TULSA, Okla. — The Rapid City Rush are set to begin a six-game road trip with high stakes as they fight for a playoff spot in the ECHL Mountain Division. After a hard-fought home series, Only taking one of three games at home, the team looks to capitalize on their strong win on Sunday and Thursday heading into matchups against the Tulsa Oilers and Kansas City Mavericks.
Coming off a weekend where they fell short in two of three games, the Rush remained competitive. “They played well enough to win all three,” said Rush play-by-play announcer Corey Berbarian. “If they can get a few bounces to go their way, there’s no reason they can’t win on the road.”
The team faces an uphill battle, needing to secure multiple wins to remain in postseason contention. “The goal is to come back home for the final weekend of the season with a chance to play their way into a playoff spot,” Cory said.
Assessing the Opposition
The Rush will first take on the Tulsa Oilers, a team that recently suffered four consecutive losses and was swept at home. Though beatable, Tulsa remains a threat with a balanced roster. “They don’t have a Blake Bennett,” Cory said, referring to the Rush’s star forward, “but they have several consistent 25- to 30-point scorers who know how to play the game well.”
Following Tulsa, the Rush will head to Kansas City, where they face the division-leading Mavericks. “Kansas City has more help from their NHL affiliate than any team in the league,” Cory noted. The Mavericks benefit from their partnership with the Seattle Kraken and the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds, making them a formidable opponent.
Despite Kansas City’s dominance, Rapid City has played them closely throughout the season. “They’ve been able to hang with them,” Cory added. “If the Rush make the playoffs, there’s a good chance they’ll see Kansas City again.”
Team Updates and New Additions
Health-wise, the Rush remain in good shape, with only one long-term injury. The team also added forward Jonathan Yantsis from the Trois-Rivières Lions. Nance, who scored seven goals in 38 games this season, will debut immediately. “He’s stepping into a second-line role,” Cory said. “The hope is he can contribute right away.”
The six-game stretch will test the Rush, but with playoff hopes still alive, the team is ready for the challenge.
“We’ve seen this group win tough games before,” Cory said. “Now, it’s about proving they can do it when it matters most.”
