| Surging 'Kings thrash IceRays February 17, 2002 |
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| Surging 'Kings thrash IceRays February 17, 2002 |
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By Chris Van Tuyl
Memphis Commercial Appeal
The Memphis RiverKings are just making it look too easy.
The Central Hockey League's most successful team won its 11th consecutive game Saturday, beating the Corpus Christi IceRays, 10-2, at the DeSoto Civic Center. The 'Kings, who received goals from seven players, said there were 3,271 tickets sold.
Memphis's barrage tied the club's previous single-game high of 10 goals scored at Fort Worth on Dec. 22.
"What can I say?," Memphis coach Doug Shedden said. "They're playing unbelievable and with so much confidence. And, it's not just one guy. It's more spread out than Texas right now."
As was the case on Friday vs. Indianapolis, Memphis (38-9-2) was relentless against the opposing starting goalkeeper. Eddy Skazyk was the latest recipient of the home team's wrath, but the RiverKings had an ulterior motive for this one.
Prior to going on its franchise record-setting run, Memphis's last loss had come against these same IceRays on Jan. 18. It was a 5-3 setback in Corpus Christi, a contest that saw Skazyk turn away 27 would-be RiverKing scoring chances, including all seven opening-period opportunities.
Memphis, which has tallied four or more goals in eight straight games, was more fortunate in the early going of Saturday's rematch.
Khalil Thomas and Jean-Francois Picard provided the first two, scoring just 27 seconds apart. The lead had grown to 3-0 on a goal by Jay Neal before Don Parsons joined the fun and netted the only RiverKings' power-play goal less than a minute before the first intermission.
"I just think we're creating what we're getting," Neal said. "(Shedden) has been on us to use our speed and things are going to open up."
After Robb Palahnuk put Memphis up 5-0, the puck temporarily began bouncing in favor of the IceRays (13-28-11), as the visitors cut their deficit to three with goals from Roger Lewis and Ryan Pisiak.
However, that's all the damage Corpus Christi would inflict on the 'Kings, but the scoring was not complete from Memphis's standpoint.
Parsons, Thomas and Neal all scored again, and along with single goals from A.J. Aitken and Jonathan Gagnon, the CHL Northeast Division leaders capped the one-sided win.
"The secret is when we skate, we're awfully good," Shedden said. "We're a great skating team, and it showed in the second period when all of a sudden the guys just turned it up."
Memphis replaced 'keeper Mark Richards with rookie Bobby DaCosta in the final period. The duo combined to make 22 saves.
"It's nice to win 10-2," Memphis defenseman Anthony DiPalma said, "especially against a team that just beat you."
SCORE BY PERIODS
Corpus Christi 0 2 0--2 Memphis 4 6 0--10
FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Memphis-Thomas 14 (Neal; Lariviere) 5:22.
2, Memphis-Picard 2 (Gagnon; Mueller) 5:49.
3, Memphis-Neal 13 (game winner) (Parsons; Gagnon) 11:38.
4, Memphis-Parsons 39 (power play) (Gagnon; Gorewich) 19:27.
Penalties: Prentice, CRP (Interference), 10:05.
Mueller, MEM (Roughing), 10:05.
Renard, CRP (High sticking), 18:14.
SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 5, Memphis-Palahnuk 4 (Thomas; Statsny) 0:53.
6, Corpus Christi-Lewis 1 (power play) (Joseph; Carriere) 4:51.
7, Corpus Christi-Pisiak 3 (Kholomeyev) 8:11.
8, Memphis-Aitken 8 (Tucker) 9:20.
9, Memphis-Parsons 40 (Gagnon; Mueller) 14:36.
10, Memphis-Thomas 15 (Statsny; Ryan) 15:35.
11, Memphis-Gagnon 28 (Mueller; Lariviere) 17:29.
12, Memphis-Neal 14 (Aitken; Tucker) 19:40.
Penalties: DiPalma, MEM (Holding), 4:37.
Renard, CRP (Fighting, Major), 10:57.
Lariviere, MEM (Fighting, Major), 10:57.
THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: None.
Penalties: None.
SHOTS ON GOAL:
Corpus Christi 9 8 7--24 Memphis 16 15 6--37
Power Play Conversions: Corpus Christi - 1 of 1, Memphis - 1 of 1.
Goalies: Corpus Christi-Skazyk (31 shots, 21 saves; record: 6-3-1); Erbsland (6 shots, 6 saves).
Memphis-Richards (17 shots, 15 saves; record: 21-8-2); Dacosta (7 shots, 7 saves).
A: 3,271.
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