Corpus Christi Online - / Hall says lapses in desire, hustle have cost IceRays

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Friday, Dec. 4, 1998
Hall says lapses in desire, hustle have cost IceRays
By MARK BUTTON
Staff Writer

   Little things can mean so much.
   The Corpus Christi IceRays have lost four consecutive hockey games, and coach Taylor Hall said his squad could have - and should have - won all four if not for some simple lapses in desire and hustle.
   "We haven't been committed to playing 60 solid minutes the way that we were earlier in the year," Hall said. "We've been dominating teams for a period then going to sleep for a period."
   Corpus Christi (13-9-1) will try to rediscover its winning ways today with a 7:05 p.m. Western Professional Hockey League game against Central Division rival Fort Worth (11-11-1) at Memorial Coliseum.
   Hall's analysis was no more evident than in Tuesday's contest in Albuquerque, N.M.
   Corpus Christi blitzed New Mexico early, staking a three-goal lead with less than three minutes to play in the first period. The Scorpions then stuck a puck past IceRays goalie Scott Barber just before intermission and went on to score three more in the second period and won the game going away, 4-3.
   Prior to the losing streak, Corpus Christi had won four straight. During that stretch, however, fundamental play such as clearing the puck from its defensive zone and getting it deep into the opponents zone were aspects of the game that fell by the wayside.
   "Sometimes when things are going smoothly and the puck is bouncing you way you get out of good habits because you can get away with it," IceRays forward Tyler Boucher said. "Coach is in the process right now of getting us back into those good habits. We have to keep our play little more simple than we have been."
   Fort Worth, led by forwards Mark O'Donnell (25 points) and Cosmo Dupual (24 points), provides the next test for Corpus Christi. The Brahmas are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games and 3-6-1 in road games.
   "If we play for 60 minutes, we'll be fine," Hall said. "Maybe the guys are getting a little too comfortable. We have an unbelievable town, the best fans in the league and I think this is the place that everyone would want to play. I see flashes of us playing well, then I see guys just not that interested in playing."

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