El Paso, Texas – The Corpus Christi IceRays game ended with a score of 6-5 in a loss to the El Paso Rhinos in OT at the El Paso County Events Center on Saturday night.
First Period Action
The El Paso Rhinos started the scoring early as Frank Tafelski snapped a shot from the top of the right circle that beat IceRays goaltender Lukus Malant at the 1:44 mark of the frame. The assist on the goal went to Luke Morris. The Rhinos came right back and scored again as AJ Reed scored off of a screen at the 3:12 mark of the period with the assist going to AJ Reed. Stepan Kuznetsov broke the scoreless drought of the weekend for the IceRays as he snapped a shot from the top of the slot that beat Rhinos goaltender Nolan Suggs at the 14:02 mark of the period. The assist on the goal goes to Cameron Crolley and Ryan Hintz.
There was only one penalty to speak of in the frame. It went to Rhinos’ Frank Tafelski as he went off for two minutes for tripping at the 7:00 mark of the period.
IceRays goaltender Lukas Malant faced 12 shots on goal in the frame while making 10 saves and Rhinos goaltender Nolan Suggs faced 15 while making 14 saves in the period.
Second Period Action
The IceRays start off the second period with a bang by scoring just 13 seconds into the period. Peteris Purmalis scores off of a rebound to tie the score 2-2 with the assist going to Michael Casey. The IceRays scored again to make it 3-2 IceRays as Frank Jenkins snapped a shot that beat Suggs at the 1:53 mark of the period. The Rhinos scored a shorthanded goal as they got a two-zero breakaway as Kolby Amici scored at 9:24 of the period with the assists going to Mason Kelly to even the score back up at three aside. The IceRays Leonhard Korus scored a powerplay goal at the 17:34 mark of the period with the assists going to Hans Martin Ulvebne that gave the IceRays a 4-3 lead once again over the Rhinos. The period ended with the IceRays leading the game at the end of the period with the score 4-3.
The first penalty of the period went to Michael English as he received a two-minute penalty for roughing at 5:43 of the frame. Rhinos’ Sawyer Boutlon got a five-minute major penalty for kicking. The penalty was served by Frank Tafelski. Sawyer Boulton also received a Match Penalty and was ejected from the hockey game. Foglia of the IceRays received a two-minute minor penalty for hooking at 6:43. Rhinos’ Jacob Zwirecki received a two-minute minor penalty for hooking at 7:17. El Paso’s Jacob Roberson received a two-minute minor penalty for cross checking at 16:08. No other penalties were called in the frame.
IceRays goaltender Lukas Malant faced 20 shots on goal in the frame and saved 19 shots while Rhinos goaltender Nolan Suggs faced 12 shots on goal and made nine saves in the period.
Third Period Action
The El Paso Rhinos tied the game early in the period at four aside with a goal by Roberson as he wristed a shot past Lukus Malant at the 1:06 mark of the period. The Rhinos got another goal as AJ Reed scored a goal that went through the five hole of Malant to make the score 5-4 Rhinos at the 2:34 mark of the frame with the assist going to Kolby Amici and Tristan Kimmen. Blake Lewis scored a power play goal for the IceRays as he snapped a shot from the right circle that beat Suggs to once again tie the score at five aside at 13:22 of the frame. The goal was assisted by Hans Martin Ulvebne and Peteris Purmalis.
The teams went to overtime. The overtime started with the teams playing three-on three, then the IceRays had a brief nine-second power play. After that the teams played overtime four-on-four until the Rhinos scored in sudden death overtime. Bo Cossman snapped a shot past Malant unassisted at the 3:03 mark in overtime to send the El Paso Rhinos victorious 6-5 in overtime.
There were a ton of penalties in that third period. Ryan Hintz of the IceRays received a two-minute holding minor at 4:46. Owen Thomas received a two-minute hooking minor at 10:52. Jakub Jerman of the Rhinos received a two-minute minor penalty for tripping at 11:35. Rhinos’ Tristan Kimmen received a two-minute penalty for Checking from Behind at 14:59 and a 10 minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Dylan Contreras received a two-minute minor penalty for tripping at 17:49. El Paso’s Miles Berg received a two-minute minor for high sticking at 19:22. Ryan Hintz received a two-minute minor penalty for hooking at 19:31 of the frame.
IceRays goaltender Lukas Malant faced 11 shots on goal in the frame and made nine saves while Rhinos goaltender Nolan Suggs faced 13 shots on goal and made 12 saves in the period.
In overtime, Lukus Malant faced four shots and made three saves while Nolan Suggs turned away all three shots that he faced.
Full Game Statistics
The Corpus Christi IceRays finish the game with a final score of the El Paso Rhinos 6 and Corpus Christi IceRays 5 in overtime.
Goaltender Lukus Malant faced a total of 47 shots while saving 41 shots on goal. Rhinos goaltender Nolan Suggs faced a total of 43 shots in the game and made 38 saves.
IceRays Next Game
The IceRays next game is Friday, November 11, 2022 at the American Bank Center Puck drops at 7:05 PM CDT against the Amarillo Wranglers. It is the IceRays annual Stars & Stripes Night. All present and former military/first responders get in FREE with a valid ID. They also receive a $2 hot dog if they show their ID as well.
Join the Action and Bring the Sting
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