Rayz close 2006 with 5-4 comeback win over Bugs

Published on January 1, 2007 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release


After Sunday night's game between the Corpus Christi Rayz and Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, it might be tough for Rayz fans to say goodbye to 2006. Ryan Carter had two goals, including the game winner in a shootout to lead the Rayz comeback effort as they beat the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs 5-4 at the American Bank Center. The Rayz finished the week with a 2-1 record and finished 2006 with a 14-12-5 record this season for 33 points - second most in the Southern Conference. Corpus Christi will begin the 2007 calendar year on Friday, January 5th when they host the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees.

The Corpus Christi Rayz had gone 11 games and seven weeks since their last road regulation loss heading into Saturday night's game at Odessa. A 3-1 loss to the Jackalopes snapped the streak in the same place it originated. Power plays were the difference Saturday as the Jacks topped the Rayz at the Ector county Coliseum. The Jacks went 2-3 on the power play, while the Rayz went 0-8. The Rayz fell to 13-12-5 on the year and remained in second place in the Southeast Division and Southern Conference. The Rayz will now return to South Texas for New Year's Eve Tux and Pucks Game at the American Bank Center, presented by AT&T. For more information, please call the Rayz at (361) 814-PUCK.

The Rayz and Mudbugs played a wide open first period, but neither team found the back of the net. Both clubs put nine shots on goal and the teams went into the second period scoreless.

In the second period, the teams finally saw results from their scoring chances and combined for five goals. The Mudbugs struck first when Daniel Pegoraro scored on a beautiful goal at 1:26. Pegoraro moved in on Zelenewich and deked him sliding the puck on the ice and into the net to give the Bugs the 1-0 lead. The advantage was short lived, however as the Rayz answered 50 seconds later when Jay Hardwick blasted home a rebound from the left circle following a Jason Baird shot at 2:16. The Mudbugs recaptured the lead, and increased it to two with goals 45 seconds apart later in the frame. Milan Vodrazka scored from just outside the crease on a power play at 10:17 to give the Bugs a 2-1 lead. At 11:02 Pegoraro scored his second of the night on a rebound in the crease to make the score 3-1. The Rayz inched within one when Justin Quenneville redirected a Tony Johnson shot from the blueline at 14:33. The Bugs outshot the Rayz 17-16 in the period and took a 3-2 lead into the third.

The Rayz dug deep in the third period to come from behind and force overtime. Ryan Carter tied the score at three creating a turnover and blasting a shot into the net at 4:50. However, again the Bugs recaptured the lead when Ryan Fairbarn snuck behind the defense and buried a shot from the left circle to make the score 4-3 Bugs. The Rayz, however, would not go quietly and tied the game late when Nick Lindberg redirected a Jay Hardwick shot into the net at 16:33 to force overtime. After a scoreless overtime, the Rayz dominated the shootout to earn the win in the final game of 2006. Brent Zelenewich stoned all four shooters he faced and Ryan Carter and Jason Baird scored to give the Rayz the win.

The win for the Rayz upped their record to 14-12-5. Zelenewich made 31 saves on 35 shots, improving to 5-5-2. The Mudbugs kept their nine-game point streak alive, but had their five-game winning streak snapped and moved to 15-9-5. Adam Hanna made 41 saves on 45 shots, and moved to 2-0-1. The Rayz outshot the Bugs 46-35. The Rayz went 0-5 on the power play and Bossier-Shreveport went 1-2.

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Central Hockey League Stories from January 1, 2007


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