Morelli's hat trick not enough in 4-3 loss
February 1, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rocky Mountain Rage News Release
Corpus Christi, Texas - Despite a hat trick from David Morelli, the Rocky Mountain Rage were unable to hold a 3-2 lead late in the third period as the Corpus Christi Rayz came from behind to win, 4-3, at the American Bank Center.
The Rage dominated the first 15 minutes of the game, out-shooting the Rayz, 11-1, at one point and taking a 1-0 lead when Morelli scored his ninth of the year at 2:19. But once Corpus Christi drew even on its second shot of the game off the stick of Niko Tuomi at 16:10, the tables turned. The Rayz took a 2-1 lead less than two minutes later when Chris Shaffer scored at 17:51 and had several other chances to add to their lead before the buzzer sounded.
Rocky Mountain rebounded in the middle frame to yet again control play but only one of the team's 16 shots on goal found the back of the net. Much like the Rage's first goal, Morelli crashed the net to finish off a two-on-one with Colt King at 3:15 of the second, and the clubs headed to the third dead-locked at two.
Morelli, who became the ninth Rocky Mountain player to cross the 10-goal threshold tonight, notched the hat trick 13:34 into the third when he surprised Rayz goaltender Jason Tapp with a wrist shot from a poor angle along the goal line. King was also in on the play and recorded his third assist of the evening.
Corpus Christi, losers of five straight coming into the game, did not fold the tents and came storming back. Adam Hogg bull-dogged his way out front from the end boards to tie the game at 15:21. Joe Blaznek then out-waited Rage netminder Scott Reid as he drifted across the slot and wristed home the game-winner with only 1:32 remaining on the clock. Rocky Mountain had pressure in the offensive zone with Reid pulled in the waning moments but never found the equalizer as the club failed to pick up a victory for the third straight game.
With the loss, the Rage dropped to 28-8-4 with 60 points. The club does retain its seven-point lead atop the Northwest Division over the Colorado Eagles, who also let a third-period lead slip away in a 5-4 loss to the Oklahoma City Blazers.
Rocky Mountain's seven-game, five-city road trip continues tomorrow in Rio Grande Valley finally concluding in Tulsa on Feb. 5. The Rage return home to Broomfield Event Center on Feb. 8 and 9 against the Arizona Sundogs and Odessa Jackalopes.
Single-game tickets for the remainder of the 2007-08 regular season are available with prices ranging from $18 - $43 per seat (parking included). Fans can purchase tickets at Broomfield Event Center's box office or through Ticketmaster by logging-on to www.Ticketmaster.com, calling (303) 830-TIXS, or visiting any Ticketmaster retail outlet.
For group ticket information, please call the Rage at (303) 439-RAGE or visit www.rockymountainrage.com.
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Central Hockey League Stories from February 1, 2008
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- Andy Franck made 28 saves for the Hounds - Youngstown SteelHounds
- Sellan tallies 2 as Sundogs fall to Gorillas 5-3 - Arizona Sundogs
- RiverKings Pink At The Rink to benefit Susan G. Komen - Mississippi RiverKings
- Carroll Wins Second Straight Monthly Award - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Rage's Rycroft Named Sher-wood/CHL Player of the Month - Rocky Mountain Rage
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- Rush Head Coach will host "Hockey in Heels" Fundraiser Event Wednesday, February 6 - Rapid City Rush
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