Forward Mike Tucciarone’s third period hat trick led the Ice Bats back
from a three-goal deficit, and gained the Bats a valuable standings
point in a 4-3 shootout loss Sunday at Rio Grande Valley. The comeback
keeps the Ice Bats within two points of the Killer Bees and the final
playoff spot in the Central Hockey League Southern Conference.
The Killer Bees scored twice in a fiery first period, as the teams
played up to the game’s importance. Forward Rob Voltera rebounded Mike
Looby’s shot off the crossbar at 8:08, and David Masse added a goal from
the high slot at 12:16. The Ice Bats, already short two skaters with
injuries to defenseman Adam Davis and forward Mike Possin, lost two more
as a result of first period fights. Forward Chris Murphy received a game
misconduct penalty early in the first, and Marty Doyle earned a
ten-minute misconduct inside the final minute of the period.
The Ice Bats (20-24-14, 54 points) continually missed on open scoring
chances, and the Killer Bees (24-26-8, 55 points) padded their lead on
Masse’s breakaway goal 6:31 into the second period. But Tucciarone
scored consecutive power play goals early in the third to start the
comeback. He slammed in Henry Kuster’s centering pass from the slot at
1:54, then two minutes later, scored from the left circle off an Aaron
Wilson pass.
Tucciarone brought the Ice Bats even with 1:18 remaining in regulation,
redirecting Aaron Davis’ centering feed between the pads of Rio goalie
Jeremy Symington.
After a scoreless overtime, the Killer Bees scored on three of four
shootout chances, while John McNabb netted Austin’s only goal in four
tries on Symington. The team’s 14th overtime or shootout loss ties a CHL
record.
The Ice Bats return to play with a pair of games against Southern
Conference leading Laredo next week, Friday in Laredo, and next Sunday
at Chaparral Ice Arena.
DATE Sun, Mar 11, 2007 Austin (3) Rio Grande Valley (4)
SCORE BY PERIODS
Austin 0 0 3 0 0 -- 3
Rio Grande Valley 2 1 0 0 1 -- 4
FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: RGV-Voltera (Looby, Reynolds) 8:09. RGV-Masse
(Voltera) 11:16. Penalties: Warriner, RGV (Holding, Minor, 2 min) 1:55. Joseph, RGV (Fisticuffs, Major, 5 min) 1:55. Murphy, AUS (Fisticuffs,
Major, 5
min) 1:55. Joseph, RGV (No Category, Game Misconduct, 10 min) 1:55. Murphy, AUS (No Category, Game Misconduct, 10 min) 1:55. Doyle, AUS (High Sticking, Minor, 2 min) 15:55. Maxwell, RGV (Roughing, Minor, 2 min) 19:34.
Picard, AUS
(Elbowing, Minor, 2 min) 19:34. Voltera, RGV (Fisticuffs, Major, 5 min)
19:34.
Doyle, AUS (Fisticuffs, Major, 5 min) 19:34. Voltera, RGV (Abuse of
Officials,
Misconduct, 10 min) 19:34. Doyle, AUS (Abuse of Officials, Misconduct,
10 min)
19:34.
SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: RGV-Masse (Symington, Butland) 6:31. Penalties: Mathieu, RGV (Roughing, Minor, 2 min) 2:58. Kuster, AUS (Cross Checking, Minor, 2 min) 15:51. Warriner, RGV (Holding, Minor, 2 min) 18:05.
THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: AUS-Tucciarone (powerplay) (Kuster, Davis) 1:54. AUS-Tucciarone (powerplay) (Wilson, Kuster) 4:15. AUS-Tucciarone (Davis,
McIver) 18:42. Penalties: Maxwell, RGV (Slashing, Minor, 2 min) 1:28. Blanchette, RGV (Hooking, Minor, 2 min) 2:41. Medley, RGV (Slashing,
Minor, 2
min) 8:42.
OVERTIME -- Penalties: Masse, RGV (Hooking, Minor, 2 min) 2:46.
SHOOTOUT -- Scoring: RGV-Cirone.
SHOTS ON GOAL
Austin 6 15 12 1 0 -- 34
Rio Grande Valley 16 10 9 4 1 -- 39
POWER PLAY STATS PPG ADV SHG
Austin 2 7 0
Rio Grande Valley 0 2 0
GOALIES
AWAY TEAM D MIN S SV
Miguel Beaudry OTL 65:00 39 36
HOME TEAM D MIN S SV
Jeremy Symington WIN 65:00 34 31
GAMENOTES
Referee: Tudor Floru Linesman: Scott Topping, T.J. Nua
Game Length: 22:46 1st Star: Jason Cirone (RGV) 2nd Star: Michael Tucciarone
(AUS) 3rd Star: David Masse (RGV)