ECHL Series Preview: Allen Americans at Rapid City Rush | 11/27-11/30/2024

Where to Watch

Venue: The Monument, Rapid City, South Dakota

When:

• Wednesday, November 27, 2024: Puck Drops at 7:05 PM MST
• Friday, November 29, 2024: Puck Drops at 7:05 PM MST
• Saturday, November 30, 2024: Puck Drops at 7:05 PM MST

TV: FloSports

With many homecomings and players facing their former teams, the Rapid City Rush are set to take on the Allen Americans in a three-game series.

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Last Week

Last week, the Rapid City Rush were at home and faced off against the Idaho Steelheads. The Rush ended up getting swept by the Steelheads, losing the first game 5-6 and the second game 1-4.

The Allen Americans had a home-and-home series with the Tulsa Oilers last week. The Americans split their series with the Oilers, winning the first game 4-1 and losing the second game 4-5 in overtime.

Incoming Stats

This is the first time the Americans and Rush will play each other this season. Last season, the Rush were 3-2-1-0 against the Americans, while the Americans had a record of 3-3-0-0 against the Rush.

The Rapid City Rush are coming into this series on a two-game losing streak with a record of 4-8-1-2. They are currently converting at 19.1% on the power play (13th) and 86.0% on the penalty kill (7th). Rapid City has the second-best home power play, converting at 33.3% when at home. The Rush are averaging 31.47 shots per game but are also allowing an average of 34.87 shots against per game. After struggling to score early in the season, the Rush are now averaging 2.40 goals per game but are allowing an average of 3.47 goals against per game.

The Allen Americans are coming into the series on a five-game point streak. The Americans are converting at 23.1% on the power play (5th) and 78.0% on the penalty kill (22nd). They are averaging 2.69 goals per game and 27.62 shots per game, while allowing an average of 4.23 goals against per game and 41.92 shots against per game. The Americans are currently allowing the most goals and shots against in the league.

The Americans come into this series with a road record of 3-2-0-0, while the Rush are 1-4-0-2 at home.

Americans forwards Brayden Watts and Kyle Crnkovic are tied for the league lead in power play points, with eight each. Americans goaltender Anson Thornton is fifth in the league in saves, with 282.

Rush defenseman Brady Pouteau is second in the league and leads defensemen in shorthanded assists, with two. Pouteau is also second among defensemen in total shorthanded points, with two. Rapid City Rush defenseman Billy Constantinou leads all defensemen in game-winning goals, with two.

Players to Watch

While this series is significant for both teams, it is also a notable one for a few individual players, as it will be the first time four players face their former team.

Americans forwards Riley Ginnell, Mark Duarte, and James Hardie will all be making their return to Rapid City to play against the Rush for the first time. This season, Ginnell has played in 13 games with the Americans, recording one goal and one assist, with 13 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -1. Duarte has also played in 13 games, with one goal and one assist, 12 penalty minutes, and a plus/minus of -7. Hardie has played in 13 games, registering two assists, four penalty minutes, and a plus/minus of -6.

On the other side, Rush forward Chaz Smedsrud will be playing against his former team for the first time. After completing his collegiate career, Smedsrud joined the Americans to finish the 2023-24 season and then started the 2024-25 season with them before being traded to the Rush. In 11 games with the Rush this season, Smedsrud has four goals and seven assists, with two penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +6. Smedsrud’s 11 points currently tie him for the team lead with Rush Captain Ryan Wagner.

These four players will likely be playing with a little extra fire this weekend, making these games fun to watch. The series will kick off on Wednesday, November 27, with puck drop at 7:05 pm MT. They will then continue the series after Thanksgiving on Friday, November 29, and wrap up on Saturday, November 30, with puck drop at 7:05 pm MT both nights.