CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS – The Corpus Christi IceRays (24-13-5) tied the game late to force a shootout and came away with the 3-2 (3-2) win over the Lone Star Brahmas (27-10-5) on Friday night from the American Bank Center. The IceRays win their second-straight shootout and extend their winning streak to five games.
The Brahmas tallied the only goal of a back-and-forth first period when forward Storm Wahlrab stuffed home a second-chance play to the left of IceRays netminder Andrew Lindgren at 11:12 to move ahead, 1-1, with assists coming to defenseman Caleb Thompson and forward Pat Egan.
The momentum shifting continued into the second period, and the IceRays were able to tally first. At 6:34, forward Nathan Bryer slipped a wrist shot by the short right side of Brahmas netminder T.J. Black to tie the game, 1-1. Forwards Nic LaBurn and Brad LeLievre each claimed an assist. The Brahmas would answer at 11:56 off a snipe from the right point by defenseman Hayden Hanson to push the Brahmas back ahead, 2-1. Defenseman Anton Santesson claimed the lone assist.
Controversy in the third period sent Brahmas team-leading point producer Sebastian Vidmar off for the game with a slew foot early on. With the five-minute major penalty, the IceRays had a chance to tie the game but were shut down by Lone Star. With Lindgren pulled late in the game, a loose puck on the right side of the net allowed IceRays forward Tanner Lomsnes to jab home the game-tying goal, 2-2, at 19:00 to send the game into overtime.
After no winner was found in the extra period, the contest went to a shootout. IceRays forward Frankie Melton earned the first goal in the second round but was immediately answered by forward Roman Uchyn. In the fifth round, IceRays forward Brad LeLievre scored to force a must-score scenario, and the Brahmas did thanks to Santesson. The next round, IceRays forward Ryan Cusin netted his first shootout tally, and Lindgren make a key stop to give the IceRays the 3-2 win and a 3-2 scoreline in the shootout. Each netminder saved 16 of 18 shots, with Lindgren (17-8-3) grabbing the win and Black (16-6-3) picking up the shootout loss.
The IceRays finish their weekend series against the Brahmas on Saturday, February 7 at 7:05 p.m. from the American Bank Center on Stars & Stripes Night, presented by Whataburger and First Title Company. Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. 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), YouTube (IceRays TV), Instagram (CorpusChristiIceRays), and Vine (@goicerays).
