The Jacks were back in action for their second of three in a row. Corpus Christi entered last night on a four-game win streak after sweeping El Paso and Amarillo. Last night marked the first of five straight between Odessa and Corpus Christi. The Jacks were looking to get back in the win column after losing their last two. The IceRays were the first team to sweep Odessa this season (Dec. 17-18).
Odessa came out with a lot of energy in the opening period which resulted in them scoring the game’s first goal. Dayne Hoyord (14) was able to beat Damon Beaver after redirecting a shot from John Wojciechowski. Corpus Christi would respond over a minute later. Cameron Crolley (8) was between the circles and tipped it past Alex Proctor. The score was 1-1 within the first 2:30 of the opening period. Dayne Hoyord (15) sent a backhander far side on Beaver with under nine minutes remaining to regain the lead for Odessa. Hoyord was not done though, as he scored a 4-on-4 goal at the 12:46 mark of the first period. That marked his second career hat trick and both were against Corpus Christi. It was Hoyord’s 16th of the season (team-high). His third goal marked the most in the first period this season for the Jacks. Odessa continued to pressure the IceRays and only two minutes after Hoyord’s hat trick, Ryan Mansfield (6) made it 4-1 Odessa. After allowing four goals on 15 shots, Beaver was pulled from the net, and replacing him was Stefan Carney. Odessa finished the first period with 21 shots and Corpus Christi had 14.
The Jacks continued their momentum into the middle period by adding to their lead within the first three minutes. J.R. Perdion (12) sniped it past Carney from the right circle. That would be the only goal of the second period. Towards the end of the period though, there was an altercation between Casper Gillberg and Mike Manzo. Both were given a minor penalty, but Manzo was also given an abuse of official game misconduct. The second period ended with the Jacks leading 5-1. They were also outshooting Corpus Christi, 30-28.
For the third-straight period, the Jacks scored a goal within the first five minutes. Nick Ahern (4) notched the Jacks sixth goal of the night to make it their most against the IceRays all season. Less than a minute later and J.R. Perdion (13) was back on the scoresheet for his second of the night. Both teams continued making big hits throughout the final period. The IceRays though were unable to beat Proctor and the Jacks went on to win 7-1. Shots were even at the end of the game at 40. Odessa went 0/4 on the power play and Corpus Christi went 0/2.
The Jacks have now beaten every South Division team on home ice. Odessa will take the ice tonight for their final home game of the month, and it also ends three straight for them. As for Corpus Christi, they will only be playing their second game of the weekend. They are still tied for fifth with Amarillo (40pts). The Jacks enter tonight’s game in third place and have a chance of reaching 50 points with a win. Tonight’s game is scheduled for 7:15 pm CDT.
Photo credit: Danne Braden
