Sports stats



Rayz Rally For 4-3 Shootout Win In Austin

November 30, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Corpus Christi IceRays News Release


The Corpus Christi Rayz have made the Chaparral Ice Center in Austin their unofficial home away from home. The Rayz earned their first road win of the year and improved to 6-0 all-time at the Chap Ice Center after a thrilling come from behind 4-3 shootout win over the Ice Bats on Friday Night. Kevin Watters scored two goals, including the game tying goal in the final minute of regulation and Jason Tapp stopped all five shooters in a shootout to give the Rayz their second straight win. Justin Quenneville got the game winner in a shootout as the only one of ten shooters to score. Corpus Christi stays on the road on Saturday night as they travel to Laredo, and they will return home on Sunday at 3:05pm to host the Ice Bats on Caller-Times Family Day. Kids 12 and under get free tickets with a full paying adult. Tickets are on sale now. Please call 814-PUCK for more information, or visit the Rayz online at www.ccrayz.com

A fast-paced first period, yielded plenty of shots but only one goal. Corpus Christi outshot Austin 21-16 in the first period, however the Bats got the lone goal. Zech Klann tallied from the left circle on a power play at 10:54 of the first to give the Bats 1-0 lead. The score held into the second period.

In the middle frame the Rayz tied the game when Joe Blaznek tallied on a power play from the right circle at 7:38. Austin recaptured the lead at 9:26 when Brendan Cook created a turnover at center ice and broke in shorthanded on Jason Tapp. Cook deked to his right and flipped a puck off of Tapp and into the net for a 2-1 Austin lead. The Rayz once again pulled even late in the frame when Jon Jankus fed Kevin Watters in the slot and Watters beat Miroslav Kopriva at 16:27. With the goal, Watters extended his point streak to six games. Austin outshot Corpus Christi 7-5 in the period and the teams went into the third tied 2-2.

The Bats took the lead for their third straight time when John Ronan scored from a thin angle at the right corner and banked off of Tapp and into the net at 13:11. But then on a power play, in the final minute, Watters scored on a rebound at 19:19 to force overtime.

After a scoreless OT, Quenneville's goal as the first shooter was the lone tally in the shootout.

Tapp made 34 saves on 37 shots, plus all five he faced in the shootout. He earned the win, improving to 4-9-1. Kopriva took the loss falling to 2-6-1 turning aside 32 of 35 shots and four of five shooters in the shootout. The Rayz went 2-5 on the power play and the Bats were 1-6. The Bats outshot the Rayz 37-36.

• Discuss this story on the Central Hockey League message board...

Central Hockey League Stories from November 30, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Corpus Christi IceRays Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central