CC makes it a clean sweep

Rayz wrap up road schedule unbeaten on Bats' home ice

Opponent: Laredo Bucks
When: 7:05 p.m. today
Where: American Bank Center
Radio: KSIX-AM 1230

Start at $10 (plus $1.50 facility fee)

Information: 814-7825 or
Promotion: 72-inch Toshiba HD TV to be given away
Playoff opener: Friday vs. TBD, 7:05 p.m.
AUSTIN - There was a time when a trip to the capital city meant certain doom for the Rayz.

But like so many other past foibles that have been turned around this season, those troubles in Austin have been erased.

The Rayz made it a clean sweep on Austin ice this season, defeating the Ice Bats 2-1 on Friday night at Chaparral Ice Arena.

Goalie Brent Zelenewich made 46 saves and Justin Quenneville scored the winning goal as the Rayz (35-21-7, 77 points) won their final road game of the regular season. Corpus Christi hosts Laredo tonight before the Central Hockey League playoffs begin next Friday at the American Bank Center.

"For a team that's out of the playoffs, (the Bats) played hard and they played well," Rayz coach Ken McRae said. "It was a tough game for our guys to play in because there's not much at stake other than us wanting to (reach) a few team goals that we wanted to achieve.

"One thing we talked about last week was getting to 35 wins, and we''ll try to get 36 (tonight). We've been pushing hard without (top defenseman Geno Parrish and sniper Jason Baird). For some of the other guys to be playing right now and playing a lot, it helps them get sharp for next week."

The Rayz had gone 12-23-10 at the Travis County Expo Center, where the Bats played from 1998 to 2006. But with the move to Chaparral, Corpus Christi's fortunes changed, as the Rayz went 5-0 at the converted practice rink this season.

Much like the previous four games, Friday's match was a tight contest that saw Corpus Christi put the clamps on Austin's offense and be opportunistic at the offensive end. The Rayz held the Bats to one goal or fewer on home ice four times while allowing only 20 goals in the season series, which Corpus Christi won 8-2.

"That's a great stat from a defensive standpoint and also for the goalies," Zelenewich said. "I can't explain (the Rayz' success in Austin). It's the bounces here. You shoot anything to the net and anything can happen."

With the teams locked in a 1-1 duel late in the third period, referee Ian Croft whistled Austin's Ray Smegal for tripping at the 18:10 mark of the third period, to the ire of Bats coach Brent Hughes.

The Rayz promptly took advantage, as Quenneville scooped up a loose puck behind the net and wrapped it inside the left post with 1:39 remaining.

Corpus Christi then sweated out a tense finish. First, Henry Kuster knocked the puck into the net during a goal-mouth scrum with 37.46 seconds remaining, but Croft ruled no goal, indicating he had blown his whistle because he lost sight of the puck.

Then with 2.07 seconds remaining, Zelenewich stopped Aaron Davis point-blank at the right post to preserve the victory.

"I didn't give up on the play," Zelenewich said. "I just basically fought through it. Regardless of where the puck is, I'm still going to try to (stop it). I just came across (the crease) and lucky for me, it just kind of hit me."

Contact Greg Rajan at 886-3747 or rajang@

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