ICERAYS EDGED BY TITANS IN SHOOTOUT, 4-3

Sep 24, 2016

BLAINE, MINN. – The Corpus Christi IceRays (2-3-0-2) went back and forth with the New Jersey Titans (3-2-1-0) but fell in a shootout, 4-3, on Saturday morning from Schwan Super Rink 1 on the final day of the 2016 NAHL Showcase. The IceRays closed the four-game, four-day tournament with a 1-1-0-2 record with four points.

The Titans jumped ahead first at 7:01 of the opening period when forward Jordan Kaplan was found on the back door during their first power play of the game, moving ahead 1-0. The IceRays outpaced the Titans in shots 9-5 during the opening frame, but play picked up quickly in the second period.

Momentum shifted with two quick IceRays goals just before midway through the frame. At 8:38, IceRays forward Nathan Bryer found a loose puck and slotted it through the waiting netminder to tie the game, 1-1. Just 11 seconds later, forward Josh Tripp was set up by forward Brad Power during a two-on-one break for a one-time shot on the right side to take the lead, 2-1. The two goals clock in as the second-fastest two-goal effort in junior franchise history. The Titans came back in similar fashion at 16:57 and 17:43 of the second period when forward Victor Ostling slotted two-straight goals: one as a jam in the crease and the other on an odd-man rush to take back the lead, 3-2. Just before the period horn at 19:52, IceRays forward David Baskerville blocked a shot that fell right to forward Jayson DiMizio, who scored on a breakaway to tie the game, 3-3.

The third period and overtime remained fast-paced but scoreless, so the game was decided in a shootout. Power scored in the second round to take a 1-0 edge into the final shooters, but Ostling answered in the third round to send the game to a sudden victory round, where Titans forward Nick Boyagian tallied the final goal, giving the Titans the 4-3 shootout win.

Titans goaltender Harrison Feeney (3-1-0) picked up the win, halting 28 of 31 shots. IceRays netminder Conor Klaers (0-0-1), playing in his NAHL debut in a fill-in role for the day, turned away 27 of 30 shots faced. The IceRays continue their 10-game opening road trip on Thursday, Oct. 6 at 6:05 p.m. against the Topeka RoadRunners from Landon Arena. Coverage begins at 5:50 p.m. on SportsRadio Corpus Christi (KSIX 1230AM) and FASTHockey.com.

The IceRays open the 2016-17 home schedule on Friday, Oct. 14 against the Odessa Jackalopes at the American Bank Center. Purchase your 2016-17 season ticket membership ahead of opening night! Reserve yours by contacting the IceRays Front Office at 361-814-PUCK. In addition, stay connected with the IceRays on Facebook (/CorpusChristiIceRays), Twitter (@goicerays), YouTube (IceRays TV), Instagram (CorpusChristiIceRays), Vine (@goicerays), and Periscope (@goicerays).