STOLARZ STOPS 43 SHOTS IN SHOOTOUT LOSS

Mar 2, 2012

ODESSA, TX – Anthony Stolarz stopped 43 of 44 shots, and Eric Purcell scored his team leading 18th goal of the year, however, Odessa scooped up the extra point picking up the shootout win 2-1 over the Corpus Christi IceRays on Saturday night inside the Ector County Coliseum. 

Just like the night before, Corpus Christi started the scoring 17:10 into the first period.  Off a face-off, Connor Kingsbury took a shot from the right point that was stopped by the left leg pad of Odessa goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.  The rebound went right to a waiting Eric Purcell who buried his team leading 18th goal of the year to give Corpus Christi a 1-0 advantage after 20 minutes of play.

The IceRays had two breakaway opportunities in the second and third period that they could not convert on.  Odessa then tied the game on a rebound that was put home by Taylor Portner to tie the game at one with 9:27 left to go in the game. 

After both sides could not decide a winner through regulation and overtime, a shootout followed.  In the fourth round Tyler Cayemberg gave Odessa a 1-0 shootout lead and Connor Hellebuyck stopped AJ Jarosz in the fifth round for the win, and the extra point.

IceRays goaltender Anthony Stolarz stopped 43 of 44 shots in the loss.

The IceRays are on the road next weekend in New Mexico.  Puck drops at 8:05PM, coverage begins at 7:50PM with the IceRays Pregame Show on ESPN Radio 1440AM. 

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)

“THE NEW ICERAYS…TOMORROW’S STARS”