Last night the Jacks hosted the Corpus Christi IceRays to kick off their seven-game homestand. Odessa entered the game ten points out of a playoff spot but was 6-0 on the season against the IceRays. However, the Jacks have lost their previous three games, and the IceRays had lost their last nine (0-8-1).
The opening period saw pressure on both sides of the ice. However, it took almost 17 minutes for the first goal to be scored. It came from Justin Hughes (4) after he cut around the defense and tucked it underneath the legs of Patrik Jurcak. That was the first time the Jacks scored a goal in the first period in three games. The IceRays would get on the board a minute later after Leonhard Korus (4) took a shot from the left circle that beat Greg Orosz. The first period would end with a 1-1 score, but Corpus Christi was outshooting Odessa, 14-7.
The Jackalopes controlled most of the middle period but were unable to get any of their 17 shots past Jurcak. The IceRays only produced five shots but were able to capitalize on one of them. The IceRays leading goal was scored by Nils Forselius (12). Corpus Christi would take a 2-1 lead into the second intermission. The Jacks were outshooting them, 24-19.
The final period is when the physicality ramped up from both teams. Not even three minutes into the third period and the Jacks would find themselves on a five-minute major powerplay. This was because Korus was given a game misconduct after making head contact on a hit with Noah Marino. Unfortunately, the Jacks were unable to convert on the opportunity. Shortly past the halfway point, the IceRays would increase their lead. Stepan Kuznetsov (12) sneaked the puck past Orosz to make it a 3-1 game in favor of the visiting IceRays. With under three minutes remaining in the game, there was a post-whistle altercation that led to two fights. Trevor Taulien squared up with Wolfgang Govedaris and then Josh Austin fought Jackson Beach. The IceRays would add two empty-net goals to their total to give them a 5-1 win. The Jacks outshot the IceRays, 39-25. Odessa went 0/6 on the powerplay and Corpus Christi went 0/4. The IceRays combined for 125 penalty minutes and the Jacks had 78. Both of which are season highs for each team.
The loss now puts Odessa on a four-game losing streak. They have not scored more than two goals in any game during their current losing skid. Head Coach Scott Deur had this to say following the loss, “I thought we came out pretty slow in the first period. For the next two, we did a better job of getting shots toward the net, but we have to find a way to send second and third waves to the net. Not to mention we did not convert on any of our powerplays and when you only score one goal in this league it’s hard to win.” The Jacks will close out their season series with the IceRays tonight at 7:15 p.m. CDT.
Photo credit: Danne Braden
