The IceRays looked to bounce back on Saturday night against Amarillo following a 4-2 loss on Friday. The loss on Friday night snapped an eleven-game losing streak for Amarillo. The Rays tried to start a new streak for Amarillo on Saturday.
In the first period, the IceRays came out hot keeping the puck in the offensive zone for much of the period. Corpus Christi outshot Amarillo 14-2 in period number one and left the opening twenty minutes with a 1-0 lead.
The opening goal of the game was scored on a play that started with Harvey dumping the puck into the corner. The captain, Jude Kurtas, made his way into the corner and back handed it out front where IceRays leading goal scorer Nathan Butler awaited. He found a lane to get the puck past the Amarillo goaltender and gave the Rays a 1-0 lead after one.
Although Amarillo evened the score in period number two, the story of the period was the physicality of the play. An ejection on each side, which included Casper Gillberg for the Rays, as well as nine other minor penalties were dished out. Just about every category was evened out throughout the second including shots, power play opportunities, and penalty minutes.
Even at one aside entering the third period, the tensions could not have been higher. A physical but clean third period was had between the two teams. The Rays were able to find the dagger with a Kevin O’Keefe shot from the blue line to give Corpus a 2-1 lead.
It was tight down the stretch, but Damon Beaver and the IceRays stood tall to skate to a 2-1 victory. Beaver stopped 38 of 39 Amarillo shots to earn a win on Saturday night.
The Rays are back at it again next weekend at home against Shreveport. Join us at American Bank Center by getting tickets on Ticketmaster or at the ABC’s box office. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 both nights.
