The Austin Ice Bats scored five unanswered goals to claim a 5-2 home win over Rio Grande Valley Saturday night at Chaparral Ice Arena, running their record to 4-0 in the season series against the Killer Bees.
Austin Texas - January 7 - 2006 

 The Killer Bees opened up a 2-0 lead on scores 35 seconds apart early in the first period, but from there, the Ice Bats controlled the game.  The Bats tied it up with goals just over two minutes apart in the middle portion of the period.  Jason Kenyon crashed the net for a delayed penalty goal, and Julian Smith flipped a rebound shot upstairs for the tying score.

     Austin forward Mike Possin set up the eventual game-winner on the penalty kill, tipping the puck to center, leading a two-on-one rush, and centering for Henry Kuster's shorthanded score just 59 seconds into the second period.  Austin's Tim Earl was denied on a penalty shot midway through the second, but the Bats sprinted to the finish with a Mike Tucciarone goal with four minutes left in the game, and John Ronan's empty net score with four seconds left.

     After a shaky start, Bats goalie Miguel Beaudry stopped 32 of 34 shots for the win.  The Ice Bats (13-12-6) moved within three points of second place Corpus Christi in the Southeast Division.  The Bats will try to continue their stellar play against Rio Grande with a game in Hidalgo Tuesday, then will play the next four games at home, starting with tilts against Odessa and Amarillo next Friday and Saturday.