RAPID CITY - Tulsa was hoping for overtime, but Matt Zultek got the job done in regulation for the Rapid City Rush.
Zultek touched up a rebound with 47.2 seconds left in regulation to lift the Rush to a 3-2 Central Hockey League win over the Oilers before 4,986 at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Friday night.
Zultek powered home Brady Olsen's carom to prevent what could have been a league-leading ninth overtime loss for both teams.
"It was a hard-hitting game and I would have liked to extend it into overtime or a shootout for the fans, but my go-to guys didn't get the job done on that last goal. They got past our coverage and got pucks on the net and it was game over," said Tulsa coach Tony Martino.
Rapid City got on the board first. Jon Pelle scored on a feed from Luke Fritshaw and Rich Hansen to put the Rush up 1-0 with 9:32 left in the first period.
Tulsa roared back with goals from Michel Beausoleil and Jake Riddle in a span of 2:03 to take the lead in the second period.
"They just got two good goals. They've got a high-powered offense, and that's going to happen," said Rush goalie Lanny Ramage.
But Rapid City's Gio Flamminio scored his seventh goal of the year and his first on a power play for the equalizer with 2:01 left in the period.
Another apparent tally from Flamminio 4:18 into the first period was waved off.
Referee Dan Dreger signaled a delayed penalty on Tulsa, and ruled that a Tulsa player had touched the puck, stopping play on the change of possession, just before Flamminio slapped the puck past Tulsa netminder Kevin St. Pierre.
Ramage recorded 27 saves for the win. St. Pierre had 38 saves, but took the loss.
"I felt good out there. The guys played awesome defensively and got some good rebounds out there that they struggled with. It was a good all-around effort from everyone," said Ramage, whose last home win was also over Tulsa.
"What a great hockey game for the fans," said Rapid City coach Joe Ferras after the win. "Both teams played hard all night long, some big hits and big fights."
Rapid City's Ryan-James Hand and Tulsa's Chris Kovalcik didn't waste any time setting the tone for the night.
Both players dropped the gloves for a scrap three seconds after the opening face-off. Tulsa's Kai Magnussen and the Rush's Blaine Jarvis also had a dust-up in the second period and there were numerous roughing penalties on both sides throughout the night as well.
"Ryan's was huge energy boost for our hockey club, getting everyone into it right away," Ferras said.
Rapid City (20-31-8) hosts the Oklahoma City Blazers tonight. Tulsa (17-34-8) travels to Broomfield, Colo., to take on the Rocky Mountain Rage tonight.
