CORPUS CHRISTI, TX – The high scoring contest from Friday night carried over to Saturday at the American Bank Center that saw the Corpus Christi IceRays (17-5-2) come from behind to defeat the Oklahoma Warriors (9-13-5) by a final score of 8-4. Troy Pelton and Grayson Herhard scored twice in the victory for the IceRays eighth win on home ice this season which is two more wins than last seasons total.
It was a penalty filled 1st period for the IceRays who took a total of 33 penalty minutes including a Stepan Kuznetsov game misconduct for Cross-Checking that ended his night early. His penalty lead to a five minute power play for the Warriors who went 1-for-6 the previous night. Oklahoma threw plenty of rubber towards IceRays Goalie Nikita Volsky on the man advantage who spit aside everything he saw. The IceRays survived the entire five minute kill and the entire frame unscathed despite being outshot 14-7.
In a scoreless tie the IceRays and Warriors opened up the 2nd period trading chance after chance like they did on Friday night, but this time it was the Warriors who would strike first off the stick of Trent Burlison. The IceRays would get their chance to respond on a four-on-three power play after a Warriors penalty, but it saw Oklahoma double their lead on a shorthanded goal from Warriors Captain Sebastian Speck. With the bears still in hand on Teddy Bear Toss night, the IceRays would not be denied any longer. 30 seconds after the Oklahoma goal, IceRays forward Grayson Gerhard jammed home his second goal of the weekend to send the bears flying and make it a 2-1 game. Corpus Christi stayed on the hunt looking for an equalizer and it would come on the power play once again. Troy Pelton sent a pass intended for Pierson Sobush that deflected off a Warriors skate and past Warriors Goalie Kyle Jones to tie the game at two. The game would have to be decided in the final 20.
The 3rd period turned into Friday night’s 2nd period where the IceRays and Warriors combined for eight goals. Oklahoma scored first to make it 3-2, then Cooper Conway scored for the IceRays to tie the game at three two minutes later. Conway now has goals in three straight games and four in his last five. Oklahoma would respond just 30 seconds later thanks to Kyle Sorenson and restore a one goal lead. As you might be anticipating that would not last long either, Gerhard scored his second of the game to bring the game back to level at four. That began a barrage offensively for the IceRays who would not look back the rest of the way. Cody Kempf scored his second goal of the weekend to give the IceRays their first lead of the game only to be followed up Pelton’s goal to give the IceRays some insurance and a 6-4 lead. Corpus Christi would tack on a empty net goal by Raymond Perrault late and Jackson Wade’s first career goal in the NAHL to seal off an 8-4 victory.
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