BLAINE, MINNESOTA –Corpus Christi failed to score a goal for the second time this season as the Minnesota Wilderness shutout the IceRays 2-0 with goals from Dominik Tiffels and Brett Heikkila inside the Schwan Super Rinks on Friday night.
The penalty-kill hurt the IceRays on the first Wilderness goal as a deflected pass by Dan Litchke landed right onto the stick of an awaiting Dominik Tiffels who beat Ben Myers on the blocker side at 9:22 of the opening frame to take a 1-0 lead. The other assist was credited to Billy Exell.
In the second period the IceRays could not figure out Wilderness goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo even though he had some help from the crossbar. Eric Purcell moved into the left wing circle and rifled a wrist shot off the bar and was unable to tie the game at one goal apiece. Later in the period Martin Hojbjerg was denied by Kaskisuo on a back-door pass. After two periods the IceRays trailed in shots 17-13.
In the third period Corpus Christi could not catch a break as Kaskisuo denied numerous chances for the ‘Rays to get on the scoreboard. A bouncing puck a 11:37 of the third period was blasted by Myers off the stick of Brett Heikkila with the lone assist to Richard Buri and the Wilderness moved out to a 2-0 lead.
Ben Myers stopped 23 of 25 shots in the loss.
Corpus Christi finishes out the NAHL Showcase tomorrow morning against Port Huron. Puck drops early at 9:30AM, coverage begins at 9:15AM with the IceRays Pregame Show on SportsJuice.com, ustream.com, and fasthockey.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), and the team’s Youtube channel ICERAYS TV (@goicerays)
