Bats squeak past Rayz in OT

Published on January 20, 2005 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release


The Austin Ice Bats rode special teams to an overtime victory Thursday night as they came from behind to beat the Rayz 5-4 in the first half of a home and home series. The two clubs are now tied for first place in the Southeast Division with 38 points, and will meet up Friday Night in Corpus Christi.

Corpus Christi was looking for a fast start in this game, and that's exactly what they got. It took the Rayz just 34 seconds to take a 1-0 lead in the game. Dave Gilmore stuffed a rebound past Bats goaltender, Matt Barnes after Barnes stopped Ken McKay's shot from the right circle to score the opening goal of the game. It was the first time in five games that the Rayz got the opening goal of the game. Austin tied the game at one at the 16:49 mark of the first when Tom Kotsopoulos ripped a one-time from the right circle past Brent Zelenewich for his sixth goal of the season. Austin later had a goal that was disallowed when John McNabb took a loose puck that had been underneath Zelenewich, but squirted free, and jammed it into the net. However, referee Mark Hulshof lost sight of the puck and blew the whistle before the goal.

In the second period, Austin did get their first lead of the game. At 16:09 of the period on a four on four skating situation, Jeff Alcombrack fluttered a shot from the right point that sailed past Zelenewich who was screened by Jared Dumba skating in front of him. The Rayz, however, responded quickly with two goal in half a minute before the period expired. Ken McKay got his 14th goal on the power play after the puck deflected to him. The Blair Stayzer got his second goal of the season on a beautiful individual effort, streaming down the right side and backhanding the puck over Barnes, recapturing the lead for the Rayz.

In the third period, the teams traded goals 1:16 apart to take the score to 4-3 Rayz. First the Bats tied it up at three when John McNabb scored on the power play from the point. Then, on the power play, Derrick McIver recaptured the lead for the Rayz. The Rayz went on the power play late in the game, but it was the Austin Ice Bats who took advantage. John McNabb got his second goal of the game shorthanded when he hustled down the right wing side to a loose puck and traveled across the top of the crease, sliding the puck past Zelenewich. It was McNabb's third shorthanded goal against the Rayz in their last two meetings and the league high tenth given up by the Rayz this season.

The two teams went to overtime tied at four when Jason Baird was called for slashing at the 3:03 mark of the extra frame. With the man advantage, Austin completed the comeback and Kris Knoblauch scored with 22 seconds remaining to give the Bats the 5-4 OT victory and pull them even in the standings with the Rayz. The Rayz went 2 for 7 on the power play and the Bats went 2 for 5.

The two teams will play again Friday night at the American Bank Center in a revisited battle for first place. Tickets to the game are available at the American Bank Center Box Office and All Ticketmaster locations. For more information, contact the Rayz at (361)814-PUCK.

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Central Hockey League Stories from January 20, 2005


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