Rapid City SD – Midway through the third period, Nugget was pounding the rally drum loud enough to carry over the radio broadcast, and the Rapid City Rush were finally firing pucks at the Kansas City net. None of them went in.
Kansas City beat the Rush 3-0 Saturday at The Monument Ice Arena, handing Rapid City its first loss of the season on the team’s America 250 specialty jersey night.
The Mavericks did it with their backup goalie, after starter Connor Murphy left early in the second period.
The Rush are 3-1-0. Kansas City is 1-3-0.
A Goalie Change, Then Two Goals
Rapid City came out flat in the second game of a three-in-three, and Owen Say stood on his head to keep it close.
Kansas City outshot the Rush 15-3 in the first period, and the game stayed scoreless only because Say stopped all 15. He finished with 28 saves on 30 shots, the only reason a 3-0 loss wasn’t worse.
Murphy, a former Rush goaltender who spent three seasons in the Rapid City and Calgary organizations, stopped all five shots he faced. About four minutes into the second period, he left with what appeared to be a right-leg injury and did not return.
Logan Terness came off the bench cold and stopped all 15 shots he saw the rest of the way.
Kansas City scored twice in the second. Alex Swetlikoff opened the scoring at 2:48, with assists from Lleyton Moore and Hudson Wilson.
Andrei Loshko made it 2-0 at 9:17, beating Say over the shoulder, with Moore and Jackson Berezowski assisting.
No Breakthrough in the Third
The Rush pushed in the third, and their best chance came off the stick of Rasmus Ekström, whose shot rang off the post.
Ryan Lautenbach sealed it with an empty-net goal at 19:26, assisted by Zacharie Giroux and Owen Lindmark.
After the lopsided first period, the Rush outshot Kansas City 17-16 over the final 40 minutes.
They went 0-for-3 on the power play, and Kansas City went 0-for-2.
By the Numbers
- Shots: Kansas City 31, Rapid City 20.
- Goaltending: Say made 28 saves on 30 shots and took his first loss of the season. Murphy (5 saves) and Terness (15 saves) combined on the shutout.
- Special teams: Rush 0-for-3, Kansas City 0-for-2.
- Moore’s night: Kansas City defenseman Lleyton Moore assisted on both second-period goals.
- Three stars: 1. Logan Terness (KC). 2. Alex Swetlikoff (KC). 3. Andrei Loshko (KC).
- Attendance: 3,245.
- Goalie of record: Murphy was credited with the win because he was in net when Swetlikoff scored the game-winner. He and Terness shared the shutout.
Roster Notes
- Campbell recalled: Forward Alex Campbell, who scored in each of the Rush’s first three games, was recalled by the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers before the game.
- Lineup moves: Ekström and Ryan Mahshie were activated from reserve and played. Alec Butcher was placed on reserve. Mahshie made his Rush debut.
- In goal: Say made his third start of the season, with Shane Farkas backing up.
Up Next
The Rush and Mavericks close the three-game weekend Sunday at 4:05 p.m. at The Monument Ice Arena.
Sourcing
ECHL official game sheet (Oct. 24, 2026); ECHL transactions (Oct. 24, 2026); Kansas City Mavericks roster; Rapid City Rush 2026-27 schedule; Kansas City Mavericks radio broadcast (Oct. 24, 2026).
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