CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS – The Corpus Christi IceRays (10-9-1-2) controlled momentum against the Amarillo Bulls (6-11-6-0) and pushed ahead to a 4-1 win on Friday night from the American Bank Center.
The IceRays came out of the gates with a high amount of pressure and control over the Bulls and were rewarded later in the first period. At 12:40, IceRays forward Cole Filler was fed from the Bulls’ blue line by winger Brendan Miller and lifted the puck top shelf on a semi-breakaway for his second-straight game against Amarillo with the team’s opening goal to give the IceRays a 1-0 lead. The IceRays overtook the Bulls 13-8 in shots in the first frame.
Filler wasn’t done heading into the second period. At 7:31, Filler found a pass from defenseman Andrew Froese to lead a 2-on-1 rush that he cashed in on to double the home side’s lead to 2-0. While the Bulls gained some momentum midway through the middle frame, the IceRays found another odd-man rush off a scrum on the right side boards. This time, IceRays forward Cole Gammer slotted a shot along the ice at 18:44 to triple the lead, 3-0.
Odd-man rushes continued to allow the IceRays to spread the lead in the third period and did just that at 9:09 when center David Thomson sniped a shot from the right circle on the third-straight odd-man rush up the right wing to widen the lead, 4-0. The Bulls found an answer at 10:00 of the third period when forward Kosta Likourezos found a seam at the left circle on the power play to break the shutout bid and answer, 4-1. The IceRays shut down the Bulls for the rest of the game and took the 4-1 home win.
IceRays netminder Camden Burggrabe (4-1-1) earned the win, turning aside 29 of 30 shots, while Bulls goaltender Kyle Madore (1-3-4) was awarded the loss, stopping 34 of 38 shots. The IceRays finish up their Thanksgiving Weekend set against the Bulls on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 7:05 p.m. from the American Bank Center. Tickets are available at www.Ticketmaster.com and the American Bank Center Box Office.
Season memberships for the 2016-17 season are still available with full and partial season plans. 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).