Rayz fight back to beat Hounds 3-2

November 4, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release


Following back to back come from behind defeats, the Corpus Christi Rayz took their turn to come back and win a game in dramatic fashion on Sunday afternoon. The Rayz scored two late goals in the second and third periods and then outlasted the Youngstown Steelhounds in a shootout earning a 3-2 win. The Rayz improved to 2-5-1 on the year and moved into third place in the Southeast Division. They handed the Steelhounds their first defeat of the year. Corpus Christi will now hit the road for five straight away games. Rayz individual games tickets are currently available. For more information, please call the Rayz at 361.814.PUCK.

The Steelhounds tallied early and late in the first period to take a 2-0 lead. Eric Przepiorka scored 1:37 into the hockey game to give the Hounds a 1-0 lead. Then in the final minute of the period, the Hounds doubled their advantage when Adam Smyth slipped a snap shot from the left circle through the legs of Jason Tapp at 19:19. Following the goal, Justin Quenneville and Tapp both took penalties with 16 seconds remaining giving the Hounds a two-minute, two-man advantage from the end of the first to the beginning of the second period. The Rayz outshot the Hounds 11-10 in the opening frame.

The Rayz killed off the early power play for the Hounds and a scoreless frame ensued until the final minute. At 19:22, just seconds after Joe Blaznek hit the post with a slapshot, Rayz defenseman Evan Stoflet scored on a wrist shot from the top of the slot to make the score 2-1 Hounds. The Rayz outshot the Hounds 13-9 in the second period, but went into the third period trailing by a goal.

In the third period it was another late tally that forced overtime. Ray rookie Adam Hogg stole the puck at center ice and raced into the zone on a two on one where he blistered a slapshot past Andy Franck at 17:23. The teams then played a scoreless overtime where the Rayz killed off a two minute penalty and the game went to a shootout. In the shootout, Tapp stopped four of five shooters, while Joe Blaznek and Brent Howarth scored for Corpus Christi. Howarth earned the game winning goal for his third tally of the year.

Tapp closed the door over the final 45 minutes and finished with 35 saves on 37 shots, getting the win. He upped his record to 2-5-1. Andy Franck played well at the other end, making 31 saves on 33 shots, but lost for the first time, falling to 7-0-1. The Hounds outshot the Rayz 37-34. Both teams were 0-8 on the power play.

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 November 4, 2007


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