Ice Bats rally to gain point in shootout
March 11, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Austin Ice Bats News Release
Forward Mike Tucciarone's third period hat trick led the Ice Bats back from a three-goal deficit, and gained the Bats a valuable standings point in a 4-3 shootout loss Sunday at Rio Grande Valley. The comeback keeps the Ice Bats within two points of the Killer Bees and the final playoff spot in the Central Hockey League Southern Conference.
The Killer Bees scored twice in a fiery first period, as the teams played up to the game's importance. Forward Rob Voltera rebounded Mike Looby's shot off the crossbar at 8:08, and David Masse added a goal from the high slot at 12:16. The Ice Bats, already short two skaters with injuries to defenseman Adam Davis and forward Mike Possin, lost two more as a result of first period fights. Forward Chris Murphy received a game misconduct penalty early in the first, and Marty Doyle earned a ten-minute misconduct inside the final minute of the period.
The Ice Bats (20-24-14, 54 points) continually missed on open scoring chances, and the Killer Bees (24-26-8, 55 points) padded their lead on Masse's breakaway goal 6:31 into the second period. But Tucciarone scored consecutive power play goals early in the third to start the comeback. He slammed in Henry Kuster's centering pass from the slot at 1:54, then two minutes later, scored from the left circle off an Aaron Wilson pass.
Tucciarone brought the Ice Bats even with 1:18 remaining in regulation, redirecting Aaron Davis' centering feed between the pads of Rio goalie Jeremy Symington.
After a scoreless overtime, the Killer Bees scored on three of four shootout chances, while John McNabb netted Austin's only goal in four tries on Symington. The team's 14th overtime or shootout loss ties a CHL record.
The Ice Bats return to play with a pair of games against Southern Conference leading Laredo next week, Friday in Laredo, and next Sunday at Chaparral Ice Arena.
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Central Hockey League Stories from March 11, 2007
- Ice Bats rally to gain point in shootout - Austin Ice Bats
- Wall Earns First Shutout in Sundogs History with 1-0 Win - Arizona Sundogs
- Rayz snap Bucks streak with 2-1 win - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Laredo Falls 2-1 To Corpus Christi, Bucks Franchise Record 11 Game Winning Streak Ends - Laredo Bucks
- Killer Bees Game Notes - Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
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