CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS – The Corpus Christi IceRays (21-15-1-3) recorded 45 shots and scored the only goals of the final two periods in a 5-2 win over the Odessa Jackalopes (16-21-4-0) on Friday night at the American Bank Center to begin their four-week, eight-game home stand.
The IceRays came out of the gates quickly at 1:31 of the first period when forward Larry Jungwirth took away the puck in the offensive end and created his own goal to nudge ahead 1-0. The Jackalopes answered at 6:12 when forward Ludwig Stenlund forced a turnover and found forward Chase Thudium open in the slot, tying the game at 1-1. Less than a minute later at 7:04, IceRays forward Cole Filler found forward Jayson DiMizio from behind the net for a one-time shot to take back the one-goal lead, 2-1. Before the period horn, Stenlund fired a one-time slap shot from the right circle on the power play at 19:37, sending the two sides into the intermission tied at 2-2.
Special teams became the story for the rest of the game beginning in the second period with the IceRays gaining four power play opportunities. They would cash in on the first of the period at 8:45 thanks to forward Nathan Bryer, who chopped a rebound over the netminder’s left shoulder to edge back ahead, 3-2. Scoring ceased until the third period, and at 12:24, Filler was returned the favor by getting his own pass from behind the Odessa net to cash in on, doubling the lead to 4-2. Just over two minutes later, Bryer scored his second power play goal of the night on another rebound chance down low, and the IceRays held firm in their 5-2 win.
IceRays goaltender Camden Burggrabe (8-4-1) earned his fourth-straight win, stopping 27 of 29 shots faced, while Jackalopes netminder Jonny Hogue (9-11-1) picked up the loss, halting 40 of 45 shots. The IceRays finish the two-game weekend against the Jackalopes on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 7:05 p.m. from the American Bank Center for Hockey & Heels, benefitting the Women’s Shelter of South Texas. Tickets are available at the American Bank Center Box Office and Ticketmaster.com. Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on SportsJuice.com, Hockey TV and 87.7FM.
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