Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - Long break no solution for IceRays' recent woes

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Saturday, November 27, 1999

Long break no solution for IceRays' recent woes
In first game since last Saturday, Corpus Christi suffers seventh consecutive loss, 6-5 to Ice Bats
By Mark Button
Caller-Times

AUSTIN - This one was a lot closer, but the result was the same.
   Corpus Christi continued its losing ways Friday with a 6-5 overtime loss to the Austin Ice Bats in front of 5,115 at the Travis County Exposition Center.
   The loss was the IceRays' seventh straight; they fell to 8-7-4.
   Austin (11-7) has won four straight and holds a 2-0 series lead against Corpus Christi, having embarrassed the IceRays, 8-2, in the teams' season-opener.
   For a period and some change, it seemed that Corpus Christi had found the focus and defensive execution it has missed for nearly a month, staking a 4-1 lead early in the second.
   Then the Ice Bats struck for a flurry of four goals in 4:20 to take a 5-4 lead.
   "I was sitting on the bench with Tobin (Praznik), and we just shook our heads," IceRays forward Brad Wingfield said. "It was like a nightmare and we couldn't wake up."
   A late Dave Gilmore goal sent the game to overtime, where Austin's David Moore beat Jason Genik (3-5) for the game-winner.
   Goeff Bumstead had a goal and two assists for the IceRays, increasing his season point total to 30.
   The IceRays are 3-4 in shootouts.
   It took just one goal to incite the IceRays to play the way they did early in the season when they won four of their first six games, suggesting an end to the team's losing streak.
   Unfortunately for Corpus Christi, the team crumbled again.
   Austin's Dan Price slipped a shot by Genik just 1:15 into the game, but Corpus Christi took control of the game for the next 40 minutes.
   IceRays rookie forward Tobin Praznik got the scoring started with his 11th of the year, assisted by Bumstead and Dave Gilmore 32 seconds after Price's goal.
   Corpus Christi veterans Mike Tomlinson and Kurt Wickenheiser added goals to give the IceRays a 3-1 lead after one period.
   Bumstead netted a power-play goal early in the second to advance the Corpus Christi lead to 4-1, which the IceRays protected for the remainder of the period.
   The first four minutes of the third period looked much like opening night when Austin scored six unanswered goals in the first period.
   Within 4:20, Austin's Jeff Greenlaw scored twice, David Brosseau scored and Ryan Pisiak beat Genik as well to give Austin a 5-4 lead.
   "We played great for 55 minutes," IceRays defenseman Ryan Esslemont said. "I'm not going to put it on any one person, but as a group, we had a defensive lapse there at the start of the third."
   To the IceRays credit, they didn't fold.
   Gilmore scored with 4:19 to play to tie the game, 5-5, before the Ice Bats took it in overtime.
   "I thought we showed some resiliency by coming back," Wingfield said. "We down right now and we need a win to get us back up."
   Corpus Christi 3 1 1 0 -- 5
   Austin 1 0 4 1 -- 6
   FIRST PERIOD -- 1, Austin, Dan Price (Brosseau), 1:15. 2, Corpus Christi, Tobin Praznik (Bumstead, Gilmore), 1:57. 3, Corpus Christi, Mike Tomlinson (Esselmont), 7:52. 4, Corpus Christi, Kurt Wickenheiser (Bumstead, J. Praznik), 11:23. Penalties -- Brindley, Aus (boarding), 3:50; McArthur, CC (roughing dbl. minor), 11:15; Anderson, Aus (roughing dbl. minor), 11:15; Holliday, CC (fighting), 12:43; Greenlaw, Aus (fighting), 12:43; Shepherd, Aus (hooking), 14:41; Shephard, Aus (spearing, game misconduct), 19:38; MacEachern, CC (interference), 19:38.
   SECOND PERIOD -- 5, Corpus Christi, Goeff Bumstead (J. Praznik, T. Praznik), 2:07, (pp). Penalties -- Gilmore, CC (holding), 9:43; J. Praznik (holding), 14:53; Brindley, Aus (interference), 15:50.
   THIRD PERIOD -- 6, Austin, Jeff Greenlaw (Smart, Moore), 1:10. 7, Austin, David Brosseau (Perry, Price), 1:27.,8, Austin, Ryan Pisiak (Brindley, Brosseau), 3:55 (pp). 9, Austin, Greenlaw (unassisted), 4:20. 10, Corpus Christi, Dave Gilmore (T. Praznik), 15:41. Penalties -- Snesar, CC (tripping), 3:44; Esselmont, CC (slashing), 12:07; Smart, Aus (slashing), 12:07.
   SHOOTOUT -- Austin, David Moore
   Shots on goal -- Corpus Christi 16-14-10 43. Austin 7-15-21 44. Goalies -- Corpus Christi, Jason Genik (3-4). Austin, Rob Laurie (11-5). Referee -- Pat Wittig. A --5,115.

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