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IceRays Fall to Bucks 6-3

January 16, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release


Special teams were the difference on Friday night as the Corpus Christi IceRays fell to the Laredo Bucks 6-3 at the American Bank Center. The Bucks scored their final four goals on special teams and their penalty kill was perfect, stopping ten IceRays chances in the victory. Remarkably, the IceRays loss was the fourth straight when outshooting and outchancing their opponent and dropped their record to 13-18-4 as they remained in fourth place in the Southeast Division and sixth place in the Southern Conference, six points back of the Arizona Sundogs. The IceRays will have a chance to close that gap on Saturday night when they host the Sundogs at 7:45pm before heading on a four-game road trip. For more information, please call the IceRays at 361-814-PUCK or visit them online at www.ccrayz.com.

The Bucks scored the opening two goals of the game in the first period to take the first lead of the game. At 11:09 Alex Goupil scored his 16th goal of the year on a one-timer from the right circle. It was Goupil's seventh goal in as many games versus the IceRays this season. The Bucks later made it 2-0 when Matt Miller scored his fifth goal of the season on a redirection in front of Kris Tebbs that trickled through his pads and past him at 17:55. The Bucks outshot the IceRays 14-7 in the period.

In the second period the IceRays started to mount consistent scoring chances. The Rays outshot the Bucks 10-0 to start the period and had six straight power play opportunities to open the frame. Corpus Christi couldn't convert on the power play, but did score even strength when Matt Smyth scored for the second consecutive week after just one goal in 130 previous games in his career. Smyth's tally came ona rebound from the left circle at 7:05. After Ryan Gibb withstood an onslaught of chances by the Rays, the Bucks reclaimed the two-goal lead when Jeff Bes scored on a four-on-three power play at 16:52. The IceRays quickly responded on a broken play at 18:38. Ryan Bennett partially fanned on a turnaround shot from the bottom of the left circle but it deflected in off of Bucks defenseman Adam Rivet's skates and into the net for an IceRays goals. The IceRays outshot the Bucks 22-8 in the frame, but trailed by a goal heading into the final period.

In the third period the Bucks opened up on a power play and once again went up by two goals when Goupil tallied his second of the game to make it 4-2 Bucks. Bes assisted on the goal for his 900th career point. The IceRays had three consecutive power plays following the Bucks goal, but couldn't convert against the top PK unit in the league. However, right after the penalties expired Mike Zbriger scored from the right circle at 14:48 to bring the Rays back within a goal. The Bucks, though, got a late PP chance and scored at 17:38 when Rick Kozak scored to make it 5-3 Bucks. Laredo added a late, shorthanded goal at 19:28 when Bobby Russell scored.

Kris Tebbs (9-10-3) took the loss making 28 saves on 33 shots. Ryan Gibb (8-2-2) earned the win making 40 saves on 43 shots. The IceRays power play went 0-10 while the Bucks went 3-9 on the man advantage. The IceRays outshot the Bucks 43-34.

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