RAPID CITY, S.D. – Anthony Perdicaro and Scott Wray each scored goals and Tim Boron made 18 saves as the Rapid City Rush held off a Quad City Mallards comeback late in the third period to win 2-1 Tuesday night, evening the opening round best-of-seven series at three games apiece and forcing a game seven showdown Wednesday night in Rapid City.
With 1:27 left in the first period, Perdicaro scored on a wrap-around chance to give the Rush an early 1-0 lead. Adding to the Rush lead, Wray scored on a centering pass from Scott Brannon at 9:25 of the second period, and that would be all the Rush needed.
The Mallards launched a late-game comeback with an extra attacker to score on a Jordan Mayer shot from the slot to pull within one. After a penalty to the Mallards’ Nicholas Rioux, Quad City emptied the net in favor of five skaters to try to score the game-tying goal late, but fell short.
The Rush and Mallards played close all night as the Rush allowed only 19 shots on goal, while the Mallards allowed 29. Ty Rimmer, the Mallards goaltender, was solid in net, making some fine saves in the lopsided offensive affair. However, the Mallards offense could not get anything going for the majority of the game.
The Mallards and Rush will play game seven on Wednesday night in Rapid City with the winner advancing to the Semi-Final round against the Allen Americans, who advanced earlier in the week.