The IceRays entered Friday night in a tie with New Mexico in the standings. Tied for fifth place in the standings, the two teams would compete in a highly tested affair on the scoreboard.
In the first period, Corpus Christi would be plagued by the sin bin as ten minutes of minor penalties were assessed to the IceRays. Minor penalties weren’t the only type that were dished out to both teams as Colby Seitz was given a game misconduct and one was given to Will Howard. Although the IceRays were outshot 13-4 in the first frame, the two teams would exit the ice after the first scoreless.
The second period would continue along the same ratio for shots on goal, but the same result in the score column with Damon Beaver holding strong on the first 24 shots of the night.
After a scoreless first two periods, the last twenty of regulation proved to be different in the scoring column with each team striking twice. New Mexico grabbed the first two of the game with one of the two being a power play goal. The IceRays would strike back only fifteen seconds after the first New Mexico goal as Grady Friedman would bury a rebound from a Nathan Butler shot. Just under three minutes later, Danny Nekhamiyev would net his second as an IceRay scoring from a very sharp angle to get it past Beni Halasz.
The two teams would remain tied through the remainder of regulation earning both teams at least one point. The second point ended up going the way of New Mexico as they buried the game winner just over a minute and a half into overtime.
The IceRays were outshot 43 to 13 in the game this evening.
The IceRays will have a chance to win the series point wise with a win tomorrow in regulation. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 local time in Albuquerque, 8:30 back home.
