Huge Nights by Cook & Reaney put Rush on the Brink of the Presidents Cup

Huge night by Brendan Cook & Les Reaney with 4 points each put the Rush within 1 win of the team's first ever CHL Presidents Cup Title as they lead the Rush on an offensive explosion as the Rush had balanced scoring with 2 goals in each of the 1st & 3rd periods. Along with a 3 goal 2nd period to lead the Rush to a 7-2 win in Game 5 down in the D/FW Area. This puts the Rush in great position going back to South Dakota for the final time this season.

Despite going down 2-0 in the first 7 minutes, the Americans responded well to make it 2-1 with a goal by Justin Bowers and then Colton Yellow Horn tied the game late in the first. But that was as close the Americans got in this one as the Rush scored his first 2 of the playoffs that eventually lead to a hat trick. While Les Reaney scored his 2nd of the night to make it 5-2 in the 2nd as Chris Whitley and the Americans had no answers on this night as they suffered the biggest loss of this year's post-season.

Whitley was pulled after 2 periods. However, backup goalie David Mckee couldn't do much better as he gave up 3rd period goals to Brendan Cook & Derek Leblanc to make it a 7-2 final score.

Rapid City goes back to South Dakota in great shape as a single win will give them the Championship. While Allen will need to win on Tuesday & Friday for Games 6 & 7 to bring the Championship to the Dallas Area.

The Americans have shown they can play, during the 2 regular season games, the Americans were 1-1 as both games were one goal games. Then in Games 1 & 2 of the playoffs, Allen won Game 1 4-1 while Rapid City won Game 2 5-4 in OT. So they have shown to play well in South Dakota early on in the Finals Series.

From the Allen Americans Website: www.allenamericans.com

From Allen, Texas: The Allen Americans lost tonight to Rapid City in front of a sell-out crowd of 6,003 at the Allen Event Center on Saturday Night. The Rush have a 3-2 series lead in the Ray Miron Presidents Cup Finals. The Club will travel to Rapid City for Game 6 on Tuesday and Game 7 on Friday if needed.

Rapid City scored the game's first two goals before the Americans fired back with two of their own. Rush forward Derek Campbell opened the scoring at 3:10. Five Minutes later, Les Reaney hit a puck sitting on the goal line to make it 2-0.

At 9:10 of the first period, Justin Bowers snapped a wrist shot from the high slot past Rapid City Backstop Danny Battochio to cut the visitor's lead in half. Forward Colton Yellow Horn was next light the lamp. He totally came with 3:57 remaining in the opening frame on the power play. The score was tied at 2-2 at 20 minutes.

Rapid City put three more goals on in the 2nd period. Brendan Cook scored the first of two at 4:03 and 10:33. His second was on the power play. Then, Les Reaney picked up a tally with 3:02 left in the frame. Even though Allen hounded the Rush Cage, the club could not find the back of the net. Rapid City had a 5-2 advantage heading into the 3rd period.

Allen Replaced Chris Whitley in net with Goalie David Mckee to start the 3rd. Cook secured a hat trick just 47 seconds into the final frame after netting his 3rd goal. Derek Leblanc scored Rapid City's last goal of the night just 3 minutes later to make the final score 7-2.

Whitley made 10 saves on 15 shots, while Mckee stopped 5 of 7. Battochio recorded 24 saves this evening to get the win.

Tonight's contest marked the last home game of the team's first season in Allen. Game six will take place on Tuesday, May 4, in Rapid City at 7:35 PM. If Necessary, Game 7 will be Friday, May 7, at 8:05 PM. Boston Pizza in Mckinney will be hosting a Team Watching Party for fans on Tuesday Night.


Rapid City Leads Series 3-2

Game Boxscore

Rapid City Rush 7 Allen Americans 2 (2-2, 3-0, 2-0)

1-0 RPC: Derek Campbell (Reaney, Bostock) 3:10 1st

2-0 RPC: Les Reaney (Cook, Jarvis) 7:32 1st

2-1 ALN: Justin Bowers (Fairbarn, Whelan) 9:10 1st

2-2 ALN: Colton Yellow Horn (PP) (Benn, Bowers) 16:03

3-2 RPC: Brendan Cook (Campbell, Grimson) 4:03 2nd

4-2 RPC: Brendan Cook (PP) (Wray) 10:33 2nd

5-2 RPC: Les Reaney (Bostock) 16:58 2nd

6-2 RPC: Brendan Cook (Reaney, Wray) 0:47 3rd

7-2 RPC: Derek Leblanc (Pelle, Hansen) 4:23 3rd


Game Stats

SOG: RPC 22 ALN 26

PP: RPC 1/7 ALN 1/6

PIM: RPC 12 Minutes on 6 Penalties ALN 16 Minutes on 8 Penalties

Goalies: RPC Danny Battochio 24 SVS on 26 Shots ALN Chris Whitley 10 SVS on 15 Shots David Mckee 5 SVS on 7 Shots

ATT: 6003

3rd Star: Danny Battochio (RPC)

2nd Star: Les Reaney (RPC)

1st Star: Brendan Cook (RPC)