LOVELAND, Colo.- Let the rivalry begin.

Riley Nelson's opening salvo in a shootout stood up as Colorado edged Rapid City 7-6 to win Friday night's Central Hockey League opener and the debut for the expansion Rapid City Rush.

It seemed fitting that this contest wound up in a shootout, because for all intents and purposes the 60 minutes of regulation between these two Northwest Division rivals was a shootout as well.

"It was a good game, I didn't think it would be that high scoring," said Colorado coach Kevin McClelland.

But it was, especially in the third period when both team combined to light the lamp seven times.

Rapid City carried a 3-2 lead into the final period, thanks to Chris Diubaldo scoring off the assist from Rich Hanson and Chris Lipsett.

Colorado looked to have the the game in hand with three answered goals for a 5-3 lead in the third period, but Rapid City stormed back with goals from veterans Chris Lipsett and Mark Desantis to again knot the tally.

"A two-goal lead is never safe for them," said Rush coach Joe Ferras of the Eagles." When they had the two-goal lead, the way our guys came back, for guys that just met each other nine days ago, that's a testament to our organization."

Colorado edged ahead when Erik Adams beat Rapid City goalie Miguel Beaudry on a top-shelf goal with 5:30 left to make the tally 6-5, but Prosofsky, found wide-open on the right side by a deft pass from Gia Flamminio answered with 4:39 for what would be the final goal in regulation.

"It was a great test for us, Our guys never gave up," said Rapid City forward Chris Lipsett. "If we're going to do that all year, we're going to be all right."

Lipsett found the net for the first-ever Rush goal at 13:21 in the first on a five on three power play. Less than a minute later R.G Flath put Rapid City up 2-0.

"They came out playing hard, they did" McClelland said. "That's a good hockey club over there."

Ryan Tobler knotted the tally on a pair of power play goals to end the first period at a 2-2 tie.

"It's a 60 minute game and tonight it was 65 minute game plus a little extra. The bottom line is we got the win, but we've got be a little better tomorrow," McClelland said.

Penner stopped 24-of-38 shots for Colorado. Rapid City net-minder Miguel Beaudry stopped 37-of-43 for Rapid City.

The two division rivals meet again tonight at 7:05 p.m. at the Budweiser Events Center. Rapid City and Colorado will face 12 times through the regular season, including Rapid City's home opener on Nov. 29 at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center's new ice arena.