The Tahoe Knight Monsters took on the Rapid City Rush on Friday. Puck drop was at 6:00 PM. The game was at The Monument in Rapid City, South Dakota. It was the thirty third game of the season. The Knight Monsters were coming off of a 5-2 win over the Maine Mariners. The Tahoe Knight Monsters had a record of 20-9-3. The Knight Monsters were in 8th place in the ECHL. The Knight Monsters were 3rd in the Western Conference and 2nd in the Mountain Division. The Rapid City Rush are the ECHL affiliate of the Calgary Flames. The Rush had played thirty two games. The Rush were coming off of a 3-1 win over the Tulsa Oilers. The Rush had a record of 9-16-7. The Rush were in 27th place in the ECHL. The Rush were in 13th place in the ECHL Western Conference. The Rush were in 7th place in the ECHL Western Conference Mountain division.
Both teams had played thirty two games. The Knight Monsters had eleven more wins. The Knight Monsters had the better points percentage. The Knight Monsters had scored forty forty six more goals. The Rapid City Rush had allowed fourteen more goals. The Knight Monsters had the better goal differential. The Knight Monsters had eighteen more points. This was the fourth game of a nine game road trip for the Tahoe Knight Monsters. This was the first game of the road trip in Rapid City. The Knight Monsters were looking for their second win in a row. The Knight Monsters were within striking distance of taking first place in the division. A chance to lead the ECHL Western Conference Mountain Division was on the line for the Knight Monsters. This was a divisional showdown. The Rapid City Rush struggled throughout the first half of the season. This was another series where the Knight Monsters faced an opponent that had been struggled this season. Would the Knight Monsters take the top spot in the division? Would the Rapid City Rush get the upset?
#1 Jesper Vikman was in net for the Tahoe Knight Monsters. It was his eighteenth start of the season for the Knight Monsters. On Tuesday, the Tahoe Knight Monsters traded defender Brandon Tabakin to the Wheeling Nailers completing a trade from September involving Cal Kiefiuk. Forward Jakub Demek was assigned to the Tahoe Knight Monsters by the Henderson Silver Knights. On Wednesday, forward Adam Pitters was moved from 3-day injured reserve to just reserve by the Knight Monsters. Forward Troy Loggins was placed on reserve by the Knight Monsters. On Friday, forward Isaac Johnson was activated from reserve by the Knight Monsters. #31 Matt Radomsky got the start in net for the Rapid City Rush. It was his fourteenth start of the season. On Monday, the Rapid City Rush traded defender Zack Hoffman and forward Patrick Bajkov to the Bloomington Bison for forward Jackson Leppard and defender Chase Pauls. On Thursday, goaltender Connor Murphy and forward Jack Jeffers were activated from reserve by the Rush. Forward Garrett Klotz, goaltender Christian Propp, defender Matt Araujo, forward Simon Boyko, and forward Dustin Manz were placed on reserve by the Rush.
Two minutes into the game, the Rapid City Rush received a bench minor for too many men. With four minutes left in the first period, Charles Martin of the Rapid City Rush received a penalty for tripping. With two minutes left in the first period the Rapid City Rush took the lead with a short handed goal. The goal was scored by #82 Brett Davis. His goal was assisted by #13 Ryan Wagner.
With under two minutes left in the period, Cal Kiefiuk of the Tahoe Knight Monsters received a penalty for tripping. The score was 1-0 Rapid City Rush after the first period.
Under two minutes into the second period, the Tahoe Knight Monsters tied the game. #24 Isaac Johnson scored the tying goal. #27 Jakub Demek and #19 Luke Adam got the assists.
With three minutes left in the second period, the Tahoe Knight Monsters took the lead. The goal was scored by #12 Bear Hughes. His goal was assisted by #13 Simon Pinard.
The score was 2-1 Tahoe Knight Monsters going into the third period.
With three minutes left in the game the Tahoe Knight Monsters scored to take a three goal lead. #15 Jake McGrew scored the goal. #14 Patrick Newell got the assist.
The final score was 3-1 Tahoe Knight Monsters.
https://echl.com/videos/tahoe-knight-monsters-vs-rapid-city-rush-jan-10-2025
The Rapid City Rush took the lead late in the third period. The Tahoe Knight Monsters quickly tied the game. The Knight Monsters were able to get the lead by the end of the second period. The Knight Monsters put the game away with a late third period goal. It was a solid win and a solid come from behind victory for the Knight Monsters. This game was tied for majority of the game. The Knight Monsters seem to be giving up the first goal a lot. The Rapid City Rush did not get the upset. The Utah Grizzlies beat the Kansas City Mavericks, putting Tahoe Knight Monsters on top of the ECHL Western Conference Mountain Division after this game.
The Tahoe Knight Monsters had six more shots. The Knight Monsters had the better shot percentage. The Rapid City Rush had two more penalty minutes. #1 Jesper Vikman saved 21 shots for a 95% save percentage for the Tahoe Knight Monsters. #31 Matt Radomsky saved 25 shots for a 89% save percentage for the Rapid City Rush.
The Tahoe Knight Monsters have a record of 21-9-3 with 45 points in 33 games. The Knight Monsters are in 5th place in ECHL. They are in 2nd place in the ECHL Western Conference. They are in 1st place in the ECHL Western Conference Mountain Division. They are in a playoff spot. They are six points into a playoff spot. They have the highest points percentage in the division. The Knight Monsters are still seven points away from the top spot in the ECHL and the top spot in the ECHL Western Conference.
The Tahoe Knight Monsters take on the Rapid City Rush for game thirty four on Saturday, January 11th. It will be an away game. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:05 PM. This will be a divisional game. This will be game two of the stint in Rapid City and game five of the nine game road trip.
Zac Electrifly 
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