January 22, 2007 - Nick Lindberg scored twice and Brent Zelenewich made 41 saves as the Corpus Christi Rayz improved their season-high winning streak to four games with a 4-1 win over the Austin Ice Bats on Saturday afternoon. The Rayz scored the game’s final four goals, including three in the third period to earn their sixth in the last eight games and fifth of seven against Austin this season. The Rayz improved to 19-14-5 and increased their second place lead over Austin to eight points. The Rayz will cap off a home and home set with the Bats on Tuesday morning at the American Bank Center in the 3rd Annual Cool School Day Game. Tickets are available to the general public and start at just $10.
The Ice Bats got the lone goal of the opening frame. After John McNabb hit the right post with a shot, he collected his own rebound and fed Julian Smith from the slot. Smith let a wrist shot go that beat Brent Zelenewich at 3:50 to put the Ice Bats up 1-0. The Ice Bats outshot the Rayz 16-14 in the first period.
Late in the second period the Rayz climbed back even. Jay Hardwick set up Nick Lindberg at the right circle with a tape to tape pass which Lindberg one-timed past rookie netminder Tony Quesada at 16:50. Lindberg’s goal was his eighth of the season and tied the game at one. Both teams mustered ten shots in the second period, and headed to the final frame deadlocked 1-1.
In the third period, the Rayz took over en route to their fifth win over Austin this season. Adam Powell scored the eventual game winner on a beautiful play, corralling a pass with his skate and kicking it forward before backhanding it over Quesada giving the Rayz their first lead of the night. Powell’s seventh of the year came at 4:27. Lindberg added his second of the night when he tallied shorthanded at 11:10 to give the Rayz a 3-1 lead. Jason Baird capped the scoring on a two on one with Kevin Watters at 16:47.
The win for the Rayz was their fourth in a row and sixth in their last eight games. With the victory, Corpus Christi also snapped a season-high, three-game road losing streak. Zelenewich made 41 saves on 42 shots, improving to 7-6-2. The Ice Bats played their fourth in a row without a win and fell to 14-15-7. The Rayz remained perfect at the Chaparral Ice Center, improving to 4-0 on the year in visits to Austin. Quesada made 29 saves on 33 shots and suffered the loss, remaining winless on the year and fell to 0-3. The Ice Bats outshot the Rayz 42-33. The Rayz went 0-4 on the power play as did the Bats.
The Rayz will continue the home and home set versus the Ice Bats on Tuesday morning at 11:05am for their first ever Cool School Day Game from the American Bank Center. Tickets are available at start at just $10. For more information, please call the Rayz at (361) 814-PUCK.
Corpus Christi Rayz – My Town. My Team.
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