Rapid City Rush forwards can expect to face more defensive pressure this week - from their own teammates behind the blue line during practices.

The Rush have surrendered an average of five goals per game in their last four starts, three of those games ending up in the loss column to drop the Rush into fourth place in the Central Hockey League's Northern Conference standings.

Opposing forwards have peppered Rush goaltenders with 177 shots over the four-game span, and that comes from a lack of intensity from the blueliners, said Rush

defenseman and team captain Luke Fritshaw.

"The last two games we've given up way too many shots and scoring chances and I think that's the main reason for our lack of success," he said. "We have to work on being a lot better in our own zone and not giving up those second and third shots that end up in scoring chances."

What's worse, opposing goals have come in bunches. Arizona scored four unanswered goals in a span of 2:34 and set a franchise record with three tallies in 56 seconds in the second period in a 5-4 road win over Rapid City on Oct 23.

On Oct. 27, Tulsa led Rapid City 3-0 early in the second period

before the Rush closed the gap to

3-2, but Rapid City would never lead, with the Oilers winning 5-4.

On Friday night, Rapid City led arch-rival Colorado 4-3 going into the final period, but the Eagles blitzed the nets with three

unanswered tallies in less than five minutes, then added an empty-net goal for a 7-4 win.

"We ran out of gas there in the third after playing a great 40 minutes against a great hockey club," Rush coach Joe Ferras said of the game against Colorado. "I was very happy with the work ethic. It was just unfortunate that we couldn't pull that one out."

Fritshaw said ramping up the defensive intensity in games will have to start in practice this week as the Rush prepare for a two-game home stand with the Mississippi RiverKings.

"Even though we're playing against our own teammates we have to play it like it's a game. You play like you practice. If we practice hard then we'll play hard," Fritshaw said.

"Offensive players aren't being punished enough to get to our net. If we can pick up the intensity, we can make it harder for them to get into our zone and that should translate to fewer shots and fewer goals," he said.

The Rush are fourth in the league in goals scored, averaging four tallies per game, but the Rush are 12th of 15 teams in goals allowed, also averaging four per game.

"We're scoring enough goals to win games, but we just have to tighten up

defensively," Rush assistant coach Mark DeSantis said.

"I would hope to think that when guys come to practice, it's not going through the motions. That's the time to work on your game and get better. You work hard for an hour so it pays off when you get in a game," said DeSantis.

Rush notes: Bright spots have been the offensive play of player-assistant Brendan Cook, forwards Colt King and Les Reaney with two goals apiece in the last two games. Cook, King, Rich Hansen and Brendon Hodge also added two assists each over the same span. Cook currently leads the Rush with 10 points (4 goals-6 assists).

Newcomer Luke Erickson, a forward signed on Oct. 30, wasted little time getting on the stat sheet with an assist on Rapid City's first goal against Colorado on Friday night. Erickson, a 5-8,

165-pound, righthander from Roseau, Minn., was Bemidji State's all-time leading scorer, and was the second leading scorer with 55 points for the Alaska Aces of the East Coast Hockey League last season, but he was released by the Aces this year.

"I think he's going to be a real good pick up for us. He's got a lot of hockey sense, and likes to go into those tough areas," Ferras said.

Ferras made another roster move on Monday, signing defenseman David Grimson, 25, of Mozart, Sask. Grimson played in eight games with the South Carolina Stingrays of the East Coast Hockey League last season, with one goal and two assists for three points and four penalty minutes.