ICERAYS COME FROM BEHIND, BEAT ODESSA IN OVERTIME, 4-3

Jan 9, 2015

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS – The Corpus Christi IceRays (18-11-5) come from behind in the third period to force overtime and win 4-3 over the Odessa Jackalopes on Saturday night from the American Bank Center. The IceRays sweep their lone home weekend of January and improve their home win streak to 11 games.

The Jackalopes did strike first in the opening period just 1:15 into the game on a shot by forward Derek Brown at the left circle to take a 1-0 lead. The IceRays came back later in the period at 13:57 to tie the game, 1-1, thanks to a Wes Michaud chance in the slot fed from forward Tanner Lomsnes and defenseman Anthony Cortese.

In the second period, the IceRays were the first to strike, and newcomer Maksim Dzhioshvili tallied his first NAHL goal at 2:41 with the help of forwards Frankie Melton and Griff Jeszka to take a 2-1 lead. The lead would not last as the Jackalopes came surging back in the latter stages of the period. At 11:02, Brown once again beat IceRays netminder Luke Pickar while jabbing at a free puck to tie the game, 2-2. Forward Hampus Sjodahl gave the Jackalopes the edge at 19:42 heading into the second intermission.

The IceRays found the answer in the third period at 11:30. After a shot from the right point by defenseman Trevor Heuser was stopped down by Jackalopes netminder Tanner Creel, another newcomer Matt Colford came in to stab the puck through the crease and tie the game 3-3. That sent the game into overtime, setting up a thrilling end to the weekend when Nathan Bryer found an opening on the right side of the net to tuck home the game-winner and complete the sweep, 4-3.

Pickar (5-4-2) picks up the win saving 21 of 24 shots, while Creel (2-5-1) earns his fourth-straight loss, turning away 28 of 32 shots faced. The IceRays begin a seven-game road trip on Friday, January 16 at 9:05 p.m. Central in the first of a two-game set against the Wenatchee Wild from Town Toyota Center. Coverage begins at 8:50 p.m. Central 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).