Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - IceRays top Central Texas in shootout, 5-4

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Monday, March 13, 2000

IceRays top Central Texas in shootout, 5-4
Johnson, with Corpus Christi less than three weeks, scores as fifth shooter to win game
By Matt Young
Caller-Times

George Gongora/Caller-Times

Brad Shaver (12) of the Central Texas Stampede careens across the ice in pursuit of the puck during the IceRays 5-4 shootout victory. Corpus Christi forward Dennis Shirayev (right) is skating past on the play.

Cory Johnson has been with the IceRays for less than three weeks, but he's already paying big dividends.
   Johnson scored the game-winning goal in a shootout to lead Corpus Christi past Central Texas, 5-4, Sunday at Memorial Coliseum.
   Central Texas has the second-best record in the Western Professional Hockey League, but it was the IceRays' sixth win in nine tries this year against the Stampede.
   The two teams ended regulation deadlocked at 4-4.
   Central Texas' Aldo Iaquinta easily scored on the Stampede's first attempt in the shootout, but Corpus Christi goalie Eddy Skazyk stonewalled the Stampede's next four shots.
   Alex Kholomeyev tied the shootout with a goal on the IceRays' third attempt.
   Johnson, the IceRays' fifth shooter, won the game by finding an opening in the lower left side of the goal.
   "That's a fun position to be in, especially when you love pressure situations," said Johnson, who Corpus Christi acquired in a trade with Lubbock. "I'll get the credit, but my teammates set that situation up and I was just the lucky one to get the opportunity to finish it."
   Johnson barely beat Central Texas goalie Matt Barnes, slipping the puck just past his right glove.
   "I waited for the goalie to make his move first. He did, and I was just lucky enough to put it by him."
   With the win, Corpus Christi improved to 31-23-8 (70 points), while Central Texas slipped to 45-15-3 (93 points). The IceRays are still seven points behind Austin, the second-place team in the WPHL's Central Division, but they have a comfortable lead over Fort Worth. With nine games left to play, Corpus Christi is on the verge of clinching a playoff spot.
   "This was a really big win over a really good team," Johnson said. "It's a big confidence-booster for us as we head down to the end of the season and into the playoffs."
   Kurt Wickenheiser led Corpus Christi's efforts in regulation with two goals and two assists to give him a team-high 109 points on the season.
   The game was marred by 23 penalties, including 11 in the first period.
   "With the playoffs coming up, neither team wants to lose any more games, so we were both scrapping a lot," Wickenheiser said. "It's getting to be playoff hockey, and this is where everyone comes together and plays their hardest."
   Central Texas 1 2 1 - 4
   Corpus Christi 0 2 2 - 5
   FIRST PERIOD - 1, Central Texas, Tallaire (Newhook, Anderson), 3:31. PENALTIES - McArthur, CC (high stick), :29; Olson, CC (boarding), 1:52; Quinnell, CC (boarding), 3:18; Wingfield, CC (slashing), 3:43; Breuner, CT (tripping), 8:16; Ross, CC (interference), 10:40; Smiryaen, CC (misconduct), 10:40; Johnson, CT (cross check), 13:15; Johnson, CT (game misconduct), 13:15; Van Horlick, CC (slashing), 13:15; Quinnell, CC (slashing), 14:21.
   SECOND PERIOD - 2, Central Texas, Johnston (Newhook, Anderson), 1:23. 3, Corpus Christi, T. Praznik (Wickenheiser, Olson), 2:32. 4, Central Texas, Newhook (Tallaire, Tzountzouris), 4:44. 5, Corpus Christi, Wickenheiser (McArthur), 17:59. PENALTIES - Hearn, CT (hooking), :58; Zurba, CT (roughing), 12:06; Janicki, CC (roughing), 12:06; McArthur, CC (elbowing), 15:24.
   THIRD PERIOD - 6, Corpus Christi, Quinnell (Johnson, Wickenheiser), 4:27. 7, Corpus Christi, Wickenheiser (Quinnell, Bumstead), 5:21. 8, Central Texas, Fawcett (Johnston, Hughes), 11:13. PENALTIES - Wingfield, CC (cross-checking), 1:19; Zurba, CT (cross-checking), 3:11; Andersson, CT (cross-checking), 4:28; Dick, CT (tripping), 5:21; Shiryaen, CC (cross-checking), 8:10; Bumstead, CC (roughing), 12:26; Johnston, CT (high stick), 15:23; Ross, CC (too many men), 18:52.
   SHOTS ON GOAL - Central Texas 15-11-7 33. Corpus Christi 9-12-9 30. GOALIES - Corpus Christi, Eddy Skazyk (18-12-5). Central Texas, Matt Barnes. A - 3,614. REFEREE - Melnel.



Staff writer Matt Young can be reached at 886-3702 or by e-mail at youngm@caller.com

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