FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Santeri Hartikainen recorded four points (2+2) and debuting goaltender Samuel Vyletelka made 42 saves as the Corpus Christi IceRays got back in the win column with a 5-2 victory Friday over the Fairbanks Ice Dogs at Big Dipper Ice Arena.
Tyler Love (1+1), Nicholas Seitz (0+2) and Brian Kramer (0+2) notched two points each as the IceRays (21-20-1-0, 43 pts.) snapped a season-high five-game losing skid.
Newcomer Che Landikusic, who flew in to join the team today via trade from the Austin Bruins, opened the scoring with a rebound of a Seitz shot at 12:41 of the first period.
Corpus Christi increased the lead in the second period with a top-shelf goal over the blocker by Love (5:03) and a breakaway by Hartikainen (15:06).
The IceDogs ended Vyletelka’s shutout bid 5:05 into the third period with a goal by Jonathan Sorenson on the power play. Hartikainen and Blake Bennett then scored empty-net goals, with a tally by Fairbanks’ Tanner Edwards sandwiched between, as the IceRays recorded the three-goal win.
The Ice Dogs (21-14-3-2, 47 pts.) outshot the IceRays by a 44-24 margin. Vyletelka notched his first career NAHL win.
The IceRays and Ice Dogs rematch Saturday night in Fairbanks with puck drop set for 7:30 Alaska Time (10:30 PM Central). The broadcast will be carried live on Sportsradio Corpus Christi (1230 AM/95.1 FM/96.1 FM), HockeyTV and Mixlr with the pre-game show starting at 10:15 PM CT. Next weekend, the IceRays complete their Alaska trip with a two-game visit to the Kenai River Brown Bears at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.
Stay connected with the IceRays on Facebook (/CorpusChristiIceRays), Twitter (@goicerays) and Instagram (CorpusChristiIceRays). Tickets are on sale now for the IceRays’ final eight home games of the 2018-19 regular season. Visit goicerays.com or call 361-814-PUCK (7825) for tickets or more information.
