After falling in game one of the season, the IceRays looked to bounce back on Thursday against the Minot Minotauros.
Corpus Christi came out of the gates with a different energy level than they did yesterday. The IceRays would find themselves in the penalty box three times in the first period. Two of the times, they would not serve the entire penalty as Minot scored two power play goals in the first period.
In the second period, Minot would double their lead, this time with two even strength goals.
When the third period came around, Corpus Christi seemed to have came out of the locker room a different team. This would go to show on the scoreboard as well with Nathan Butler and Braden Rourke both scoring their first goals as members of the IceRays. Minot would add an empty net goal and go on to win 5-2.
Following the game, head coach Mike Lysyj said, “Obviously we have to stay out of the box, but we fought hard until the end.”
Lysyj would add that rest and putting the games from Wednesday and Thursday in the “rear view mirror” are needed before Friday’s game against Bismarck.
Friday’s matchup against Bismarck is scheduled to start at 8:15. That game and all IceRays games can be streamed live on HockeyTV.