves.

Arizona finished 0-for-5 on the power play while Rapid City went 0-for-3.

Arizona falls four points back of fifth place in the CHL’s Berry Conference with the loss. The Sundogs and Rush close out their two-game set on Thursday at 6:35 PM MST.

The Arizona Sundogs are the Central Hockey League affiliate of the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes. Their sixth season is brought to you by Cliff Castle Casino-Hotel and the team will also host the 2012 CHL All-Star Game in January. Season tickets, mini-plan, and single-game ticket information is now available by calling (928) 759-6600 or visiting arizonasundogs.com.