CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Led by a three-goal effort in the second period, including two from Matt Guerra, the Lone Star Brahmas (38-9-0-1, 77 pts.) defeated the Corpus Christi IceRays (15-28-3-4, 37 pts.) 4-2 Friday night at American Bank Center.
Ryan Coughlin and Aaron Hamel scored for the IceRays. Corpus Christi’s Cal Sandquist made 23 saves.
Coughlin opened the scoring with 27.9 seconds remaining in the first period, receiving a pass from Stephen Kyrkostas and beating Lone Star netminder Cayden Bailey on the blocker side. The goal was Coughlin’s team-leading 15th of the season, as well as team-leading 30th point.
The Brahmas tied the game at 6:51 of the second period with Guerra’s first of the night, then just 53 seconds later, Evan Googins gave the Brahmas a lead they would not relinquish. Guerra made it 3-1 Lone Star with a power play goal at the 12:55 mark.
Hamel brought the game back to a one-goal difference 27 seconds into the third period with a power play goal from Evan Carroll and Mac Wiseman.
With less than nine minutes left, Brahmas defenseman Matthew Rickard skated down the right wing and scored to send the game to a 4-2 final.
The Brahmas outshot the IceRays by a 27-19 margin.
The IceRays and Brahmas complete their 12-game season series Saturday night at the American Bank Center with puck drop set for 7:05 p.m. CT. The game is the IceRays’ Heart Night with the American Heart Association, including a post-game throwback jersey auction, as well as a silent auction on the arena concourse. Fans are also invited to join the team on the ice for the post-game Skate with the IceRays presented by Braselton Homes.
IceRays tickets are on sale at the American Bank Center Box Office and all Ticketmaster outlets. For more information on the IceRays, or to purchase tickets, visit goicerays.com or call 361-814-PUCK (7825). IceRays games, home and away, are carried live on Sports Radio Corpus Christi 1230 AM-95.1 FM-96.1 FM (KSIX-AM/FM), mixlr.com/icerays and HockeyTV. Stay connected with the IceRays on Facebook (/CorpusChristiIceRays), Twitter (@goicerays) and Instagram (CorpusChristiIceRays).