The Corpus Christi IceRays fell 7-3 to the Oklahoma Warriors on Friday night at the American Bank Center.
The IceRays picked up goals from Oleksii Dakhnovskyi, Stepan Kuznetsov and Michael Casey.
The game was a story of three different periods. Oklahoma started the scoring just 2:36 into the first period with a goal from Therien Thiesing. After Hunter Jones made it 2-0 for Oklahoma 11:27 into the game, Dakhnovskyi answered less than two minutes later with assists from Hans Martin Ulvebne and Michael Casey to cut the lead to 2-1.
Two of the IceRays’ three penalties came towards the end of the first period. Oklahoma’s Drew Sutton scored on the Powerplay 15:41 into the first period for the first of five unanswered Warriors goals.
Oklahoma scored their second Powerplay goal just 22 seconds into the second period with a goal from Joey Delgreco. Goalie Stefan Carney replaced starter Thomas Kiesewetter in net with the score 4-1. The Warriors offensive outburst continued with three more goals in the next seven minutes to extend their lead to 7-1. Carney finished with 22 saves on 25 shots on goal, while Kiesewetter picked up 12 saves on 16 shots on goal.
Kuznetsov answered for the IceRays at the end of the second period by intercepting the puck in the defensive zone, making a defender miss in the neutral zone, and then scoring on a wrist shot in the offensive zone.
After 18 shots on goal combined for the IceRays in the first two periods, Corpus Christi outshot Oklahoma 21-12 in the third period, and outscored the Warriors 1-0 in the final frame ++with Casey’s goal 14:03 into the period assisted by Anthony Cafarelli and Peteris Purmalis.
The IceRays and Warriors meet again Saturday night at American Bank Center, with puck drop at 7:05 PM. Doors open at 6:05 PM. It’s Superhero Night at the IceRays game. Fans are encouraged to wear their favorite Superhero outfit to the game.
