
Mudbugs edge Rayz 4-3
January 6, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release
The Corpus Christi Rayz and Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs played a back and forth game Saturday Night at the CenturyTel Center in Louisiana. In the end, Chirs Abbot's goal midway through the third was enough to lead the Bugs to a 4-3 win over Corpus Christi, despite a spirited Rayz comeback effort. The Rayz remained in second place in the Southeast Division and Southern Confernce, despite the loss. The Rayz trail the idle Laredo Bucks by seven points. Corpus Christi will now travel to Memphis to battle the RiverKings Sunday afternoon in the week's finale.
The Mudbugs got the goal scoring started when Forbes MacPherson beat Brent Zelenewich on a wraparound shot to give Bossier-Shreveport a 1-0 lead at 4:30. The Rayz answered at 8:48 when Jason Baird was set up at the top of the left circle and drilled a one-timer past John DeCaro to tie the score at one. The Rayz then took the lead at 2-1 when Geno Parrish tallied on a power play from the high slot at 18:48. Parrish scored his second power play goal in as many games since returning from IR to give the Rayz the lead. The Mudbugs then took two ill advised penalties away from the play late in the opening frame the give the Rayz a two man advantage to start the second period. The Rayz lead 2-1 after the opening frame and were outshot 12-11.
The Rayz put six shots on their two-man advantage by DeCaro made several big saves to keep the score 2-1. The Bugs then scored twice in the second period to take a one-goal lead into the third. Chris Gustafson scored from the blue line on a power play at 3:41 to tie the game at 2-2. Dan Wildfong got the Bugs back on top with his goal at 17:03. Wildfong found space alone from the high slot and MacPherson found him for a one-time which was lasered high glove side past Zelenewich. The Bugs outshot the Rayz 12-10 in the frame.
In the third period the Rayz fought back to tie the game on a beautiful goal Derrick McIver started a rush and then capped it off with a goal from the right circle at 6:18 to tie the score 3-3. However, the Bugs immediately came back to recapture the lead. With Zelenewich's stick lost earlier in the shift Chris Abbot deflected a puck through the pads of the rayz netminder at 8:07 to give the Bugs a 4-3 lead. The advantage would be enough for the Bugs as DeCaro stopped a Rayz furious late attempt to get back into the contest.
The loss for the Rayz dropped their record to 15-13-5. Zelenewich made 32 saves on 35 shots, falling to 5-6-2. The Rayz lost back to back regulation games on the road for the first time this season. The Bugs improved to 17-9-5, and now have gone eleven games without losing in regulation. DeCaro made 32 saves on 35 shots, and improved to 7-5-3. The Rayz were outshot 36-35. The Rayz went 1-7 on the power play and the Mudbugs went 1-3.
• Discuss this story on the Central Hockey League message board...
Central Hockey League Stories from January 6, 2007
- Scorpions fall at home to their rivals from Arizona - New Mexico Scorpions
- Rage Comeback Falls Short - Rocky Mountain Rage
- Eagles Extend Record with 5-2 Win Over Rocky Mountain - Colorado Eagles
- Sundogs Skate Past Scorpions in 2-1 Victory - Arizona Sundogs
- Ice Bats Remain Perfect Against Rio Grande Valley - Austin Ice Bats
- RiverKings win crazy 7-6 game at Tulsa - Mississippi RiverKings
- Hounds Bark Back but lose in Shootout Against Apes - Youngstown SteelHounds
- Mudbugs edge Rayz 4-3 - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Mudbugs Hold Off Rayz 4-3 - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Oilers preview - Tulsa Oilers
- Killer Bees Game Notes - Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
- RiverKings @ Tulsa Preview - Mississippi RiverKings
- Jeff Christian Named CHL Sher-Wood Player of the Month - Youngstown SteelHounds
- Rocky Mountain Takes Point from Sundogs in OT - Rocky Mountain Rage
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Corpus Christi IceRays Stories
- Don'T Forget About Justin Quenneville's Retirement Party Tonight
- IceRays Host Street Hockey Challenge
- IceRays Season Ends With 2-0 Loss At Texas
- IceRays Fall 5-4 In Overtime To Brahmas, Trail Series 1-0
- IceRays Beat Killer Bees 6-3 In Regular Season Finale

