The IceRays hit the road over the weekend as they faced off against the New Mexico Ice Wolves. The two-game set would be the home opener for New Mexico in Albuquerque and the first matchups of the year between the two teams.
On Friday night, New Mexico jumped all over the IceRays in shots on goal. This would continue throughout the game, but goaltender Damon Beaver kept the IceRays fighting stopping every puck that came his way in the first and second period. In the third period, the Ice Wolves would find the scoreboard twice early in the period. It would only take fifteen seconds after the second New Mexico goal for the IceRays to strike back thanks to a Grady Friedman goal. A couple of minutes later, Danny Nekhamiyev would score his second as an IceRay to even the game at two a side. The game headed into overtime, but New Mexico scored on their 43rd shot of the evening to give themselves the 3-2 win.
Night two of the series would be just as close going down the stretch. However, this time it would be New Mexico chasing the IceRays. Corpus got the scoring started early as Oliver Stumpel buried his team leading fifth of the season just under two minutes into the contest. New Mexico would even the game at one later in the first period. In the second, the IceRays would score the lone goal of the period thanks to a Cam Crolley goal. Crolley’s goal was to return the team lead in goals back to a tie between Stumpel and Crolley. The game would remain in the hands of the IceRays until under five minutes to go in the third period when New Mexico would even it up at two. The teams headed to sudden death once again when the Ice Wolves buried the game winner.
Although the IceRays got swept, Corpus earned two hard fought points in the weekend. These two points have the team exit the weekend in the same spot they entered, tied for fifth.
The IceRays have no time to waste, though, as they will be back on the road this weekend for the first ever matchup against El Paso. Puck drop on both Friday and Saturday is scheduled for 8 pm central time.