ICERAYS WEEKLY – MAR. 13, 2017

Mar 13, 2017

The IceRays Weekly is a weekly recap and preview of IceRays news, games and more. The IceRays Weekly will be released every Monday during the 2016-17 season.

 

LAST WEEK…

Thursday, March 9: IceRays 2, Wichita Falls Wildcats 3 (SO)
Shots: IceRays 43, Wildcats 34
PP: IceRays 0-for-6, Wildcats 0-for-4

The Corpus Christi IceRays (26-15-3-4) extended their point streak but fell 3-2 to the Wichita Falls Wildcats (28-17-3-2) in the fifth round of a shootout on Thursday night from the Kay Yeager Coliseum.

Wildcats defenseman Jonathan Waring (7:01 1st) lifted a shot from the right point that went through traffic to open the scoring at 1-0 before IceRays forward Brad Power (10:54 1st) leveled the score, 1-1, with a shot from the high slot that bounced off a defenseman. The Wildcats gained back the lead at 2-1 when forward Ricky Carballo (15:06 1st) helped finish off a faceoff win with a push forward. The IceRays found the game-tying goal in the third period, and forward Brendan Miller (SH, 12:09 3rd) beat both a Wildcats defenseman and goaltender to a sliding puck in the Wildcats’ end and slipped it into the open net. After no scoring in the overtime period and four rounds of a shootout, Wildcats forward Jeff Skinner (5th round) finished the job in the fifth round to take the 3-2 win and the full two points.

Wildcats goaltender Evan Moyse (14-8-3) stopped 41 of 43 shots in the win, while IceRays netminder Tomáš Vomáčka (15-11-4) halted 31 of 33 shots in the shootout loss.

Friday, March 10: IceRays 3, Wichita Falls Wildcats 4
Shots: IceRays 34, Wildcats 34
PP: IceRays 0-for-3, Wildcats 0-for-5

The Corpus Christi IceRays (26-16-3-4) made a late charge but couldn’t complete the comeback in a 4-3 regulation loss to the Wichita Falls Wildcats (29-16-3-2) on Friday night from the Kay Yeager Coliseum.

IceRays forward Matt Novo (6:36 1st) scored the game’s first goal on an open goal before the Wildcats scored four-straight tallies. Wildcats forward Matt Hanewall (9:30 1st) started the run with a re-direction in front of the net followed by a blueline shot from defenseman Ryan Orgel (19:08 1st) and a jam play from forward Nick Rosa (6:57 2nd) to take a 3-1 lead. IceRays forward Griffin Loughran (12:21 2nd) failed on a penalty shot attempt, and soon after Wildcats forward Ilya Skvortsov (13:43 2nd) found the back of the net to take a 4-1 lead. IceRays forward Brendan Miller (SH, 17:44 2nd) started the charge back with a shorthanded goal followed by a one-time tapper from forward Josh Tripp (3:48 3rd) to draw within one, 4-3. The IceRays couldn’t finish the run, falling by the same scoreline.

Wildcats goaltender Evan Moyse (15-8-3) stopped 31 of 34 shots in the win. IceRays netminder Camden Burggrabe (9-5-2) halted 23 of 27 shots in 33:43 minutes during the loss, and Tomáš Vomáčka turned away all seven shots in 25:43 minutes of relief.

Saturday, March 11: IceRays 2, Wichita Falls Wildcats 1
Shots: IceRays 37, Wildcats 37
PP: IceRays 0-for-3, Wildcats 0-for-6

The Corpus Christi IceRays (27-16-3-4) earned their first comeback victory this season with a 2-1 win over the Wichita Falls Wildcats (29-17-3-2) on Saturday night from the Kay Yeager Coliseum.

Wildcats forward Matt Hanewall (3:09 1st) re-directed a shot from outside the crease to give the home side the early 1-0 lead. Scoring ceased until the third period following a swift first frame and a penalty-ridden second period, and IceRays forward Mason Krueger (4:59 3rd) placed in a rebound to tie the game, 1-1. Less than two minutes later, IceRays forward David Baskerville (6:34 3rd) jammed home a chance at the left post to take a 2-1 lead, and the road side would hold on for the comeback win.

IceRays netminder Tomáš Vomáčka (16-11-4) halted 36 of 37 shots in the win, while Wildcats goaltender Jared Dempsey (13-7-1) stopped 35 of 37 shots in the loss.

 


THIS WEEK…

Wednesday, March 15 vs. Shreveport Mudbugs – 7:05 p.m.
Friday, March 17 @ Odessa Jackalopes – 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, March 18 @ Odessa Jackalopes – 7:05 p.m.

The Corpus Christi IceRays begin a three-in-four week starting at home on Wednesday against the Shreveport Mudbugs from the American Bank Center followed by the final weekend of the season series against the Odessa Jackalopes at the Ector County Coliseum.

