The Odessa Jackalopes looked to continue their momentum off of an impressive 5-3 victory over the Ice Wolves as they took on the Corpus Christi IceRays Friday and Saturday night.
Taking a look at Friday Night’s game first, the Jackalopes came out buzzing in the 1st period. It all began with Tommy Wright who gained the puck in the offensive zone. He shot it toward the net, and while it was blocked, he followed his shot, got a second opportunity and fired it home past Bryant Marks, the goaltender for the IceRays to make it 1-0 Jackalopes. Just five minutes later on the power play, James Richman received a pass at the top of the far faceoff circle and made no mistake firing his 15th goal of the season past Marks to increase the Jackalopes lead to 2-0 which is a lead they would take going into the 2nd period. Shots on goal after 20 minutes read 13-10 in favor of the Jacks.
The 2nd period saw a scoring drought for a while, but Odessa maintained on the gas pedal, firing 20 shots on the Corpus Christi netminder. Breaking that scoring drought would be the IceRays as Pierson Sobush would score two goals in a matter of 14 seconds to tie the game at two. For Sobush he has 8 points in 5 games against the Jackalopes following those two goals. Following the 2nd goal from Corpus, the Jacks responded well as a rush was created going into the offensive zone. Zach Benayon fed a pass to the slot and Nick Metelkin out-raced his man to tap home the loose puck, making it 3-2 Jackalopes. That would be how the 2nd period would end with shots on goal being 20-9 that period for the Jackalopes.
The 3rd and final period was the best period for the IceRays, but the Jackalopes, for the most part, were able to keep them off the board. No penalties called in the 3rd meaning it was all played 5 on 5. The IceRays came into the zone with just over two minutes remaining fired a shot that bounced off the end glass, came out in between the hash marks, the IceRays pounced on the rebound, and fired the puck into the back of the net, tying the game at 3. Then with nearly 20 seconds to go, an IceRays forward got around the defense on a breakaway, fired a backhander toward the net, a desperation save was made by Jackalopes goaltender Max Bely, but the rebound was batted out of mid-air and into the back of the net, making it 4-3 IceRays with 18 seconds remaining. The Jackalopes players on the ice, on the bench, and the fans in the stands all thought that the puck was knocked in with a glove, however, after the officials convened, the goal stood. The Jackalopes were unable to find the equalizer, and fell 4-3.
Final shots on goal read 44-30 in favor of the Jackalopes. The Jacks power play went 1-3 on the evening, while the penalty kill went 3-3.
Moving on to Saturday’s contest, the IceRays were the team that came out of the locker rooms with more intensity in the 1st period. They would convert in the first six minutes of the game on a breakaway that beat Jacks’ goaltender Ivan Zhigalov to make it 1-0. However, they weren’t done yet. Less than two minutes later, IceRays defenseman Andrew Hayek, saw some open ice and skated from the blue line, all the way to in between the hash marks and got a point blank shot off on Zhigalov and he found the back of the net to make it 2-0 IceRays. The Jacks would gain one back on the power play within the last two minutes of the period as Cam Dunn slapped a pass in the direction of Tommy Wright and he had his stick in position to redirect the puck into the back of the net. This made it 2-1 IceRays, which is where we would end the period. Shots on goal read 15-13 in favor of Odessa.
The 2nd period was where things definitely slowed down a bit. Only one goal in that period, which belonged to the IceRays. Wolfgang Govedaris, pulled a move around a Jacks defender, and roofed one bar-down on Zhigalov to restore the two-goal lead for the IceRays. That period the Jacks penalty kill went 2-2, killing off two early penalties. Shots on goal were 10-7 in favor of the Jacks. Overall total for shots on goal was 25-20 in Odessa’s favor.
The pace picked back up in the 3rd period as both teams would combine for 35 shots on goal, 20 for Corpus Christi, 15 for the Jacks. Christian Tavare, on a hustle play, forced a turnover in the offensive zone. He then fed a pass to Teddy Manlove and streaked toward the net, where he received the return feed. Tavare then roofed the puck in the back of the net, making it a one-goal contest once again. Both teams would continue to pressure the goaltenders with shots, screens, and rebounds, but it was the IceRays in the last five minutes finding the back of the net to extend their lead to 4-2. With time to still come back, the Jackalopes would pull the goalie in favor of the extra attacker. However, the IceRays found the back of the net with a minute remaining. The Jacks would tap home a goal with 1.5 seconds remaining on the clock, as Wright notched his 2nd of the game. The contest would end 5-3 in favor of the IceRays.
The Jacks fall to 21-26-7 on the season, with their next game being Friday, March 22nd, vs. Shreveport @ 7:15 P.M.
All Jacks games can be streamed on the North American Hockey League’s streaming service NAHLTV, with the voice of the Jacks, Brandon Luisi. A free audio only version will also be available on the Odessa Jackalopes YouTube page.