Rayz beat Jacks, 4-3

Published on March 2, 2007 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release


The Corpus Christi Rayz and the Odessa Jackalopes kicked off the final month of the regular season with their final meeting of the season on Friday Night, and the Rayz hope the result is a foreshadowing of the stretch run of the season. Corpus Christi forced overtime in the final second of regulation and beat the Jacks in a shooutout to earn their second straight win over the Jackalopes and first in Odessa since New Year's Day in 2005 with a 4-3 victory. Justin Quenneville scored two goals and added two assists to lead the Rayz to the win. Corpus Christi improved to 29-19-6 on the year and stayed 11 points behind the Bucks for first place. The Rayz remained in second place in the Southeast Division and the Southern Conference and reduced their magic number to nine points until they clinch a playoff spot. Corpus Christi will continue the weekend with two big home games Saturday Night and Sunday afternoon. There are only five home games left to see your Rayz this season.

Both teams didn't take long to start the scoring as the clubs traded early power play goals in the first period. Rayz defenseman Geno Parrish gave the Rayz a 1-0 lead with a slapshot from the blue line 1:34 into the hockey game. The Jacks answered two and a half minutes later at 4:03 when Emery Olauson scored his 12th goal of the season from just outside the right edge of the crease. The teams remained scoreless for the rest of the frame. Odessa outshot Corpus Christi 13-8 in the period.

In the second period, another early goal gave the Jackalopes their first lead of the game. After the Rayz turned the puck over in their own zone, Olauson scored from the left circle 25 seconds into the frame to take a 2-1 advantage. The Rayz tied the score at 2-2 when Justin Quenneville tallied his team-high 26th goal at 9:26. The Rayz had several chances to take back the lead later in the frame, but could not convert past Derek Dolson. Odessa outshot the Corpus Christi 14-9 in the period.

The Jacks recaptured the lead on a third period power play goal when Alex Dunn scored from the bottom of the slot at 15:09. With time running out on the Rayz, Corpus Christi pulled their goaltender and tied the game when Matt Turek redirected a shot past Dolson with less than one second remaining on the clock. After a scoreless overtime, the Rayz dominated the shootout when Quenneville and Turek scored for Corpus Christi and Ron Vogel stopped all four Jacks shooters to lock up the dramatic Rayz win.

Vogel turned aside 35 of 38 shots and held the Jacks 0-4 in the shootout to get the win, improving to 19-11-4. Derek Dolson took the shootout loss, making 29 saves and falling to 7-10-2. The Jacks outshot the Rayz 38-33. The Rayz went 1-6 on the power play and the Jacks went 2-7.

The Corpus Christi Rayz return home to the American Bank Center on Saturday and Sunday to host two more big, late-season games against division rivals. On Saturday Night, the Rayz will host the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees at 7:05pm on Harley Davidson Men's Night, presented by Classic Rock 104.5FM and Time Warner Cable. At the game Coca-Cola presents Rockstar the Drink. Then on Sunday afternoon, the Rayz biggest rivals the Laredo Bucks return at 3:05pm for Caller-Times Family Day. There are only five home games left in the Rayz regular season. Great seats are available for both games at any Ticketmaster outlet or the American Bank Center. For more information, please call the Rayz at (361) 814-PUCK.

On Saturday Night, the Rayz will square-off against the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees for the first time in a month since the Rayz scored six-third period goals en route to a 7-3 win in Rio Grande Valley. At the end of that game, the Bees sent their fighters onto the ice to attack the Rayz number one line. Saturday's game will be the first meeting since then and the bad blood appears to have boiled to new heights in the Corpus Christi - Rio Grande Valley rivalry. Both teams are in a heated playoff race and tensions should be high in the rematch. On Sunday, it's another battle of the top two teams in the Southern Conference when the Rayz and Bucks collide. Corpus Christi has beaten Laredo three of the last four games. On Caller-Time Family Day, kids 12 and under will receive FREE tickets to the game with the purchase of a regular priced adult ticket. Plus, after the game the Rayz will take the ice with their fans in a free skating session with the public.

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 2, 2007


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