RAPID CITY - Expect the fur to fly when the Rapid City Rush host the Arizona Sundogs in Central Hockey League action Friday and Saturday.

The puck drops at 7:05 both nights at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Ice Arena.

To say that fans could be in for a pair of action-filled games would be an understatement, if an earlier two-game clash between the Rush and the Sundogs is any indication.

Rapid City and Arizona combined for 197 penalty minutes in a double-header in Prescott Valley on Nov. 14-15.

Defending CHL champion Arizona shot the lights out on Rapid City overwhelming the Rush 7-1 on Nov. 14, in a game that saw seven separate scraps, four in the third period alone.

Peter Cartwright notched a hat trick and Joel Irving and Mark Kolanos each scored twice for the Sundogs.

Rapid City rebounded for a 7-4 win the following night.

R.G. Flath scored twice and Chris Lipsett, Chris Di Ubaldo, Paul Holder, Garrett Prosofsky and Rich Hansen all scored for the Rush.

Rapid City set the tone early with defenseman Luke Fritshaw dropping the gloves with Arizona's Karl Sellen just 37 seconds into the contest.

"They came out and dominated us. They played real well. The second night we regrouped," said Rush head coach Joe Ferras.

"They skate very well and they're a team that likes to exploit the run and gun style of hockey," Ferras said. "I think we're two teams that match up very well."

Sundog forward Joel Irving leads the league in goals scored with 20, and is fourth in total points with 40.

Other playmakers for Arizona include forward Martin Gascon, (7 goals, 26 assists, 33 points), forwards Mark Kolanos (15 goals, 11 assists, 26 points) and Adam Perry (11 goals, 15 assists, 26 points);

Lead goalie Marco Emond (7-9-1) gives up 4.01 goals per game, and has 521 saves for a saves percentage of .880. Backup netminder Joel Gistedt (4-8-0) allows 4.51 goals per game, and has 296 saves for a saves percentage of .851.

The Sundogs (11-17-1, 23 points) are in second place in the CHL's Southwest division trailing Odessa, Texas, and just three points ahead of third place New Mexico.

Rapid City (8-10-7, 23 points) is in a tussle with Rocky Mountain (10-13-2, 21 points) for second spot in the Northwest Division.

Hansen is fifth in scoring with 39 points, (13 goals, 26 assists). Lipsett added 17 goals and 15 assists for 32 points.

Lipsett has scored a goal in each of the last five games, and Hansen has tallied 11 points in the last eight games.

Rush goalie Miguel Beaudry, 7-5-5, allows 3.29 goals per game with a saves percentage of .899. Lanny Ramage 1-5-2, has given up 4.17 goals per game and has a .886 saves percentage.

Ferras expects another physical pair of games with the Sundogs.

"They've got a few instigators who know exactly how to energize a team. We've got to be able to play a disciplined style of hockey," Ferras said.

Expected to be in the Rush line-up tonight is 5-7, 180-pound forward Joey Olson, obtained this week in a trade that sent forward Matt Miller to the Laredo Bucks.

Olson tallied two goals and three assists in 20 games for the Bucks this year. Last year, Olson skated for the Johnstown Chiefs of the ECHL, posting 15 goals and 15 assists in 39 games.

Title: Rapid City Rush Date: November 28th, 2008 Follow the Rush at www.rapidcityjournal.com. VIEW PRESENTATION »