AMARILLO, TEXAS – The Corpus Christi IceRays (16-14-1-3) pulled ahead with three goals in the third period to take a 5-3 win over the Amarillo Bulls (13-18-7-1) on Friday night at the Amarillo Civic Center. With the win, the IceRays claim the season series for the second time in junior franchise history.
The Bulls tacked on the game’s first goal at 6:50 of the first period on a rebound down low to take a 1-0 lead. Amarillo poured 20 shots on to the IceRays’ seven shots in the opening frame as the scoring picked up in the second period.
In the middle frame, the IceRays cashed in first when forward Griffin Loughran knocked in a rebound created by forward Larry Jungwirth at 6:48 to tie the game, 1-1. Less than one minute later at 7:37, Bulls forward Nestor Plarsmo snuck a shot through the IceRays netminder off a face-off draw to take back the lead, 2-1. Late in the second, IceRays forward Mason Krueger took a wrist shot from the left circle during a 2-on-1 break that beat the blocker hand of the goaltender at 18:32 to tie the game at 2-2.
The IceRays picked up momentum early in the third on the power play when forward Brad Power took a hard slap shot that blasted through the Bulls defense at 3:29 to grab their first lead of the night, 3-2. The road side doubled the lead, 4-2, at 10:50 when forward Cole Filler led a counter rush with a shot from the high slot. The Bulls came back on the power play to draw within one, 4-3, thanks to a Luke Edgerton shot through traffic at 14:30. With the Bulls goalie pulled, IceRays forward Nathan Bryer slotted the empty net goal to seal the 5-3 victory.
IceRays netminder Tomáš Vomáčka (11-10-2) earned his fifth-straight win, halting 47 of 50 shots, while Bulls goaltender Brandon Bussi (8-5-3) picked up the loss, stopping 23 of 27 shots. The IceRays close their season series with the Bulls on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 7:05 p.m. from the Amarillo Civic Center. Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on SportsRadio Corpus Christi (KSIX 1230AM) and Hockey TV.
The IceRays return home to the American Bank Center on Friday, Feb. 10 at 7:05 p.m. to begin a two-game weekend set against the Odessa Jackalopes. 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).