Corpus Christi Online - / Caprice recovers to help IceRays corral Outlaws, 3-2

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Sunday, Nov. 1, 1998
Caprice recovers to help IceRays corral Outlaws, 3-2
Goalie stops 30 of 32 shots in Corpus Christi's win
By MARK BUTTON
Staff Writer

   IceRays goalie Frank Caprice rose from his sickbed, skated between the pipes and stopped 30 of 32 San Angelo shots to lead Corpus Christi to a 3-2 victory over the Outlaws Friday night at Memorial Coliseum.
   "And that's right where I'm going: back to bed," said Caprice, who had missed four practices during the week with the flu, including Wednesday's game against El Paso.
   The Corpus Christi win improved the team's record to 6-3, snapping a two-game losing streak at the Igloo. San Angelo fell to 1-3-2.
   Caprice turned in a 94-percent save effort, improving his overall mark to 85 percent.
   "After the first period I was pretty drained," Caprice said. "I must have drank a liter of PowerAide. I keep it in my bottle over the net. I drained the bottle every period."
   The IceRays needed Caprice's effort Friday, as injuries took a toll on the Western Professional Hockey League's Central Division leaders. Defenseman Shaun Peet didn't suit out Friday after dislocating his shoulder in the 4-3 loss to El Paso Wednesday. Early in Friday's contest, defensive leader and team captain Jody Praznik broke his right ankle.
   Suddenly the IceRays are down to four defenseman.
   "I think what happens sometimes when you go down to four like that is the other players focus more," IceRays coach Taylor Hall said. "All the players were into the game. When you have six, some of the guys aren't playing as much and they get a little cold."
   Corpus Christi's Pavel Evstigneev, the league's leading goal-scorer, capped a rough, hard-hitting second period with what proved to be the game-winner with 3 minutes, 46 seconds to play in the period. Evstigneev, who now has 11 goals, slapped in a one-timer from Craig Coxe and Vadim Sharapov.
   Together, the three men form the WPHL's top scoring line so far this year. Evstigneev's goal gave Corpus Christi a 3-1 lead, and it was the second period's only goal.
   The second period did, however, feature plenty of action, including 42 penalty minutes served - mostly for roughing or fighting.
   Once ahead, 3-1, the IceRays protected the lead with heady defensive play, something that Hall had said the team had been struggling to demonstrate. The Outlaws put 18 shots on goal in the third period but Caprice only let one shot through, a power-play goal by Skeeter Moore with 17:06 to play.
   "Frankie was phenomenal tonight," Hall said. "I think tonight was our best defensive effort all year. They played simple hockey, and from a coach's standpoint, that's exactly what I want."
   For the first time since the season-opener against Austin, the IceRays gave up the first goal of the game. San Angelo's Marty Diamond sneaked a waist-high wrist shot past Caprice just 2:23 into the game.
   Corpus Christi responded with two first-period goals to take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.
   Corpus Christi forward Chris Robertson and defensemen Bob Quinell each scored points on both IceRays' first-period goals. Robertson deflected and redirected Quinell's shot into the San Angelo net to tie the game at 1 with 10:15 to play in the first.
   In the final minute of the first period, Robertson carried the puck from behind the net on the power play and fed it to Quinell for a one-timer that found the back of the net. Lorne Toews had the assist on Corpus Christi's 10th power-play goal of the season.
   The IceRays continued their assault on opposing goalies, firing 48 shots on goal. Corpus Christi leads the WPHL in the category, with 356 shots.
   Friday's game was an announced sellout, the franchise's seventh in seven home games this season.
   Hall said Praznik's broken ankle most likely will not require surgery.

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