ICERAYS STORM BACK TO BEAT PILOTS VIA SHOOTOUT FRIDAY

Oct 25, 2019

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Despite trailing late in regulation, the Corpus Christi IceRays stormed back to record a 4-3 win over the Topeka Pilots Friday at American Bank Center. Ryan Coughlin tied the game with 8.6 seconds remaining. Goaltender Cal Sandquist, who entered the game in relief during the second period, allowed no goals on 12 shots faced.

Shane Bull scored twice for Corpus Christi. Cole Golden and Cameron Knowlton scored for the IceRays in a four-round shootout. All three games this season between the third-place IceRays (9-5-1-2, 21 pts.) and first-place Pilots (11-4-1-1, 24 pts.) have ended in 4-3 finals via overtime or shootout.

Topeka’s Kaiden Scott scored a rebound goal for the only tally of the first period. Early in the second period, Bull notched his first of the night to tie the game, scoring a power play goal off a wraparound feed from Coughlin. The Pilots then built a two-goal lead, receiving a 5-on-5 goal from Luc Salem at 10:37, and a 4-on-4 goal from Connor Zilisch at 15:21.

Coughlin’s game-tying goal was scored during a 6-on-4 advantage late in regulation, corralling Artur Turansky rebound and jamming it inside the left post at 19:51 of the third period.

Sandquist made a few phenomenal saves in overtime to send the game to a shootout. Neither team scored in the first two rounds, while Knowlton and Topeka’s Quinn Green each scored in the third round to send the shootout to a bonus round. Golden scored, and Sandquist denied Topeka captain Austin McCarthy to secure the victory.

Credit: @Corpus Christi IceRays

The IceRays outshot the Pilots, 38-26, including limiting the Pilots to single-digit shots in each period. Corpus Christi’s penalty kill went 3-for-3.

The IceRays and Pilots wrap up their four-game season series on Saturday night. Puck drop at the American Bank Center is set for 7:05 p.m. The game is the IceRays’ annual “Pink Out,” supporting breast cancer awareness; fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game. Tickets for all 2019-20 IceRays home games are on sale now at the American Bank Center box office and all Ticketmaster outlets. For more information on the IceRays, or to purchase tickets, visit goicerays.com or call 361-814-PUCK (7825). Stay connected with the IceRays on Facebook (/CorpusChristiIceRays), Twitter (@goicerays) and Instagram (CorpusChristiIceRays).