Monday, the two teams made their way back to the Civic Center Ice Arena to help ring in the New Year. Rush and Denver. Rush on the attack, the feed to Jarrett Konkle, but he whiffs.

     Rush PP, Damian Surma to Jordan Baker, he can't finish, the Rush get a couple more chances but they come away empty.

     Later, Rush pressing again, Scott Wray and Jesse Schultz working the give and go, and Wray with a beautiful chance, but can't put it away.

     Other end, Denver on the attack, Todd Orlando trying to fire through traffic, but Danny Battochio having none of it, easily gloves it.

     More Rush, off the faceoff, Jamie VenderVeeken to Jordan Baker, fires off the back wall and right to the stick of Jared Brown who puts it away for the first goal of the contest, a rare first period goal for Rapid City.

     But the Rush let their guards down late in the first, and AJ Gale makes 'em pay with some nice moves to beat Battochio with just 42 seconds left in the first.

     And after the final buzzer sounds, animosity boils over and Jamie VanderVeeken puts a whoopin' on Markus Lauridsen, to give his teammates a lift heading to the locker room.

     In Overtime 2 to 2.

Jamie Zepp