ICERAYS EDGE OUT BULLS FOR 3-2 HOME WIN

Jan 30, 2016

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS – The Corpus Christi IceRays (17-17-4) placed one goal in each period and held off the Amarillo Bulls (8-27-4) to earn a 3-2 win on Saturday night at the American Bank Center.

After a delayed start and a slow opening to the contest, the Bulls found success on the game’s first power play. At 5:22, Bulls forward George Mika redirected a shot coming from the blue line while standing in front of the net to give the road side the 1-0 lead. After a 5-on-3 power play was wiped away, the IceRays converted on the remaining 5-on-4 time. IceRays forward Nathan Bryer fed Brendan Miller behind the Bulls net then fed blindly to Brad LeLievre at 11:09 /for a one-timer down low to tie the game, 1-1.

The IceRays found more time in the offensive zone and production as the second period wore on and found their go-ahead goal within the final minute of the frame. Once again, the IceRays held a man-advantage, and forward Drake Lindsay ripped a shot from the right circle after opening a lane at 19:09 to push ahead, 2-1.

The third period became much more chippy, and with the second of two big penalties against the Bulls came the game’s lone fight. After that skirmish, play slowed down and the luck of an odd shot pushed the IceRays up by two. Forward Adam Canepa wheeled behind the Bulls net and took a shot from behind the goal line extended that snuck short side into the net to double the lead, 3-1, at 14:07. The Bulls came back with a 6-on-4 power play at 18:43 to draw within one, 3-2, thanks to a shot from defenseman Tyler Hall that touched an IceRays player and Bulls forward Joey Molinaro on its way into the net. Despite the Bulls pulling their netminder again, the IceRays held off the push back to claim the win.

IceRays goaltender Dryden McKay (7-7-1) earned the win, stopping 20 of 22 shots, while Bulls netminder Anton Martinsson (8-22-4) picked up the loss, saving 26 of 29 shots. The IceRays finish out their weekend set against the Amarillo Bulls on Sunday, Jan. 31 at 2:30 p.m. from the American Bank Center. Tickets are available at www.Ticketmaster.com and the American Bank Center Box Office. Coverage begins at 2:15 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).