After a total of seven assists in previous games, Lucca Ori finally earns not one, but two well deserved goals against The IceRays. Lucci Ori bagged his first multi-goal game of the season and goaltender Pete Sterling made 29 saves on 30 shots for his first win of the season as the Grit knocked off Corpus Christi, 3-1, to earn a series split.
Despite the scoreline, it was the home side that found the back of the net first. With 11:54 left in the second period, Ice Ray forward Raymond Perreault snapped a shot past Sterling to spot the home to a 1-0 advantage. Colorado responded with two goals in 4:15 from defenseman Braden Junker and Ori to take a 2-1 lead into the second intermission.
Two penalty kills early in the third period paved the way for the Grit to get some insurance down the stretch. With 8:55 gone in the third period, Ori’s shot beat Corpus Christi netminder Vlad Bryzgalov and doubled the Grit lead, 3-1, with 11:05 remaining in regulation.
GRIT NOTES
The Grit set a season-high with eight successful penalty kills and are just the second team to hold the South Division leaders to one goal or fewer in a contest this year.
Defenseman Braden Junker’s game-tying tally in the second period extended his point streak to three games, a career high.
In his 13th appearance with the Grit, goaltender Pete Sterling’s 29 saves were crucial in the win and the Manassas, VA product improves to 3-1-0 when he receives two or more goals of support, dating back to 2023-24.