CORPUS CHRISTI ICERAYS
at
ODESSA JACKALOPES
Friday, January 30 at 7:05 P.M.
NAHL Game #493 • Road Game #20 • Season Series 7-0-0
Ector County Coliseum • Odessa, Texas
Radio: SportsRadio Corpus Christi (KSIX) • Mobile: TuneIn Radio
Video: FASTHockey.com • Twitter: @goicerays
Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. with Countdown To Faceoff
Tonight’s Game: The Corpus Christi IceRays continue their three-game set against the Odessa Jackalopes with the midway game from the Ector County Coliseum. The IceRays are 3-2-0 on their current road trip and can earn an over .500 win percentage in their seven-game stretch with a win.
Head-To-Head: The IceRays claimed the season series against the Jackalopes, taking down Odessa in all seven games this season and have won eight-straight. Last night’s win was the third overtime win over Odessa this season. The last time the IceRays fell to the Jackalopes was on Jan. 17 (5-2 L) at the American Bank Center. Over their histories, the IceRays are 25-13-2 against the Jackalopes.
Last Night: The IceRays scored late in the third period to force overtime, eventually beating the Odessa Jackalopes 3-2 on Thursday night from Ector County Coliseum. Brad LeLievre (PP, 14:55 2nd) brought the first goal across as the first and lone tally heading into the third period. The Jackalopes answered with goals by Razmuz Waxin-Engback (4:27 3rd) and Chad Guderian (16:38 3rd) to take a 2-1 lead. The IceRays tied the game on a shot from Trevor Heuser (18:00) that forced overtime. Then, for the second-straight time against Odessa, Nathan Bryer (2:43 OT) notched the game-winner to give the IceRays the win. Andrew Lindgren earned the victory, stopping 30 of 32 shots, while Tanner Creel dropped the overtime decision, turning aside 35 of 38 shots.
Free Hockey: The IceRays forced their seventh overtime game this season last night, improving their record to 6-1 when games are settled in the extra period. They have completed games in overtime against Odessa in three of their last four chances, winning all three contests. In addition, in their last two meetings, both games have been won by Nathan Bryer in overtime at about the same time (2:46 on Jan. 10; 2:43 last night).
Corting Points: Defenseman Anthony Cortese has caught fire since the team’s only home games this month. In his last seven games, the Canadian has earned two goals and eight assists for ten points, including assists in all seven games and two multi-point games. He owns the team lead in consecutive games with assists thanks to this streak and shares the lead for consecutive games with points at seven games with forward Ryan Cusin, who earned seven goals and four assists for 11 points from Nov. 7 through Dec. 3.
Community Relations: In addition to Cortese, four other players are on point streaks. Forward Matt Colford has recorded points in each of his last six games, earning three goals and three assists for six points in that span. Forwards Tanner Lomsnes and Wes Michaud have the same amount of points in their streaks, with Lomsnes gaining four goals and two assists in three games and Michaud earning six assists in four games. Forward Ryan Cusin is also getting heated, claiming two goals and two assists in his last four games.
Power Generators: After being shut out in five-straight games on the power play, the extra skating units have converted in each of their last four games, going 6-for-12 (50.00%) since their first conversion on Jan. 17 against Wenatchee. Over the month, the IceRays are 6-for-32 (18.75%) on the power play while accruing a 5-3-1 record, including 3-3-1 in games away from the American Bank Center.
Odessa Division: The Jackalopes rebounded from a road sweep with a home split against the Amarillo Bulls, claiming game one on Friday 6-4 while dropping Saturday’s closer 4-2. Four players earned three-point weekends, including three of those four stretched over both games. Defenseman Christian Hausinger, forward Kenny Hausinger, and forward Razmuz Waxin-Engback all earning one goal and two assists over both games, while forward Hampus Sjodahl tabbed one goal and two assist in Friday’s win. In all, 12 players earned points with seven of those earning multi-point weekends. Goaltenders Robin Johansson and Tanner Creel each saved 22 shots on 26 chances over the weekend, with Johansson gaining Friday’s win and Creel garnering Saturday’s loss.
Close Calls: The Jackalopes ended their 15th game last night that ended with a one-goal differential, dropping their record to 5-4-6 in those scenarios. In those games, the Jackalopes have earned 16 points in those contests. Convert those six overtime and shootout losses to wins, and the Jackalopes change their outlook to 11-4-0 in one-goal games and improve their season point total to 30, which places them just five points out of a playoff spot in the South Division.
South Division Standings:
1 – Topeka RoadRunners (30-9-3, 63 PTS)
2 – Lone Star Brahmas (26-9-3, 55 PTS)
3 – Wichita Falls Wildcats (27-11-0, 54 PTS)
4 – Corpus Christi IceRays (21-13-5, 47 PTS)
5 – Wenatchee Wild (17-18-7, 41 PTS)
6 – Amarillo Bulls (16-21-3, 35 PTS)
7 – Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees (14-19-6, 34 PTS)
8 – Odessa Jackalopes (9-27-6, 24 PTS)
Next Game: The IceRays will complete their seven-game road trip 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 1230AM/96.1FM/103.3FM) and FASTHockey.com.
