ECHL Series Preview: Rapid City Rush vs. Allen Americans 3/27-30/2024

The Rapid City Rush are in Rapid City this week to take on the Allen Americans in a three-game series.

Last Week

Last week, the Rush were at home taking on the Utah Grizzlies in a three-game series. The series started out rough for the Rush, with the Grizzlies taking the first game 5-3. But the Rush were able to pull it off in the second and third games, winning by scores of 4-3 and 4-1. The Rush went 2/7 on the powerplay, but they saw some nice improvements on their penalty kill. In the three-game series, Rapid City only allowed Utah to score one powerplay goal, going 8/9 on the penalty kill. While the entire Rush team played one of their better series this season, the new guys coming out of college really stood out. The new players from college/university were contributing massively to the team and getting themselves on the scoresheet, even goaltender Christian Propp, who also recorded his first professional win in the 4-1 win Sunday afternoon.

Milestones

If activated from injured reserve, defenseman TJ Fergus could play in his 100th ECHL game, as he currently sits at 98. This season, Fergus has played in 36 games for the Rush, with two goals and 14 assists for 16 points. He has ten penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -6. In 98 ECHL games played, Fergus has six goals and 32 assists for 38 points. He has 18 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -7.

Hot Hands

The Rush have multiple players on point streaks and have been hot recently. The first player is Rush forward Brett Gravelle, who is currently on a three-game point streak with two goals and two assists. Gravelle has played in 63 games with the Rush this season, and he has 20 goals and 23 assists for 43 points. He has 12 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +2.

Rush forward Brett Davis is on a five-game point streak with two goals and three assists. Davis has played in eight games with the Rush this season, and he has two goals and four assists for six points. He has two penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -1.

Rush forward Blake Bennett is not currently on a point streak right now, but he has been really hot for the team recently. In Bennett’s last 12 games played, he has nine goals and five assists for 14 points. This season, Bennett has played in 63 games for the Rush, scoring 30 goals and 20 assists for 50 points. He has 34 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -15.

Rush forward Alex Aleardi continues to be the hottest player for the Rush with his point streak. Aleardi is currently on a 13-game point streak, during which he has eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points. This season, Aleardi has played in 63 games for the Rush, during which he has 25 goals and 41 assists for 66 points. He has 55 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -2.

This Week

The Allen Americans are making their first and only trip of the season to Rapid City this week for a three-game series. The Americans are currently fifth in the Mountain Division with a record of 27-32-2-1 for 57 points and a win percentage of .460. They are 14-14-2-1 on the road and are 3-7-0-0 in their last ten games. The Rush are currently last in the Mountain Division with a record of 25-35-3-0 for 53 points and a win percentage of .421. They are 10-19-1-0 at home and are 5-4-1-0 in their last ten games played. This season, the Rush are 1-2-0-0 against the Americans.

This series will be very intense for the two teams, with everything on the line. It may even have more of a playoff feel to it, as both teams will be looking to mess up each other’s chances at a playoff spot. Games against Allen are usually pretty physical and intense, but with the players having a little extra fire this week, the physicality and intensity of these games may be taken up a notch.

The series will kick off Wednesday, March 27, with a puck drop time of 7:05 pm MST. The series will then continue on Friday, March 29, and conclude on Saturday, March 30, with puck drop at 7:05 pm MST both nights.