Tornado Snap Skid with Thrilling 4-3 Win Over IceRays
December 18, 2010 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Texas Tornado News Release
Three points from forward Jackson Leef and a late shorthanded goal from David Rigatti snapped a four-game Texas Tornado losing streak as they defeated the Corpus Christi IceRays in Frisco on Saturday night by a score of 4-3.
It was a slow start for the Tornado, who got behind the 8-ball early as on just the third Corpus Christi shot, the IceRays took the lead as Mychal Monteith's slapshot from the point was deflected past Tornado goaltender Jake Stafford for a 1-0 'Rays lead.
Tornado penalties later in the period allowed the 'Rays some power play time, which they converted on right away as on their first man advantage a slapshot from the point by Colton Saucerman went wide, but the rebound came hot off the end boards right on the stick of Josh Obregon, who wrapped a shot past Stafford for a 2-0 'Rays lead.
A late spearing penalty by Mike Fleming got him ejected from the game and put the Tornado down a forward as they were outshot 7-5 in the 1st period.
To start the 2nd period, Texas Head Coach Tony Curtale made a change in goal inserting Jimmy Kruger in place of Jake Stafford.
The Tornado responded outshooting the 'Rays 18-5 in the period.
They also added some scoring as well.
After being foiled for most of the period, the Tornado finally broke through on the power play as Jackson Leef found himself alone behind the net and threaded a pass in front to a wide open Marc Biggs who put a shot through the legs of Pheonix Copley to bring the score to 2-1.
With less than a minute to go in the period as nice play by Nate Sliwinski kept the puck in the zone.
Marc Biggs took over down the right hand wing, made the defense bite and slid a pass to Leef who beat Copley over the glove to tie the game at 2-2 heading into the 2nd intermission.
Both teams treated the crowd to an exciting and memorable 3rd period.
The 'Rays regained the lead at 3-2 as a floating shot from the point by Mychal Monteith eluded a screened Jimmy Kruger for Monteith's second goal of the game.
However, it would not take the Tornado long to answer back as on the power play Jackson Leef scored his 2nd goal of the game as his centering pass from behind the net banked off of Copley and trickled behind the goalline to tie the game at 3-3.
Two late Tornado penalties gave the IceRays a late power play and a chance to win the game, but the Tornado had other plans.
Captain David Rigatti appeared to be headed on a shorthanded breakaway only to lose the puck off his stick.
While on a 1 on 1, Rigatti stopped at the top of the left circle, wound up and fired a wrist shot that went off of Copley's catching glove and in behind the netminder for the first Tornado lead of the night at 4-3 with just over a minute remaining in the game.
It was the first shorthanded goal of the year for the Tornado and the eventual game-winner as Corpus Christi could not find enough offense in the last minute to come back.
North American Hockey League Stories from December 18, 2010
- Wild Sweeps Rage: Vandercook Records Hat Trick - Wenatchee Wild
- Tornado Snap Skid with Thrilling 4-3 Win Over IceRays - Texas Tornado
- 2010 Ends on Sour Note for Corpus Christi, 4-3 - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Bulls Raise Money for Amarillo Youth Hockey - Amarillo Bulls
- Bulls Beat Texas 1-0 - Amarillo Bulls
- Ouch - Springfield Jr. Blues
- Late Goal Lifts 'Runners - Topeka Pilots
- TC falls to Motor City - Traverse City North Stars
- Bobcats Rally to Edge Express - Bismarck Bobcats
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