The IceRays have taken care of the season series against the Mudbugs in their first junior meetings, owning a 7-1-1 record with just three games remaining including the final home game of the season set. The IceRays have won five-straight meetings and earned points in seven of their last eight dating back to October 29. They are 4-1-0-0 at home this season against the Mudbugs and overall 28-26-6 since the start of the professional franchise series in the WPHL.

The IceRays and Jackalopes have gone back and forth this season with the Jacks winning the first three meetings followed by three-straight wins by the IceRays, and all six games have finished in regulation with two to go. The IceRays broke the one-goal streak started by the first four games with their last two wins and now own a 38-20-4 record since the 2011-12 season along with a 17-12-3 record at the Ector County Coliseum.

The Shreveport Mudbugs earned wins in two of three games in their final weekend with the Amarillo Bulls with a 4-42 win on Thursday, a 2-0 win on Friday night and a 2-1 loss on Saturday night at the Amarillo Civic Center. Four Mudbugs earned multi-point weekends in the low-scoring set with two multi-goal weekends from forward Cameron Cook (two goals) and defenseman Croix Evingson. Forwards Georgui Feduolov (two assists) and Steven Mather (goal, assist) added two-point weekends. Goaltender John Roberts recorded his second shutout of the season in a 37-save effort on Friday night, while Dylan Lubbesmeyer halted 61 of 66 shots between Thursday’s win and Saturday’s loss.

The Odessa Jackalopes also split their weekend with the Lone Star Brahmas with a 4-3 overtime win on Friday and a 3-1 loss on Saturday at the NYTEX Sports Centre. The Jackalopes were led by team-leading point scorer Chase Thudium, who recorded four points (1+3=4) on the weekend with three in Friday’s win, followed by forward Ludwig Stenlund’s two-goal effort including the game-winner on Friday. Defenseman Christian Hausinger also earned a multi-point weekend. Goaltender Jonny Hogue played both games for the Jackalopes, halting 50 of 56 shots on the weekend.

Promotions:
The IceRays will honor local student achievement both in and out of the classroom with Grades For Blades Night on Wednesday. The IceRays have donated tickets to area schools as a reward for the hard work done by students in their school communities. Also, it’s a Winning Weekday, meaning fans can purchase buy-one, get-one tickets only at the American Bank Center Box Office. Plus, there will be an added Post-Game Skate, presented by Braselton Homes.

South Division Outlook:
The Lone Star Brahmas are just two points away from clinching the South Division crown after a three-point weekend against the Odessa Jackalopes, who are clinging on to their playoff lives. The Shreveport Mudbugs, despite a loss on Saturday, clinched a playoff spot with an Odessa loss during their two-of-three win week with the Amarillo Bulls, who were officially eliminated from playoff contention. The Wichita Falls Wildcats picked up wins in two of three games against the Corpus Christi IceRays, and both teams have a chance to clinch a playoff spot this week. The Topeka RoadRunners remained idle once again.

TEAM GP W L OTL SOL PTS PCT L10
x-LONE STAR BRAHMAS 55 40 13 2 0 82 .745 5-4-1-0
x-SHREVEPORT MUDBUGS 50 30 16 2 2 64 .640 7-2-1-0
WICHITA FALLS WILDCATS 51 29 17 3 2 63 .618 6-4-0-0
CORPUS CHRISTI ICERAYS 50 27 16 3 4 61 .610 6-1-2-1
ODESSA JACKALOPES 50 19 25 5 1 44 .440 3-5-1-1
AMARILLO BULLS 51 17 26 7 1 42 .412 4-6-0-0
TOPEKA ROADRUNNERS 50 16 29 4 1 37 .370 3-5-2-0

 

ICERAYS BITS…

The IceRays have the opportunity to clinch a playoff spot this week thanks to Saturday’s results. The IceRays’ magic number now stands at three with a four-point swing on Saturday in Wichita Falls. A win on Wednesday night reduces the number to just one, but even with a loss Wednesday the IceRays need just one win this weekend against Odessa to seal the top-four in the South Division for the 2017 Robertson Cup Playoffs. For the Jackalopes to get in, they would need to win at minimum nine of their last 10 games and could allow one IceRays win, but their lone loss cannot come against the IceRays.

IceRays forward David Baskerville has become a consistent point producer over the last few weeks, which continued in the three-game week. The Buffalo, N.Y. native is on a six-game point streak, recording two goals and four assists for six points during that span, which stands just one game shy of the season-high set by both Brad Power and Larry Jungwirth. Both of his game-winning goals came in one-goal games during the final game of a three-in-three set. He now owns seven goals and 18 assists for 25 points through 49 games while leading the team in blocked shots.

#REDRISING