IceRays' Season Ends with 3-2 Loss to Wenatchee
April 4, 2015 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS - The Corpus Christi IceRays (0-1-1) made a late surge to keep their season alive but came one goal short as they fell 3-2 to the Wenatchee Wild (2-0-0) on Saturday night from the American Bank Center. The IceRays drop out of the South Division Quarterfinals 2-0 in the best-of-three series.
The Wild pressed again offensively starting in the opening period, and rebounds were the biggest factor in the scoreline. At 5:00, Wild forward Colin Burston took advantage of a loose rebound off to the right side of the IceRays net to jab home the game's first goal and a 1-0 Wild lead. Momentum continued for the Wild as the period wore on, and at 13:18 another second-chance play worked its way into the IceRays net, this time off of forward Mike Coyne to double the Wenatchee lead, 2-0.
The second frame was controlled almost entirely by the Wild. The road side put up 20 shots in the frame and held possession for most of that frame. It didn't stop the IceRays from ramping up their physicality with big hits from forwards Joe Chitwood, Ryan Cusin and Brad LeLievre as well as defenseman Pierre Crinon. The IceRays held off the Wild to keep the game within reach heading into the final period.
Strength brewed for the IceRays to kick off the third period, but at 12:38 Wild forward August Von Ungern-Sternberg flipped a shot from the left circle that tripled the Wenatchee lead, 3-0. With their season on the line and a power play, the IceRays pulled netminder Andrew Lindgren to cause a six-on-four advantage and the start of a comeback. At 17:36, IceRays defenseman Anthony Cortese blasted a shot from the right point that found forward Tanner Lomsnes down low for the quick goal to get on the board, 3-1. Less than a minute later at 18:50, Cortese took a shot from the same position that found a wayward stick of forward Connor Kelly for a redirection goal and a 3-2 deficit with the netminder pulled. Despite pressing in the final moments, the IceRays couldn't find an equalizer, falling 3-2.
Wild goaltender Michael Bullion (1-0-0) earned the win, stopping 22 of 24 shots, while Lindgren (0-1-1) picked up the loss, saving 45 of 48 shots.
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