The IceRays capitalized on a few defensive lapses to secure a lead towards the middle of the first period. IceRay captain Pierson Sobush ripped a snap shot over the glove of Grit netminder Jack Erickson to push the visitors ahead, 1-0, with 8:06 remaining in the first period. The Grit penalty kill showcased its consistency to end the first period – two consecutive penalty kills over the final five minutes of the frame while fending off a 12-shot period brought the Grit into the first intermission, 1-0.

 

Colorado, who hasn’t played a home game in a month, started off the second period with a major offensive push. They were rewarded on the power play when Chris Graves pumped a wrist shot past Corpus Christi goaltender Nikita Volsky to tie the game, 1-1, and net his first goal of the season with 15 minutes left in the second period. The two teams did not stay on level terms for long when IceRays Cody Kempf scored 28 seconds later, besting Colorado goalie Jack Erickson with a wrist shot that deflected off a skate to make the score 2-1 with 14:26 left in the second period. For the second time in the period, the power play got to work again. Ben Rakowski belted a snap shot past Volsky to tie the score, 2-2,  with 1:12 before intermission. 

 

Both teams fended away power play opportunities in the opening half of the third, as for the third time in three meetings, a close finish beckoned between the IceRays and the Grit. The visitors benefitted from a freak carom a second time when winger Stepan Kuznetsov banked a shot off Erickson from below the goal line. The puck squeaked through to provide the IceRays a 3-2 lead with 4:18 to go. The Grit pulled the netminder to hunt an equalizer in the final ninety seconds, but a late empty-netter by Sobush sealed the victory and gave the IceRays a 4-2 lead with 55 seconds remaining.