ICECATS RALLY FALLS SHORT AGAINST THUNDERBIRDS

FLORENCE, SC - Houston Wilson scored twice as the Pee Dee IceCats' rally fell short in a 5-4 loss to the Twin City Thunderbirds on Friday night.

Wilson opened the scoring for the IceCats, tying the game halfway through the first period with a breakaway goal. Konstantin Chernyuk hit Wilson in stride at the opposing blue line with a pass from his own goal line, springing the winger for the goal at 10:07.

After falling behind 4-1, the IceCats got back into the contest with a pair of power play goals from Patriks Marcinkevics and Trevor Lord to make it 4-3 at the end of the second period.

Late in the third, Jacob Schnapp scored to make it a 5-3 game, but Wilson struck right back for the IceCats with just over two minutes remaining in regulation to make it 5-4. 

Despite pulling goaltender Matt Sayles for the extra attacker, the rally fell short for Pee Dee as the Thunderbirds claimed the first game in the home-and-home series.

Game two of the weekend set comes tomorrow night in Winston-Salem at 6:05 pm. Game coverage on the IceCats Broadcast Network starts at 5:50 pm.

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