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NAHL Corpus Christi IceRays

IceRays Charge Back, Slip 4-3 to the Jackalopes

February 27, 2016 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release


CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS - The Corpus Christi IceRays (19-23-6) made an impressive comeback through the third period, but a late goal gave the Odessa Jackalopes (21-21-4) the 4-3 win on Saturday night at the American Bank Center.

After a stage-setting fight just 19 seconds into the contest, play settled down later in the frame when the Jackalopes struck first for the second-straight night. Forward Brennan Miller tapped in a rebound into an open goal mouth at 6:29 of the first period to take the 1-0 lead for the road side. After a disruption coming into the offensive end, Jackalopes forward Gray Marr found the puck on his stick and rifled a shot from the right circle to double the lead, 2-0, at 10:42.

The two sides were even in opportunities through the first half of the period until Jackalopes defenseman Cooper Zech found a seam through traffic and caught it by the IceRays netminder at 11:05 on the power play to triple the lead, 3-0. Not too long after, the IceRays came back. At 13:20, IceRays forward Carter Johnson looped a puck over the right shoulder of the netminder to get the home side on the board and come within two, 3-1. Just over two minutes later at 15:38, IceRays defenseman Cody Lichtenvoort fired in a lively rebound in the left circle to knock the lead to one, 3-2, heading toward the third period.

Early in the final frame, the IceRays completed the comeback to finally draw even with Odessa. Forward Jimmy O'Brien tucked home a rebound created by teammate Brendan Miller at 2:55 to tie the game, 3-3. As both teams battled late in the game, the Jackalopes found a gritty goal to take back the lead. Brennan Miller tucked in a loose puck for his second of the night at 17:23 and, despite the IceRays pulling their netminder, sealing the win, 4-3.

Jackalopes netminder Dean Shatzer (9-12-3) earned the win, stopping 45 of 48 shots, while IceRays goaltender Graham Hunt (10-14-4) picked up the loss, turning aside 36 of 39 shots. The IceRays and Jackalopes resume their four-game stretch on Friday, March 4 at 7:05 p.m. from the Ector County Coliseum. Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on SportsRadio Corpus Christi (KSIX 1230AM) & FASTHockey.com.

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