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IceRays clinch playoff spot in thrilling 3-2 SO win

March 21, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release


The biggest regular season game in Corpus Christi IceRays history turned into one of the most exciting in their 11 years. John Adams' goal in the seventh round of a shootout Saturday night lifted the IceRays past the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs and sent Corpus Christi into the playoffs. The Rays finished the season with a record to 28-30-6, and clinched the final playoff spot as the #5 seed in the Southern Conference. Corpus Christi will begin their best-of-three opening round on Monday night at 7:35pm visiting Rio Grande Valley and return home for Game Two on Wednesday 7:05pm at the American Bank Center. Tickets are available. For more information on the IceRays, please call the IceRays at 361.814.PUCK or online at www.ccrayz.com.

The Mudbugs got on the board early with the only goal of the first period. Tyrel Lucas cut to the net early in the first and had his shot deflect over the head of Rays goaltender Kris Tebbs, bounce behind him and roll into the net. The goal came at 4:56 of the frame can capped the opening period scoring. The Bugs outshot the Rays 8-7 through the first.

The IceRays weathered a storm early in the second, getting outshot 8-1 to start the frame, but then turned things around. Corpus Christi got on the board when Justin Quenneville snuck behind the defense and deked Ken Carroll to tie the score at 7:35. The IceRays then had an opportunity to take the lead on a two-minute, two-man advantage but could not find the go-ahead goal. Later in the frame, at even strength, the IceRays took their first lead of the game when Mark Tobin knocked a puck out of mid air on a rebound to make the score 2-1 Corpus Christi at 17:59. The Rays outshot the Bugs 14-13 in the period and took a one-goal lead into the final frame.

The Bugs outshot the IceRays 14-0 in the third, but Corpus Christi held strong until the final minute. After a Rays tripping penalty late, the Bugs pulled their goaltender and tied the game on Dale Lupul's shot from the right circle with 37.7 seconds remaining. In overtime, Tebbs made an incredible, acrobatic save after an awkward hop off the boards left Lucas with a wide open net. Tebbs dove from behind the net and deflected the puck away with his stick to keep the game going. In a shootout, Jereme Tendler scored as the final shooter in the fifth round to extend the shootout, and then Adams sent the IceRays into the playoffs with the goal. Tebbs stopped six of seven shooters.

Kris Tebbs (24-20-5) earned the win making 36 saves on 38 shots. Ken Carroll (21-8-4) took the OT loss making 22 saves on 24 shots. The IceRays power play went 0-4 and the Bugs went 1-3 on the man advantage. The IceRays were outshot by the Bugs 38-25.

The IceRays will begin the 2009 CHL Playoffs on Monday night at Rio Grande Valley for Game One of the best-of-three southern Conference Quarterfinals. For more information, please call the IceRays at 361.814.PUCK.

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