Oberg Nets Shootout Winner, Pilots Knock off IceRays 4-3
September 15, 2019 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Topeka Pilots News Release
The Topeka Pilots and Corpus Christi IceRays needed more than regulation time again on Saturday, after the two teams played to overtime on Friday.
But after falling 4-3 in overtime Friday, Topeka finished Saturday's contest in the win column.
Settling it in a shootout, Pilots forward Alexander Oberg netted the game-winning goal, while Pilots goaltender Tyler Bost stopped all three shootout shots he faced, as the Pilots defeated the IceRays 4-3 at Stormont Vail Events Center.
"It's huge to get two points tonight and three points overall for the series," Pilots head coach Simon Watson said. "It's never an easy game against a division opponent, so we knew it'd be a battle."
On a 3-on-1 break, Corpus Christi opened the scoring at 8:50 of the first period. Forward Shane Bull netted his fourth goal of the season on the play, after tallying a hat trick in Friday's contest.
Forward Noah Bull, Shane Bull's brother, had the primary assist on the play, feeding the puck to the slot for a shot that beat Bost five-hole.
"The starts haven't been our best point the last two games, and we know that," Watson said. "We got better and better as the game went on, but I know we'd like to settle in earlier."
Bost, native of Mahwah, N.J., had a strong remainder of the first, stopping the remaining 11 shots faced.
The IceRays outshot the Pilots 12-7 in the first period. The best chance for Topeka (1-0-1) came off the stick of forward Kaiden Scott, who narrowly missed tying the game late in the period.
Forward Shawn Kennedy then made a nice individual effort to set up a quality scoring chance early in the second, but Forman stood to the task to keep it 1-0.
Forward Luke Suter, who had an assist on Friday, netted his first goal of the season to even the score at 7:46 of the second. After a shot from forward Dominic Sandoval dropped in front of Forman, Suter poked it home to tie the game.
Forward Connor Zilisch gave the Pilots a 2-1 lead at 13:10 of the second, deflecting a shot from forward Austin McCarthy past Forman.
The game remained 2-1 late into the frame, but Corpus Christi evened it up at 18:40, with forward Evan Carroll taking a slick past from forward Kyle Schroeder and beating Bost from the slot.
With the score evened at two, the all-decisive third period proved to be tense.
Defenseman Jordan Gonzalez netted his second goal of the season at 1:44, ripping a shot past Forman's glove for a 3-2 Pilots lead.
Just over two minutes later, the IceRays fired right back with a powerplay goal, making it 3-3, as forward Ryan Coughlin had the tally at 3:40.
With the game deadlocked at three, neither team found the game-winner in regulation.
Topeka now prepares for a one-game series at 7:05 p.m. Monday against the Amarillo Bulls. Doors will open early at 5:30 p.m. Monday. $2 soda, $2 beer, and $2 popcorn will be available all night.
North American Hockey League Stories from September 15, 2019
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- Oberg Nets Shootout Winner, Pilots Knock off IceRays 4-3 - Topeka Pilots
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