SHREVEPORT, La – The Corpus Christi IceRays (1-0) earned their first postseason shutout victory in junior franchise history, silencing the Shreveport Mudbugs (0-1) with a 2-0 win on Friday night from George’s Pond at Hirsch Coliseum to take a 1-0 series lead.
The Mudbugs held serve for the majority of the first period, getting the assistance of an early 5-on-3 power play within the first four minutes of the contest. The IceRays were able to kill off both first period penalties and broke through on a lead rush in the opening half of the frame. At 9:21, IceRays forward Griffin Loughran looked for a cross ice pass on a 2-on-1 rush that bounced off a defenseman and into the net for the series’ first goal and a 1-0 IceRays lead. The IceRays gained their legs after that point despite being outshot 12-5.
Despite three power play opportunities for the IceRays, the second period went scoreless but picked up the intensity crossing into the third period. The shooting started to subside in the third period though both teams created multiple opportunities to either edge ahead or tie the game. As tension built in the final portions and the Mudbugs pulled their goaltender, IceRays forward Brad Power took a puck from the left point and carried it into the empty net at 18:23 to seal the 2-0 win and earn the 1-0 series lead.
IceRays netminder Tomáš Vomáčka (1-0) earned his second total shutout of the year and first of the season, turning aside all 31 shots faced, while Mudbugs goaltender Dylan Lubbesmeyer (0-1) picked up the loss, halting 21 of 22 shots. The IceRays continue the 2017 Robertson Cup Playoffs on Saturday, Apr. 15 at 7:11 p.m. for Game 2 of the South Division Semifinals against the Shreveport Mudbugs from George’s Pond at Hirsch Coliseum. Coverage begins at 6:55 p.m. on SportsRadio Corpus Christi (KSIX 1230AM) and Hockey TV.
The IceRays will host two playoff games on Wednesday, Apr. 19 and, if necessary, Thursday, Apr. 20 at 7:05 p.m. from the American Bank Center. In addition, stay connected with the IceRays on Facebook (/CorpusChristiIceRays), Twitter (@goicerays), YouTube (IceRays TV), Instagram (CorpusChristiIceRays), Snapchat (@goicerays), and Periscope (@goicerays).
