WALKER HERDS MUSTANGS WITH TWO LATE GOALS IN 4-3 VICTORY

Jan 14, 2011

 

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX – Beau Walker scored with 15.7 seconds remaining in the third period as the Corpus Christi IceRays erased a two-goal deficit after two periods of play and stunned the New Mexico Mustangs, 4-3, in front of 3,945 fans at the American Bank Center on Saturday night.  With the win Corpus Christi improves to 15-20-2 (32 points) overall while the Mustangs drop to 9-23-3 (21 points) with the loss.  It marked the second time this season that the IceRays won a game when trailing after two periods of play.

Walker tallied two goals on the evening, both in the final ten minutes of the third period.  Justin Lutsch scored his first goal for Corpus Christi as he celebrated his 19th birthday.

Corpus Christi was outshot in the opening period, but they scored the lone goal of the period at the 7:36 mark.  After Jordan Miller redirected a bouncing puck into the high slot, Petr Stloukal (3) snapped a hard wrist-shot past the glove of Marco Wieser to give the Rays a 1-0 lead.  New Mexico responded with multiple offensive opportunities, but Pheonix Copley was strong in net, making 12 saves.  The Mustangs outshot the IceRays, 12-6.

Patrick Anderson scored a natural hat trick in the second period as the Mustangs surged ahead, 3-1 after two periods of play.  Anderson tied the game at the 12:53 mark, put the ‘Stangs in front at the 19:00 mark, and capped his hat trick 36 seconds later for his 8th, 9th, and 10th goals of the season.  New Mexico controlled the shot total, 16-9.

The IceRays dominated the third period of action, leading to the eventual heroics of Walker.  The West Richland, WA native tallied a power-play goal, his 11th of the season, 11:20 into the period, which cut the deficit to 3-2.  Jason Souva and Brandon Marshall assisted on the goal.  Corpus Christi tied the game, 3-3, at the 15:56 mark when Lutsch (1) slid a low shot past Wieser.  With offensive pressure mounting and time running out, Walker (12) collected a deflected pass from Josh Obregon and wristed past Wieser’s glove hand with 15.7 seconds showing on the clock.  It turned out to be the game-winner as the IceRays hung on and swept the Mustangs by a final score of 4-3.  Final shots were 31-28 in favor of New Mexico.  Corpus Christi went 1-8 on the power play while the Mustangs were 0-4.

THREE STARS OF THE GAME:

  1. Beau Walker (2-0-2, GWG)
  2. Petr Stloukal (1-1-2)
  3. Patrick Anderson (3-0-3)

The IceRays are on the road for three games next weekend.  Friday and Saturday the team will take on the New Mexico Mustangs at 8:30 PM CT while Sunday’s game will feature the Amarillo Bulls at 6:00 PM.  Fans can catch the pre-game show on the flagship home of the IceRays, News/Talk 1440 KEYS, www.1440KEYS.com, with the voice of the IceRays, Ryan Holt, beginning 15 minutes prior to every game.  The games will be available online through the league’s pay-per-view website, www.fasthockey.com.  For more information call the Rays’ front office at 361.814.PUCK (7825) or crash the net at www.goicerays.com.

 

                    “THE NEW ICERAYS…TOMORROW’S STARS”