Killer Bees Comeback to Beat IceRays 5-4 in OT

December 5, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release


A first period flurry of goals wasn't enough for the Corpus Christi IceRays on Friday night, as they fell 5-4 in overtime after a comeback effort from the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees. The IceRays led throughout most of the night, and never trailed until the game ended, but couldn't hold off a spirited Killer Bees attack and fell to 7-8-2 on the year. Jesse Bennefield was the hero with his second goal of the game in overtime to complete the comeback. Corpus Christi will cap off the week on the road Saturday night in Odessa. The Rays return to the American Bank Center next Thursday for another Z-95 College Night. For more information, please contact the IceRays at 361-814-PUCK.

The IceRays exploded onto the scoreboard to open the game. Corpus Christi tallied three times in 2:14 to take an early commanding lead. At 4:27 Mike Zbriger scored a power play goal on a turnaround shot from the left circle to make it 1-0. The IceRays then made it 2-0 when Chris Richards shot trickled through Christian Boucher at 5:37. The Bees pulle Boucher and inserted Wylie Rogers, but the IceRays never slowed. Corpus Christi extended their lead to 3-0 when Nick Bachand converted some beautiful one-touch passing at 6:41 for another IceRays power play goal. Rio Grande Valley got on the board when Jesse Bennefield scored on a rebound at 14:40. The Bees outshot the IceRays 10-8 in the period.

To start the middle frame, the IceRays replaced netminder Dustin Traylen with Kris Tebbs. The IceRays added to their lead with another power play goal in the second period when Ryan Bennett tallied on a wrist shot from the right circle at 4:24 to make it 4-1. The Bees, however, climbed back into the game with a pair of late goals in the period from Kurtis Dulle. Dulle scored at 15:27 and again at 17:40 to quickly make it 4-3. The Bees outshot the IceRays 19-8 in the period.

Travis Banga forced overtime with a goal from the slot at 17:06 of the third period and set the stage for Bennefield's overtime game-winner at 2:48 of the extra session.

Kris Tebbs (5-4-2) took the OT loss making 27 saves on 31 shots while Traylen made nine saves on ten shots and did not figure into the decision. Rogers (6-4-1) earned the win with 20 saves on 22 shots. Boucher made three saves on five shots and didn't figure into the decision. The IceRays power play went 3-7 while the Killer Bees went 1-12 on the man advantage. The IceRays were outshot by the Bees 41-27.



Central Hockey League Stories from December 5, 2008


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