IceRays top Jackalopes in shootout thriller on Thursday
Odessa 1 @ Corpus Christi 2 (SO) - The Corpus Christi IceRays won a thriller inside the American Bank Center in shootout fashion 2-1 over the visiting Odessa Jackalopes in the lone NAHL game on Thursday. The game was a goaltending battle and that showed right away in the first period the IceRays and Jackalopes traded opportunities however it was the Jackalopes who came closest as they rang a shot off the post, and had an opportunity when the puck laid on the goal line, before being pulled out by goaltender Anthony Stolarz. Stolarz also made a huge save on Lawrence Cornellier to keep Odessa off the scoreboard. Corpus Christi drew first blood in the game as Eric Purcell took a shot on net, AJ Jarosz took a whack at the loose puck, then Brandon Smith followed up beating Connor Hellebuyck 9:06 into the second period for a 1-0 IceRays lead. Josh Obregon scored in his return to Corpus Christi as he beat a diving Anthony Stolarz 14:30 into the middle period tying the game 1-1. After no scoring in regulation or overtime a shootout followed and in the shootout Dmitry Ermakov converted for the win. It was Ermakov’s second shootout winning goal in a row. Anthony Stolarz finished stopping 29 of 30 shots and Connor Hellebuyck denied 34 of 35 shots. Boxscore