CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS – Forward Drake Lindsay notched his first game-winning goal as the Corpus Christi IceRays (6-10-3) came away with a 4-3 overtime win over the Lone Star Brahmas (11-1-4) on Thursday morning at the American Bank Center. The IceRays snap a five-game losing skid in the first of the three-game set in front of 3,950 local students.
In his return to the lineup, IceRays forward Jimmy O’Brien scored the first short-handed goal for the home side this season on a breakaway to take a 1-0 lead at 10:25 of the first period. The Brahmas answered back at 14:27 to tie the game, 1-1, when forward Martin Mellberg raced the length of the ice and scored from the right circle.
The Brahmas took control of a majority of the second period, but it was the IceRays who laid claim to the scoreline. At 2:15, forward Brad Power slotted a rebound in the top of the net for his third goal in as many games, giving the IceRays a 2-1 lead. Once again, the Brahmas found an answer coming at 9:34 with forward Alex Berardinelli scoring short-side on a breakout to knot up, 2-2. The pendulum swung back in the home side’s favor at 14:07 when IceRays defenseman Simon Butala ripped home a shot from the blue line for his first-career junior goal, handing the IceRays a 3-2 lead.
Just like the precedent already set, Lone Star found a way to battle back to equalize, 3-3, coming at 14:19 with forward Peter Kessel’s shot from the right circle being the netminder far side in the third period. With no more scoring, the contest trailed into overtime for the second-straight game. At 4:00, IceRays forward Drake Lindsay tucked in the game-winner on a loose puck in front of the net to give the IceRays a 4-3 overtime win. IceRays netminder Graham Hunt (3-5-2) also broke a five-game skid, saving 28 of 31 shots, while Brahmas goaltender Conor O’Brien (5-0-3) picked up the overtime loss, stopping 33 of 37 shots.
The IceRays return to their normal start time of 7:11 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 20 to continue their series with the Lone Star Brahmas from the American Bank Center. Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on SportsJuice.com, FASTHockey.com, and 87.7FM in-arena. Tickets are available at www.Ticketmaster.com, the American Bank Center Box Office, or by calling 361-814-PUCK.
Contact the IceRays Front Office at 361-814-PUCK or go to www.goicerays.com for details on season tickets along with pricing and seating. In addition, stay connected with the IceRays on Facebook (/CorpusChristiIceRays), Twitter (@goicerays), YouTube (IceRays TV), Instagram (CorpusChristiIceRays), Vine (@goicerays), and Periscope (@goicerays).
