Bucks outlast Rayz 5-4 in OT

December 22, 2006 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release


The Corpus Christi Rayz showed grit and character Friday night, battling back time after time against the Laredo Bucks. However, after overcoming several deficits to tie the game and force overtime, the Bucks won their second straight game over the Rayz in OT. Adam Rivet scored at 4:01 of the extra session to give the Bucks a 5-4 OT win. The Rayz earned a point to improve to 29 on the season, and remained in second place in the Southeast Division and Southern Conference. Corpus Christi now has points in six of their last seven games. The Rayz return home on Saturday night to face the Odessa Jackalopes for a Holiday Celebration, presented by Champion Honda. It's also Caller-Times Family Day where kids 12 and under get free tickets with the purchase of a regular priced ticket.

After the first two shifts, it seemed like the Rayz were in for a long night. Laredo controlled the tempo right off the opening faceoff and took a lead less than a minute into the hockey game. Ladislav Kouba scored with a delayed penalty coming against the Rayz 56 seconds into the contest to give the Bucks a 1-0 advantage. Just 16 seconds later at 1:12 Jeff Bes scored from the slot to give the Bucks a two-goal lead. However the Rayz came back with two quick strikes of their own. At 12:15 the Rayz got on the board when Ryan Carter redirected a Nick Lindberg pass from just outside the top of the crease. The Rayz then tied the game 1:06 later when Adam Powell intercepted a pass from Laredo netminder Kevin Reiter. With Reiter trying to scramble back into position, Powell fired home a low shot from the right circle than got through traffic and into the net to tie the score 2-2. The Bucks outshot the Rayz 13-8 in the wild first period.

In the second period, the Bucks again came out strong and tallied early. Jeff Genovy muscled a shot through Zelenewich at 1:35 that just squeaked past the netminder and rolled into the net to give the Bucks a 3-2 lead. However the Rayz answered again. Derrick McIver scored an unassisted shorthanded goal at 11:03 to tie the score. McIver notched his tenth of the year after he created a turnover, rushed into the zone, cut at the top of the left circle and then snapped a shot through Reiter. The Rayz nearly scored again shorthanded after Jeff Bes was stoned by a brilliant save from Zelenewich with time winding down in the period. The puck was cleared out of the Rayz zone just as Steve Pelletier was coming out of the box. The Rayz blue liner then rushed down the ice for a shorthanded breakaway, but was stoned by Reither just before time expired. The Bucks outshot the Rayz 14-11 in the period.

The Bucks took another lead with an early third period goal. At 4:51 on the power play, Bobby Chaumont beat Zelenewich from the bottom of the slot to give the Bucks a 4-3 lead. As they did all night, the Rayz responded. Jason Baird rushed the puck from the right wing boards towards the net and wristed a shot high right corner to tie the game and send it to overtime. The Bucks outshot the Rayz 12-7 in the third period. In overtime, the Bucks won the game when Rivet scored with 59.2 seconds in the extra session.

The Rayz had their two game winning streak snapped but have points in six of their last seven games. The Rayz moved to 12-10-5 on the year. Laredo won their second straight over the Rayz in overtime. The Bucks improved to 15-8-2 with the win. Zelenewich made 36 saves - many of them highlight reel - on 41 shots. He steadied his record at 4-4-2. Reiter earned the win 22 saves on 26 shots, and improving to 2-1. The Rayz went 0-2 on the power play. Laredo went 1-4, snapping a 27 straight streak of killed penalties by the Rayz. The Bucks outhsot the Rayz 41-26.

The Rayz return home on Saturday to face the Odessa Jackalopes on Saturday, December 23rd for a Holiday Celebration, presented by Champion Honda. It's also Caller-Times Family Day where kids 12 and under get free tickets with the purchase of a regular priced ticket. Bring out the whole family. Santa Claus will make an appearance at the game. For more information, please call the Rayz at (361) 814-PUCK.



Central Hockey League Stories from December 22, 2006


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