CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Kaiden Scott scored the game’s only goal 2:56 into overtime Saturday as the Topeka Pilots defeated the Corpus Christi IceRays by a 1-0 final at American Bank Center. Guy Blessing made 28 saves for the Pilots (12-4-1-1, 26 pts.) to record his first career NAHL shutout.
Cal Sandquist stopped the first 23 shots he faced in net for the IceRays (9-5-2-2, 22 pts.) before Scott scored the overtime winner.
Blessing made his best save of the night with 1:00 remaining in regulation, diving to his right to deny a chance from IceRays winger Shane Bull.
Scott’s goal was an unassisted, end-to-end rush, skating alone in front and scoring five-hole.
The IceRays went 0-for-3 on the power play, and finished the four-game season series against Topeka 7-for-7 on the penalty kill. All four games between the South Division rivals required overtime; Corpus Christi finished the series 2-0-1-1 against the division-leading Pilots.
Saturday was the IceRays’ annual Pink Out game supporting breast cancer awareness, raising funds for CHRISTUS Spohn Cancer Center and Real Men Wear Pink of Corpus Christi. The game was sponsored by AutoNation, Pepsi, KRIS 6 News, Competition Sound and South Texas Surgical Hospital.
Next up for the IceRays is a home-and-home series with the Amarillo Bulls. The IceRays head to the Texas Panhandle for games Nov. 1 and 2 at the Budweiser Bull Pen at Amarillo Civic Center, then return to the American Bank Center to host the Bulls on Thursday, Nov. 7 and Friday, Nov. 8. Tickets for all 2019-20 IceRays home games are on sale now at the American Bank Center box office and all Ticketmaster outlets. All IceRays games can be heard on Sportsradio Corpus Christi 1230 AM – 95.1 FM – 96.1 FM (KSIX-AM/FM) and mixlr.com/icerays, and can be viewed on HockeyTV (HD iPPV). 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).
