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Rayz edge Gorillas 4-3 in shootout

December 22, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release


In the final game before Christmas, the Corpus Christi Rayz got exactly what was on their wish list. The Rayz came from behind in the third period and in a shootout to edge the Amarillo Gorillas 4-3 in a shootout on Saturday Night from the American Bank Center. Chris Shaffer tied the game early in the third period and won it in sudden death of a shootout with his second goal of the night. The win vaulted the Rayz to 9-14-3 and one point ahead of Rio Grande Valley for second place in the Southeast Division and fifth place in the Southern Conference. The Rayz will return to the American Bank Center on New Year's Eve when they host the Austin Ice Bats at 8:05pm. Individual Tickets are on sale now. Please call 814-PUCK for more information, or visit the Rayz online at www.ccrayz.com

Corpus Christi and Amarillo played a scoreless first period to begin the game. The Rayz had the majority of quality scoring chances, however the best chance came at 4:16 when Amarillo's Marcus Reszka was hooked from behind on a breakaway and received a penalty shot. Reszka pushed the shot wide right of Jason Tapp and the game continued scoreless. The Rayz outshot the Gorillas 10-9 in the frame.

The Gorillas struck first midway through the second period when rookie David Nimmo scored a rebound a goal at 7:21. The Rayz responded when defenseman Chris Mei snuck in front of the net and took a centering feed to score his second of the year at 9:45. Amarillo recaptured the lead on a power play when Chris Lipsett scored on a screened wrist shot from the high slot at 13:17.

The Rayz came out inspired in the third period and tied the game just half a minute into the frame. 31 seconds into the period, Joe Blaznek created an offensive zone turnover and wrapped a puck to Chris Shaffer who scored his first of the night. The Rayz then took their first lead of the game at 5:50 when Adam Hogg raced into the zone shorthanded and took a pass from the Jay Latulippe and worked around Dan Bauer and tucked it in to give the Rayz a 3-2 advantage. With time winding down, Amarillo then struck shorthanded at 16:53 when Grant Selinger scored on a rebound after Lipsett hit the post.

After a scoreless overtime, a shootout featured six shooters for each team and the Rayz prevailed after their backs were to the wall. Corpus Christi was stopped on their first four shooters, but Kevin Watters extended the shootout with a goal in the fifth round. After Jason Tapp stopped his fifth Amarillo shooter, Shaffer scored to seal the win for Corpus Christi.

Tapp made 44 saves on 47 shots and stopped five of six in a shootout to improve to 9-12-2. Dan Bauer made 23 saves on 26 shots and stopped four of six shooters, falling to 4-3-1. The Rayz went 0-2 on the power play, and the Gorillas were 1-2. The Gorillas outshot the Rayz 47-27.

The Rayz are proud to be celebrating a decade of hockey in South Texas. Individual game tickets are currently available. Get your Rayz tickets today at www.ticketmaster.com, at any Ticketmaster outlet or the American Bank Center. Rayz group discounts are also available. For more information, please call the Rayz at 361.814.PUCK.



Central Hockey League Stories from December 22, 2007


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