ICERAYS FINISH COMEBACK IN 3-2 OVERTIME THRILLER OVER BULLS

Dec 11, 2014

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS – The Corpus Christi IceRays (15-10-4) came from a 2-0 deficit to force overtime and win 3-2 against the Amarillo Bulls (9-15-5) from the American Bank Center with one second remaining in the period. The goal is the latest the IceRays have scored during a regular season game in franchise history and improves the team’s home winning streak to eight games.

The Bulls were the first to knot a goal at 13:52 of the first period. Following a Taylor Karel interference call, Bulls forward Will Harrison snapped the first tally to give Amarillo the 1-0 lead. Compared to the previous night, the shots stayed low in the first period, evening 8-8. However, IceRays forward Joe Chitwood took a penalty late in the period and were forced to fight it off to start the second frame.

They weren’t able to hold off the Bulls in that opening minute and thirty-three seconds, with forward Joey DiBenedetto poking the Bulls ahead 2-0. The IceRays would answer back at 6:50 in the second period when forward Wes Michaud fed a blind feed in the slot to forward Ryan Cusin to bring the deficit to one, 2-1. Defenseman Keenan Spillum claimed his first NAHL point on the goal with an assist. The IceRays pushed one final time at the end of the frame but were unable to capitalize before the period horn.

That didn’t stop the IceRays from tying the game early in the third period when Cusin found forward Connor Bucsis streaking to the left wing side and rifling past Bulls netminder Jacob Weatherly to tie the game, 2-2. Both sides battled through the rest of the period, but nobody could find a winner.

The IceRays pounded the offensive zone throughout the overtime frame, and with one second remaining before a possible shootout, defenseman Anthony Cortese wristed a shot top shelf over Weatherly’s right shoulder to seal their third overtime win, 3-2. IceRays goaltender Andrew Lindgren (11-6-2) earned the win, stopping 26 of 28 shots, while Weatherly (4-6-3) picked up the overtime loss, turning aside 33 of 36 shots.

The IceRays will take two weeks off and resume action on Saturday, December 27 against the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees from the American Bank Center in the final game of the 2014 calendar year. Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. with Countdown to Faceoff on SportsJuice.com, FASTHockey.com, and 87.7 FM in-arena. Call the front office at 361-814-7825 for season and individual ticket details or check out the pricing and seating chart online at www.goicerays.com. Stay current with the latest team news by visiting www.goicerays.com. In addition, stay connected with the IceRays on Facebook (/CorpusChristiIceRays), Twitter (@goicerays), and (IceRays TV).