RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Rapid City Rush defeated the Colorado Eagles, 3-2, in Game 5 of the Turner Conference Finals with the possible assistance of a controversial non-goal call. The win kept the defending CHL champs’ season alive, forcing a Game 6 back in Colorado on Monday night. The Eagles lead the best-of-seven series three-games-to-two.
Scott Wray picked up the only goal of the first period at 17:47. On the play, Wray sent the puck from behind the net to Josh Beaulieu in the crease. As Beaulieu jammed away at the puck, Wray snuck around to the opposite side of the crease and was able to poke it home from the doorstep.
Rapid City made it 2-0 two minutes into the second period when Derek LeBlanc’s shot from low in the right circle made it past Kyle Jones, who had Kevin Harvey stationed right in front of him. Then, at 11:22, Harvey — stationed in front again — made it 3-0 with a power-play goal by deflecting a Riley Weselowski point shot.
At 15:40 of the second period, Adam Hogg seemed to beat Tim Boron from low in the right circle, but the goal light never went on and referee Dan Dreger never motioned for a score or conferred with the goal judge. Then, at 18:25, Hogg cleaned up a Matt Glasser rebound from the low slot to get the Eagles officially on the scoreboard.
Scott May trimmed Rapid City’s lead to 3-2 at 5:15 of the final frame when he started — and finished — a 4-on-2 rush into the offensive zone. Once crossing the blue line, May dropped a pass to Daymen Rycroft and then crashed the net to put home the rebound of Rycroft’s shot from the high slot.
On the ensuing shift, Colt King was awarded a penalty shot, but was stopped by Jones on the attempt. With time winding down, Jones was pulled for an extra attacker for much of the final minute and a half, but the Eagles couldn’t score again.
Game 6 will be played at the Budweiser Events Center on Monday, May 9 at 7:05 p.m. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at www.ComcastTix.com or by calling 1-877-544-8499.