ODESSA, TEXAS – The Corpus Christi IceRays (8-12-3) found their second-straight overtime winner to overtake the Odessa Jackalopes (10-9-3) 5-4 on Friday night at the Ector County Coliseum. The IceRays earn their second weekend sweep of the year and their first since Oct. 2-3.
Like the previous night, both sides lit up the first period with the Jackalopes scoring first. Forward Brandon Tucker pushed the home side ahead, 1-0, at 2:54 of the opening frame before the IceRays answered in a large way. Forward Andy McGlynn was found in the middle by forward Mason Krueger to slot his first goal in ten games to knot things up, 1-1, at 3:36. Before the mid-way mark, the IceRays capitalized on their first power play of the night at 9:15 thanks to forward Brad Power to take a 2-1 lead. McGlynn added his second of the contest under two minutes later at 11:52 also coming from Krueger to double the lead, 3-1. The Jackalopes pulled netminder Dean Shatzer in favor of Gunnar Rivers, and after the change they answered before the end of the frame at 17:31 with a shot from the right circle by defenseman Connor Stuart to force a 3-2 scoreline heading into intermission.
Each side exchanged goals in the second period with Odessa notching first. At 9:35, forward Eric Carreras was helped by a screen in front of the net to tie the game, 3-3, on the power play. Late in the period, IceRays forward Regen Cavanagh slipped a five-hole shot by Rivers to take back the lead, 4-3, at 17:51.
The Jackalopes forced overtime thanks to a third period goal by forward Oliver Celec at 6:27 to tie the game again, 4-4, though couldn’t win it in regulation despite a strong effort at the end of the third period. In overtime, the IceRays found their second-straight game-winner in the extra frame thanks to an unassisted carry and goal by forward Toby Kircher at 3:09 to seal the 5-4 win and the full weekend sweep.
IceRays goaltender Graham Hunt (4-6-2) earned the win, saving 31 of 35 shots, while Rivers (6-3-1) picked up the overtime loss with a 25-for-27 save performance in relief of Shatzer, who stopped five of eight shots. The IceRays return to the American Bank Center on Friday, Dec. 11 to open a two-game set against the Amarillo Bulls on Grades For Blades Night, presented by 7-Eleven. Tickets are available at www.Ticketmaster.com, the American Bank Center Box Office, or by calling 361-814-PUCK.
Contact the IceRays Front Office at 361-814-PUCK or go to www.goicerays.com for details on season tickets along with pricing and seating. In addition, stay connected with the IceRays on Facebook (/CorpusChristiIceRays), Twitter (@goicerays), YouTube (IceRays TV), Instagram (CorpusChristiIceRays), Vine (@goicerays), and Periscope (@goicerays).
