Corpus Christi Rayz Finally Win Close One, 5-4 in Shootout Versus New Mexico Scorpions - CHL

MLN Newswire - mlntherawfeed.com - After falling just short for three weeks, the Corpus Christi Rayz finally got the close game to go their way.  Justin Quenneville led the Rayz with a pair of goals and Niko Tuomi got the game winner in the sixth round of a shootout as the Rayz topped the New Mexico Scorpions 5-4 in extra time on Sunday afternoon at the American Bank Center.  The one-goal games was the Rayz league-leading tenth of the year.  With the win the Rayz moved into third place in the Southeast Division with a 3-11-1 record and snapped their six-game losing skid.  The shootout win was the third in as many victories this season for the Rayz.

The New Mexico Scorpions struck first with an early goal just 1:20 into the game.  Craig MacDonald scored on a rush down the right side with a backhand that roofed over Jason Tapp for his fifth goal of the season.  The Rayz tied the score at 13:28 when a centering pass from Justin Quenneville caromed off of the skates of Scorpions defenseman Dave Simoes and into the Scorps net.  The goals was Quenneville’s fourth in the last three games.  The Scorps outshot the Rayz 8-4 in the first period.

The Scorpions reclaimed the lead in the second period when Konrad Reeder tapped home a rebound goal at 4:54 just as a Rayz penalty was expiring.  Corpus Christi responded again with Quenneville as he scored his second of the game from the right edge of the crease at 7:13.  The Rayz took their first lead of the game on a power play at 15:42 when Kevin Watters let a snap shot go from the top of the left circle that deflected off of the arm of netminder Andrew Martin and into the net.  Shortly after that the Rayz were on a power play looking to increase their advantage but Konrad Reeder struck shorthanded when his pass on an odd man rush delfected off of Quenneville and into the Rayz net to tie the score 3-3.  Reeder’s second of the game came at 18:05.  The Scorps outshot the Rayz 14-10 in the period.    

The Scorpions reclaimed the lead 4-3 in the third period after the Rayz misplayed the puck right in front of their net and turned it over to New Mexico.  Ross McCain picked up the pick and lifted it past Tapp who never saw the puck at 7:12.  With time winding down the Rayz turned to veteran Joe Blaznek for the equalizer.  Blaznek ripped a slapshot from the top of the right circle through traffic and past Martin at 17:31 for the game tying goal.  The Rayz went scoreless on a power play through overtime and went to a shootout for the fourth time this season.  Jason Tapp stoned five Scorpions and Quenneville and Niko Tuomi scored for the Rayz to seal the victory.   

Tapp made 28 saves on 32 shots, plus stopped five of six in the shootout.  He earned the win, improving to 3-9-1.  Martin took the loss falling to 2-3-1 turning aside 25 of 29 shots and four of six shooters in the shootout.  The Rayz went 1-6 on the power play and the Scorps were 0-8.  The Scoprs outshot the Rayz 32-30. 

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