RAPID CITY - A three-goal Rocky Mountain Rage lead proved to be too tough a climb for the Rapid City Rush.

Division foe Rocky Mountain quieted a Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Ice Arena crowd of 3,356 with a two-goal outburst in the second period, then found the net a third time just after the start of the third stanza en route to a 3-1 win over the Rapid City Rush Wednesday night.

The two Central Hockey League Northwest Division rivals skated scoreless for the first 27 minutes, 21 seconds before Rocky Mountain scored twice in a 53-second span.

Amid a 21-shot barrage in the second period, Simon Watson scored the first goal for an opposing team in Rapid City's new ice palace, using a man advantage to squeeze the puck past Rush goalie Miguel Beaudry in front of the net.

Brent Cullaton and Rage goalie Marty Magers were credited with assists.

Colt King duplicated the effort less than a minute later, again in a crush at the net.

Cullaton found an opening on a pass from King just 1:21 into the third period to put the Rage (6-10-1 overall) up 3-0.

Rocky Mountain kept Rapid City (4-7-5) out of offensive synch with stick checking and physical stops on the boards, forcing turnovers the length of the ice most of the night. The Rage outshot the Rush 32-19, including a 21-4 advantage in the second period.

Rapid City's Rob Dmytruk needed just 12 seconds on a power play to wrist a one-timer past Magers to narrow the gap to 3-1, but Rapid City would get no closer. Rush coach Joe Ferras said his club needs to find some consistency, dropping a game to fourth-place Rocky Mountain just four days after posting a 4-0 shutout against the division-leading Colorado.

"We've got to be ready to play. We don't have any options. We've got to come out and be physical," said Ferras. "We're not skilled enough to play any other way. We're 16 games into the season and our second home game, we need guys that are here to step up."

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