DZHIOSHVILI HAT TRICK PROPELS ICERAYS TO 7-3 WIN

Jan 30, 2015

ODESSA, TEXAS – The Corpus Christi IceRays (22-13-5) scored five unanswered in the third period and rode on the wings of Maksim Dzhioshvili’s hat trick to take down the Odessa Jackalopes (9-28-6) 7-3 on Friday night from Ector County Coliseum. The hat trick is the first completed on the road by the IceRays in junior franchise history and the second of the season.

In a very back and forth opening frame, the Jackalopes struck first at 16:36 of the first period when forward Hampus Sjodahl jabbed home a free puck that caught IceRays netminder Luke Pickar out of position to help gain the 1-0 lead.

After killing off a lingering penalty at the outset of the second period, the IceRays answered the call just 51 seconds into the frame. Forward Tanner Lomsnes threw a puck toward Odessa goaltender Tanner Creel that bounced off the back of the netminder to tie the game, 1-1. Just a short time later at 1:54, IceRays forward Maksim Dzhioshvili launched a shot from the right half wall, bouncing off Creel, an Odessa defenseman, and then into the net to give the IceRays a 2-1 lead. Later in the period, the Jackalopes found a tying goal at 15:25 when defenseman Andreas Soje found a pass in front of Pickar and sniped it through the netminder to even the score, 2-2.

The Jackalopes regained in the lead in the third period at 1:57 when defenseman Lane Valimont blasted a shot from the right circle to push ahead, 3-2. The game tossed back to a tie, 3-3, when Dzhioshvili found a pass from forward Joe Chitwood in front of Creel to net his second of the night at 5:42. The hat trick was completed at 7:39 with a hard shot from the right point to give the IceRays a 4-3 lead. A slew foot by Jackalopes forward Kenny Hausinger forced a five-minute power play for the IceRays, and that’s when the game opened up by the tune of three power play goals. Chitwood added insurance at 12:34 to push ahead, 5-3. Just under two minutes later at 14:33, forward Connor Kelly spun around in the slot and slipped a shot by the right skate of Creel to double the lead, 6-3. Then, at 15:54, forward Ryan Cusin added the final dagger to solidify the 7-3 win.

Pickar (7-5-2) earned the win, turning aside 33 of 36 shots, while Creel (2-9-2) picked up the loss, saving 29 of 36. The IceRays finish their seven-game road trip as well as their three-game set against the Odessa Jackalopes on Saturday, January 31 at 7:05 p.m. from the Ector County Coliseum. Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on SportsRadio Corpus Christi (KSIX) and FASTHockey.com.

Call the front office at 361-814-7825 for season and individual ticket details or check out the pricing and seating chart online at www.goicerays.com. Stay current with the latest team news by visiting www.goicerays.com. In addition, stay connected with the IceRays on Facebook (/CorpusChristiIceRays), Twitter (@goicerays), YouTube (IceRays TV), Instagram (CorpusChristiIceRays), and Vine (@goicerays).