The Corpus Christi IceRays opened the Hilliard Center to fans on Oct. 10 and Oct. 11 against the El Paso Rhinos, their first games without goaltender Vladislav Bryzgalov, who earned a tryout contract with the ECHLs Tulsa Oilers. Griffin Wright started in the net on Saturday’s game, where he blocked 17 shots-on-goal. Despite his performance, the IceRays fell 1-2 to the Rhinos, ending their 4-0 series streak.
Just five minutes in, IceRays forward Willem Kerr received a minor penalty for cross-checking. Rhinos forward Raphael Laviolette scored a power play goal at 14:56 in the first period against the IceRays, assisted by defenseman Chase Nyitray and defensemen Maxim St. Pierre, bringing the Rhinos up 1-0. Rhinos forward Sal Costa got a minor penalty for interference.
Four minutes into the second period, forward Chayse Laurie scored a goal, assisted by defenseman Liam McGuern and forward Braden Franck, bringing the IceRays up 1-1. IceRays Captain Nikita Konevych received a penalty five minutes into the second period for high sticking.
The IceRays entered the third period 1-1, and there was a feeling of intensity throughout the crowd. Wright blocked a shot by the Rhinos but failed to cover it, resulting in Rhinos forward Charles Turner scoring a goal assisted by defenseman Alexi Gregoire at 12:34, bringing groans from the crowd. An IceRays player hit his stick against the glass in frustration while on his way back to the bench. This put the Rhinos up 2-1. The IceRays increased their intensity and physicality throughout the rest of the third period. Wright was pulled and the IceRays took on the Rhinos 6-on-5, desperate to take the game to overtime. Just as the IceRays got to the offensive zone, the final whistle blew. The IceRays lost their first home game to the Rhinos.
Coming off back-to-back losses, goaltender Yegor Batsokin started Sunday’s game, blocking 17 shots, leading the IceRays to a 5-1 victory. The crowd was smaller than Saturday’s below-average crowd, with 500 fewer people. Still, the atmosphere felt tense.
Konevych received a minor penalty just three minutes into the first period for holding. Rhinos forward Anthony Nolan received a minor penalty for tripping/clipping. The IceRays power play unit pushed for a goal but ultimately failed, leaving the crowd tense. The crowd relaxed when Laurie scored a goal at 9:38 in the first period, assisted by forward Justin Thibault and forward Oliver Czaja.
But the IceRays lost their momentum when defenseman JJ Murphy went to the penalty box for cross-checking. The Rhinos responded at 8:32 in the first period when Gregoire scored a power play goal assisted by forward Brendan Murray and defenseman Mikey Tate, tying the Rhinos 2-2 with the IceRays. IceRays forward Braden Franck and Rhinos forward Aidan Bergner received a minor penalty for roughing and were taken to sit in the box, leaving both teams to play 4-on-4 for the next two minutes. Rhinos defenseman Chase Nyitray got sat down for cross-checking with 3:48 remaining in the period, leading to IceRays forward Michael Azzarone to score a goal, assisted by defenseman Anthony Pedalino and forward Andrew Waugh. The crowd roared to life after being quiet since the first goal. The IceRays left the ice and made their way to their locker room leading the game 2-1.
The second period started off intense as the Rhinos made it clear they wanted to keep their win streak. The game got more physical as the clock ticked on, although no penalties were given up until the last two minutes of the game. At 2:48, Rhinos forward Connor Makowski got sent to the penalty box for checking from behind.
Head Coach Nick Skerlick called the goaltender to the bench, to take the Rhinos on 6-on-4, but just as the goalie got to the bench the referee blew his whistle. St. Pierre received a penalty for cross-checking and the IceRays were now taking the Rhinos 5-on-3.
Skerlick sent the goalie back to guard the net and the period began. Twenty seconds into the power play, Laurie scored a goal, assisted by Thibault and forward Thomas Duhamel. The crowd surged to their feet as the scoreboard read RHINOS 1-3 ICERAYS. The crowd settled down, Makowski was released on to the ice and the IceRays remained on a power play. With just 39 seconds left in the second period, Gregoire committed a minor penalty for checking from behind. The IceRays left the ice, and the crowd radiated excitement.
The IceRays entered the third period on a power play with intensity, though no goal was scored until five minutes in, when IceRays defenseman Dylan Chabrier, assisted by Laurie and Murphy, scored a goal against the Rhinos. Duhamel, assisted by defenseman Liam McGuern and forward Brodie Hankel scored a goal at 8:26 in the third period. With six minutes remaining in the period, IceRays forward Jacob Wingfield was taken to the penalty box for slashing. The Rhinos tried desperately to get a power play goal but failed in the end. The IceRays won 5-1 in a split.
The next IceRays home game is Friday, Oct. 23.
