CORPUS CHRISTI, TX – The Colorado Grit (3-5-3) snapped the Corpus Christi IceRays (9-2-1) four game win streak Saturday night at the American Bank Center by a final score of 3-1. The IceRays and Grit went a combined 0-for-14 on the power play in the game, but Colorado picked up a goal shorthanded and during a stretch of four on four play that proved to be the difference.
IceRays Goalie Vladislav Bryzgalov made his 2nd start of the season for Corpus Christi and made seven of his 22 saves on the night in the first period. His counterpart Pete Sterling was also sharp in the period turning aside all seven shots he faced in the frame. Both sides remained unscathed after one period heading to intermission.
The paces and intensity began to pick up in the 2nd period and so did the penalties. A combined eight penalties were taking in the 2nd period alone, four of them came within a span of three minutes. But it was not the power plays that would convert. As we passed the halfway mark in the game, the IceRays were on the attack in the offensive zone leading to a shot by Defenseman Raymond Perrault who beat Sterling to break the scoreless tie and put Corpus Christi up 1-0. Moments later at four on four, Colorado would get it right back from Defenseman Braden Junker who found enough space to beat Bryzgalov with a wrist shot and pull the Grit back to level. Later in the period, a beautiful array of passes from the Grit led to a goal from Lucca Ori who jammed his first of the season into the net and give Colorado their first lead of the night. The IceRays would trail by one heading to the third.
Corpus Christi made a push for the majority of the third, but were unable to capitalize on the few power plays they had. Shorthanded, Ori made a great move around an IceRays defender and finished it off with a snapshot extending the Grit’s lead to 3-1 with 11 minutes remaining in regulation. The IceRays had their opportunities, but Sterling was equal to everything Corpus Christi threw his way. Colorado handed the IceRays their first loss of the season on home ice to force the split by a final score of 3-1.
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