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Saturday, March 17, 2001
IceRays skin Moccasins
C.C. rallies to 3-2 win
By Javier Becerra
Caller-Times

George Tuley/Caller-Times

Corpus Christi’s Kurt Wickenheiser (center) tries to sneak a goal from behind the net on Monroe goalie James Jensen in the first period of the IceRays’ win over the Moccasins on Friday night. The win gives the IceRays a two-point lead over Monroe in the chase for the final playoff spot.

The Corpus Christi IceRays have held true to coach Taylor Hall's must-win policy over their last two games.
   Needing victories to stay in the playoff chase, the IceRays have won. Hall just wishes his team would avoid waiting until a shootout to get the victories.
   Corpus Christi rallied from one-goal deficits twice Friday night to post a 3-2 shootout win over the Monroe Moccasins at Memorial Coliseum. It was the IceRays' second straight shootout win, after bumping Austin 4-3 on Wednesday.
   With Tupelo, Bossier-Shreveport and Austin already clinching postseason berths, Corpus Christi and Monroe are left to battle for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Western Professional Hockey League Eastern Division. Friday's win gives the IceRays (36-26-3, 75 points) a two-point cushion over the Moccasins (32-24-8, 73 points) heading into tonight's game at Fort Worth.
   "What a game," Hall said. "Monroe played an unbelievable game, but that's the way it is in the playoffs. What a playoff series our two teams would make. It's unfortunate that one of us is not going to make it. We just have to keep forging ahead."
   Both Corpus Christi and Monroe have just five games left in the regular season, and will meet one last time next Friday at Memorial Coliseum.
   Corpus Christi's Jeff Paluseo tied the game, 2-2, at the 4:07 mark of the third period. Both teams missed their first two shots of the shootout.
   Cory Smith beat goaltender Eddy Skazyk on Monroe's third attempt, but Kurt Wickenheiser scored on his cousin, Chris Wickenheiser, who relieved Moccasins starting goalie James Jensen with 1.9 seconds left in regulation.
   Skazyk stopped Darren Dougan on his attempt, while Tobin Praznik gave Corpus Christi a 2-1 edge with a goal against Wickenheiser. Rob Giffen scored on Monroe's fifth attempt in the shootout. Mario Dumoulin, who twice needed help getting up after hard checks into the boards, responded with the game-winning goal on the IceRays' final attempt.
   "It's part of the game. When that happens, they just have to wake me up," Dumoulin said of the hits. "It's just great to have this kind of momentum this close to the end of the season."
   Corpus Christi spent much of its penalty time with the puck in its own zone, and nearly gave up a shorthanded goal to Carlin Nordstrom when a bad pass bounced awkwardly off the boards.
   A slash by Monroe's Klage Kaebel gave Corpus Christi a man advantage at 7:49 of the first period. The power play ended with 12 seconds left when IceRays defenseman David Bourque was called for holding.
   Monroe then went on a 5 on 3 advantage after an elbowing penalty on Corpus Christi's Mario Dumoulin. Shortly after Bourque left the penalty box, Darren Dougan scored off a rebound shot at 11:59 to give the Moccasins a 1-0 lead.
   The IceRays went on a power play late in the first period, which ended with 32 seconds of penalty time left on the clock.
   In the second period, two seconds remained on the penalty when Wickenheiser lifted the loose puck over Jensen's left shoulder to tie the game, 1-1.
   At the 5:14 mark, Monroe's Jason Renard cross checked Corpus Christi's Layne Roland as the two collided with Jensen in the crease.
   With 5:51 left before the second intermission, Monroe went on a two-man advantage after two cross checking penalties, the first on Brad Wingfield. Forty-two seconds after the first whistle, Matt Van Horlick was called for the same offense.
   Wingfield's penalty ended when Dougan scored his second goal of the night to give the Moccasins a 2-1 lead. The IceRays were able to defend the 48 seconds left on Van Horlick's penalty.
   The cautious play continued in the third period until Corpus Christi's Paluseo broke free in front of the Monrow goal to tie the game, 2-2, at the 4:07 mark.
   ICERAYS 3, MOCCASINS 2
   Monroe 1 1 0 0--2
   Corpus Christi 0 1 1 1--3
   First period -- 1, Monroe, Dougan 24 (Parent, Giffin) 11:59. Penalties-Wickenheiser, CC (high sticking) 2:52; Last, Monroe (interference) 2:52; Giffin, Monroe (hooking) 4:32; Kaebel, Monroe (slashing) 7:49; Bourque, CC (holding) 9:37; Dumoulin, CC (elbowing) 11:16; Shiryaev, CC (elbowing) 12:48; Yoder, Monroe (tripping) 18:32.
   Second period -- 2, CC, Wickenheiser 28 (Hearn) :30; 3, Monroe, Dougan 25 (Kaebel) 15:22. Penalties-Renard, Monroe (cross checking) 5:14; Smith, Monroe (high sticking) 10:44; Wingfield, CC (cross checking) 13:27; M. Van Horlick, CC (cross checking) 14:19.
   Third period -- 4, CC, Paluseo 18 (Praznik) 4:07. Penalties-Shiryaev, CC (roughing) 6:12; Hill, Monroe (high sticking) 17:34.
   Shots on goal-Monroe 7-6-8--21; Corpus Christi 12-11-11--34. Power-play opportunities-Monroe 2 of 6; Corpus Christi 1 of 6. Goalies-Monroe, Jensen 12-10-10 (34 shots-32 saves); Corpus Christi, Skazyk 6-5-8 (21-19). Referee-Guy Pellerin. Linesmen-Paul Wilkinson, Michael Levar. A -- 3,792.

Staff writer Javier Becerra can be reached at 886-3734 or by e-mail at becerraj@caller.com

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