SHREVEPORT, La. – The Corpus Christi IceRays (20-15-1-3) took control in the second period and third periods, helping them to a 5-3 win over the Shreveport Mudbugs (22-14-1-2) on Saturday night from George’s Pond at Hirsch Memorial Coliseum. The IceRays finish their three-week road trip with a 5-1-0-0 record.
For the second-straight night, the Mudbugs pressed early and often throughout the opening period, peppering 17 shots on the IceRays through 20 minutes. Their persistence was rewarded on their third power play of the period at 17:54 when defenseman Croix Evingson fired a slap shot from the blue line through traffic to take a 1-0 lead.
The IceRays took control of the second period and changed the landscape of the game from there. At 4:14, IceRays defenseman Logan Gestro led a two-on-one rush with forward Griffin Loughran and was fed for an open shot on a give-and-go for his first goal of the season and first in 47 games to tie the game, 1-1. Less than one minute later, IceRays forward Brad Power was fed on a semi-breakaway and wrapped a shot around the ranging netminder at 5:13 to take the lead at 2-1. Late in the period, the IceRays added one more goal at 17:14 when forward David Baskerville fed a contested Nathan Bryer from behind the net and stabbed in a one-time shot to double the lead, 3-1.
The Mudbugs found a burst of life in the first minute of the third period when forward Jay Feiwell beat by the IceRays defense just 45 seconds into the frame to come within one, 3-2. The IceRays regained control, and at 11:20 defenseman Cody Fleckenstein stashed in a shot from the blue line to double the lead again, 4-2. With the Mudbugs netminder pulled, IceRays forward David Thomson slotted the empty net goal at 16:58 to take a 5-2 lead. Mudbugs forward Jordan Fader scored at 19:32 to come back within two, but the IceRays took hold of a 5-3 win to complete the weekend sweep.
IceRays netminder Camden Burggrabe (7-4-1) earned the win, turning aside 37 of 40 shots, while Mudbugs goaltender Dylan Lubbesmeyer (11-5-2) picked up the loss, saving 25 of 29 shots. The IceRays return home to the American Bank Center on Friday, Feb. 10 at 7:05 p.m. to begin a two-game weekend set against the Odessa Jackalopes and kick-off a four-week home stand. Tickets are available at the American Bank Center Box Office and Ticketmaster.com. Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on SportsJuice.com, Hockey TV and 87.7FM.
Join the IceRays in their push for the 2017 Robertson Cup Playoffs and pick up an 8-game or reduced season ticket plan! Reserve yours by contacting the IceRays Front Office at 361-814-PUCK. In addition, stay connected with the IceRays on Facebook (/CorpusChristiIceRays), Twitter (@goicerays), YouTube (IceRays TV), Instagram (CorpusChristiIceRays), Snapchat (@goicerays), and Periscope (@goicerays).
