The Chicago Rush overcame first half struggles to secure a 61-60 overtime win to become the first team with a 3-0 record following the victory over the Central Division rival Iowa Barnstormers.

The Rush was off to a rapid attack in the first quarter after QB Russ Michna led the offense down the field and into the end zone with a seven yard touchdown reception by WR Terrance Turner. The Barnstormers were quick to answer as QB JJ Raterink connected with Rush nemesis WR Jesse Schmidt for a touchdown to even the score. Schmidt led the Iowa offense with three touchdown receptions on the night. Iowa contained the Rush offense and forced the team to turn over the ball on downs to end the first quarter at a 7-7 tie.

The two teams exchanged touchdowns to begin the second quarter. Barnstormers FB Rodney Filer rushed for two touchdowns in the period. The Rush scored after Michna connected with both WR Jared Perry and Reggie Gray for two passing touchdowns. However, Iowa scored 13 unanswered points after Raterink scrambled for the team’s third rushing touchdown of the quarter and DB Antoine Thompson returned an interception for a touchdown. The Rush closed out the half with a brief bright spot as DL Derek Walker intercepted Iowa’s two-point conversion attempt the opposite direction. However, Iowa led 40-28 over the Rush as the teams headed to the locker rooms.

The Barnstormers opened the second half with the ball, but the Rush held Iowa’s offense after Raterink fumbled while being sacked and Rush DL Wayne Daniels recovered the ball. Michna and WR Marquis Hamilton capitalized on the Barnstormers fumble as the two connected for the first touchdown of the second half. The two teams exchanged touchdowns and Reggie Gray scored his second touchdown of the night before the end of the third quarter.

The Rush defense was stingy to begin the fourth quarter holding the Barnstormers to a field goal attempt which was missed by kicker Greg Camay. The Rush scored on its first offensive drive of the final quarter after Michna connected with Gray for their third touchdown connection of the night. 13 year Arena Football veteran Filer ran for a four-yard touchdown to put the Barnstormers up with a seven point lead. Rush WR Jared Perry caught a touchdown pass from Michna to tie the game at 55 with 17 seconds remaining in the game. Iowa failed to score in its last possession of regulation sending the game to overtime.

Barnstormers struck first in overtime as Raterink connected with WR Chris Matthews. However, Camay missed the PAT for Iowa.That openedf the door for the Rush to win it which they did. Rush FB JJ Payne ran for the game-tying touchdown before kicker Mike Salerno secured the victory with the extra point.

The Rush return to Allstate Arena next Saturday to host Kansas City at 7pm.

NASHVILLE—The Blackhawks are in the playoffs for a fourth straight season, and they didn’t have to wait around to the final minute of the regular season this time around. They might want to work on their defense just a bit in the three remaining games.Brent Seabrook scored at 8:19 of the third period, and the Blackhawks clinched a playoff spot Saturday night, beating the Nashville Predators 5-4 after blowing a 4-0 lead.

“It’s a great game,” Joel Quenneville said. “Very entertaining. I’m sure the fans enjoyed the game and nerve-racking for coaches.”

Nashville won the season series 4-1-1, but Chicago pulled within a point of the fourth-place Predators in the Western Conference and tied idle Detroit with 97 points. The Blackhawks have three games left to see if they pass Detroit or Nashville for home-ice advantage to start the postseason, and only Sunday’s game against Minnesota will be in the United Center..

“We’ll see how it works out,” Quenneville said. “Where we’re at, we’ve got to catch two pretty good teams right in front of us, and so we’ll see how that plays itself out.”

Patrick Kane had a goal and an assist, Patrick Sharp and Dave Bolland each scored power-play goals, and Viktor Stalberg had a goal. The Blackhawks had to work for their first win over Nashville this season, and Seabrook put a snap shot past goalie Pekka Rinne off a cross-ice pass from Andrew Shaw for the winning goal. Shea Weber scored twice, and Alexander Radulov and Martin Erat had a goal apiece. Ryan Suter had three assists as Nashville lost for just the third time in regulation since Jan. 5. Nashville coach Barry Trotz said he thought they had a chance of at least grabbing a point after tying the game in the third. The Blackhawks were well rested after beating St. Louis in a shootout Thursday night and had plenty of fans eager to see them clinch on the road. Nashville beat the Red Wings 4-1 on Friday night in Detroit before flying back home, and it showed in the opening minutes as the Blackhawks took the first six shots. But Matt Halischuk went to the box for high-sticking at 1:38, and the Blackhawks converted on Sharp’s 32nd goal this season as he beat Rinne’s outstretched left leg at 2:25 of the first. Nashville had given up two power-play goals in the past 14 games, and the Predators gave up their second in this game when Bolland scored off a pass from Marian Hossa 1:05 into the second period. The Blackhawks appeared ready to avenge a 6-1 loss to Nashville on March 25 in Chicago as Kane scored on a breakaway under Rinne’s right leg at 6:50 of the second, and Stalberg scored at 8:35 on a shot that spun Rinne around after the goalie had stopped the first shot.Nashville finally got going after Bolland went to the box for interference. Erat scored from the right circle off an assist from Ryan Suter at 9:29, and Weber made it 4-2 when he scored off a snap shot 49 seconds later.Radulov pulled the Predators to 4-3 by splitting Sean O’Donnell and Seabrook skating up the slot, and beating goalie Corey Crawford with a backhander to his glove side at 4:38 of the third. Then Weber tied it with a power-play goal off a slap shot at 7:10.The Hawks got back the lead on Seabrook’s goal at 8:19. He got his ninth on a snap shot off a cross-ice pass from Andrew Shaw. Nashville had plenty of chances, but Crawford didn’t let another puck past.

NOTES The Blackhawks are now 25-7-2 when scoring first……The Blackhawks now have picked up at least a point in 13 of their past 15 games….Nashville center David Legwand had two assists, making him the first player in Nashville history with 500 career points….Erat has a career-high 58 points. With his assists, Suter has a career-high 46 points….Nashville added to its franchise record with its 22nd sellout this season.