Corpus Christi Online - / Aviators shoot down IceRays, 4-1, amid penalties

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Sunday, Dec. 6, 1998
Aviators shoot down IceRays, 4-1, amid penalties

From staff and correspondent reports

   ABILENE -- For the second time in three weeks an IceRays road game was delayed.
   And for the second consecutive time the IceRays' didn't effectively handle the time change.
   Abilene turned away Corpus Christi, 4-1 in a penalty laden game at the Taylor County Coliseum Saturday night.
   The game was delayed 40 minutes because of a problem with a fuse on the machine that keeps the ice frozen. The IceRays' game on Nov. 21 -- a 6-3 setback to the Rattlers -- was also delayed 20 minutes because of traffic problems outside the arena in Amarillo.
   Despite losing five of their last six, the IceRays (14-10-1, 29 points) remain atop the Central Division by two points over Austin (12-12-3, 27 points). The Western Division-leading Aviators (38 points) improved to 19-5 on the year and 13-0 at home.
   The teams combined for 128 penalty minutes Saturday.
   Nearly six minutes into the game Saturday, Abilene sloshed its way onto the scoreboard. Aviators left wing Jean Francois Gregoire collected a pass from Mario Dumoulin in front of the net and scored past IceRays goaltender Scott Barber on a 4-on-3 advantage.
   Abilene defenseman Eric Brule netted the second goal of the game 4:10 into the second period.
   The IceRays broke the ice 4:04 later, when Dave Shute passed to Pavel Evstigneev for his 17th goal of the season. Chris Robertson made the power play goal possible by keeping the puck in the Abilene zone and winger Vadim Sharapov received an assist on the IceRays' lone tally.
   Aviator right wing Donnie Margetti answered 11:12 into the second period with a goal on an open attempt to make the score 3-1.
   The teams combined to serve 96 penalty minutes in the first two periods.
   The IceRays return home Thursday to play the Central Texas Stampede at 7:05 p.m. at Memorial Coliseum.
   SATURDAY'S SUMMARY
   Corpus Christi, 0-1-0-1
   Abilene, 1-2-1-4
   FIRST PERIOD -- 1. Abilene, Jean-Francois Gregoire, ppg. (Mario Dumoulin, Charles Poulin), 5:59.
   SECOND PERIOD -- 2. Abilene, Eric Brule, (Gregoire, Poulin), 4:10. 3. Corpus Christi, Pavel Evstigneev, ppg. (Dave Shute, Vadim Sharapov), 8:14. 4. Abilene, Donnie Margettie, (Francois Archambault, Dumoulin), 11:12.
   THIRD PERIOD -- 5. Abilene, Gregoire, 18:13.
   SHOTS ON GOAL -- Corpus Christi: 37. Abilene: 41.
   POWER-PLAY OPPORTUNITIES -- Corpus Christi: 1 for 6. Abilene: 1 for 7.
   GOALIES -- Corpus Christi: Scott Barber (4-6) 41 shots, 37 saves. Abilene: Tony Martino (15-3) 37 shots, 36 saves.

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