ICERAYS DROP MIDWAY GAME IN A 4-3 SHOOTOUT

Feb 12, 2016

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS – The Corpus Christi IceRays (18-20-5) went back and forth with the Lone Star Brahmas (28-10-7) throughout the contest, coming away with one point in a 4-3 shootout loss on Friday night at the American Bank Center.

For the second-straight game, the IceRays notched the first goal of the contest on the power play. IceRays forward Regen Cavanagh found an open pass in the mid-slot and connected on the shot at 7:27 to take a 1-0 lead. The Brahmas registered the first five-on-five goal between these two meetings in two weekends to answer and tie the game up. Defenseman Samu Suominen wristed a shot from the left point that stayed in the air and snuck under the crossbar at 10:43 to even up, 1-1.

The newest IceRays player, Brady Crabtree, put the home side back up ahead early in the second period. Forward Andy McGlynn found him off to the right side, and his shot from the circle ripped past the waiting netminder for his first in an IceRays uniform at 3:55 to take back the lead, 2-1. Just like the first period, the Brahmas picked up play and found an equalizer, this time on special teams. Defenseman Bud Madej also found his goal with a shot from the left point at 14:32 on the power play to bring the game even, 2-2.

Goals continued to see-saw across both teams, but in the third period the first of the frame came after midway through. At 11:14, IceRays defenseman Trevor Heuser was left open on the left post and tapped a pass from forward Mason Krueger into the back of the net for his first of the year and to take the 3-2 edge for the home side. The Brahmas would not be silenced before the end of regulation time, and another defenseman evened up the score. At 15:50, Cameron Clarke found a loose rebound with an open net in the left circle and banked it off the left post and in to force a 3-3 game into overtime. After a quiet extra period, the game walked into a shootout. Brahmas forward Joseph Fallon scored on the first attempt in the shootout which was answered by IceRays forward Carter Johnson in the second round. The game would be decided in the third from Brahmas forward Tomas Brejcha to secure the 4-3 Lone Star win and the full two points.

Brahmas netminder Conor O’Brien (10-4-5) earned the win, stopping 21 of 24 shots, while IceRays goaltender Dryden McKay (8-8-2) picks up the shootout loss, halting 30 of 33 shots. The IceRays finish off their three-game set against the Brahmas on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 7:11 p.m. from the American Bank Center. Tickets are available at www.Ticketmaster.com, the American Bank Center Box Office, or the IceRays Front Office. Coverage begins at 6:55 p.m. on SportsJuice.com, FASTHockey.com, and 87.7FM in-arena.

Contact the IceRays Front Office at 361-814-PUCK or go to www.goicerays.com for details on season tickets along with pricing and seating. In addition, stay connected with the IceRays on Facebook (/CorpusChristiIceRays), Twitter (@goicerays), YouTube (IceRays TV), Instagram (CorpusChristiIceRays), Vine (@goicerays), and Periscope (@goicerays).