Mudbugs Weekly

Published on January 25, 2010 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release


LAST WEEK

Wednesday, Jan. 20 vs. Rio Grande Valley CenturyTel Center W 7-0

GAME NOTES : Joe Ori scored just 21 seconds into the game and the 'Bugs never looked back in a 7-0 dismantling of Rio Grande Valley Wednesday night. Tyrel Lucas scored twice, Brett Smith had a goal and two assists and Ken Carroll made 32 saves on the way to his second shutout of the season. The Mudbugs scored four goals in the second period to chase All-Star goalie Andy Franck from the net as Bossier-Shreveport enjoyed its biggest blowout of the season.

Thursday, January 21 vs. Wichita CenturyTel Center W 2-1

GAME NOTES : Wichita came to town with a CHL record-tying 21 game losing streak on its shoulders, but gave the Mudbugs everything they wanted in a hard-fought 2-1 game. Tyrel Lucas scored both Mudbugs goals, including the third-period game-winner on the powerplay with 8:18 left in regulation. John DeCaro made 30 saves in his 11th win of the season.

Saturday, January 23 at Allen Allen Events Center L 5-1

GAME NOTES : The Mudbugs fired 34 shots at Allen goaltender Chris Whitley on Saturday night, but only one found its way past him as the Americans skated to a 5-1 victory. After David Rutherford scored the game's first goal, Allen tallied twice to take a 2-1 lead into the second period. The 'Bugs outshot the Americans 21-8 in the middle frame, but Allen scored twice to take control and go on to the victory. The Mudbugs missed on all seven of their powerplays, including two lengthy 5-on-3's.

THIS WEEK

Tuesday, January 26 vs. Texas CenturyTel Center 7:05 pm

GAME NOTES : The Mudbugs will start their longest homestand of the season Tuesday night with their fifth game of the year against Texas. Bossier-Shreveport is 2-2-0 against the rival Brahmas with four more games coming between the teams this year, three of which will be played here in Bossier City. The Mudbugs and Brahmas have nearly identical records this year and have almost the exact same number of goals for and against.

Friday, January 29 vs. Rio Grande Valley CenturyTel Center 7:05 pm

GAME NOTES : Rio Grande Valley comes to town for the second consecutive week on Friday and will certainly be looking to redeem itself after being thrashed 7-0 by the Mudbugs last Wednesday. The Killer Bees, who had won four straight over the 'Bugs prior to last week, will appear at the CTC three more times this year including Friday. RGV currently trails Amarillo by one point for fifth place in the Southern Conference.

Saturday, January 30 vs. Colorado CenturyTel Center 7:05 pm

GAME NOTES : Saturday night the Mudbugs and Eagles will meet for the third and final time this season as the 'Bugs look to snap a lengthy losing skid against the defending Northern Conference Champions. Including regular season and playoffs, Colorado has beaten the Mudbugs nine consecutive times, although eight of those nine games have been decided by a single goal and three have gone to overtime. The Eagles and Rapid City Rush are tied for first place in the Northern Conference entering this week's action.

WEEKLY NOTES

Time for Some Home Cookin'

The next two weeks will afford the Mudbugs an opportunity to re-establish dominance on home ice and move up in the standings with their longest homestand of the season. The 'Bugs will play their next five at home starting tomorrow, hosting Texas (twice), Rio Grande Valley, Colorado and Wichita during the stretch. Only 16 of Bossier-Shreveport's first 38 games have been played at home, where they have gone 8-3-0 since starting the year on a five-game home losing skid. The Mudbugs will spend more time at home during the last two months of the season with 16 of their last 26 games inside the CenturyTel Center. Every team in the CHL except Missouri has played more home games than the 'Bugs to this point.

Muscutt Continues to March

Mudbugs Head Coach Scott Muscutt reached another significant career milestone last week, becoming the second-winningest coach in CHL history when the 'Bugs defeated Rio Grande Valley on Wednesday night. With 20 victories this season, Muscutt has now surpassed former Huntsville, San Antonio and Colorado bench boss Chris Stewart for second in league history in all-time coaching wins with 377. The 10th year Mudbugs head man now trails only former Oklahoma City Coach Doug Sauter, who won 544 games during his lengthy career with the Blazers.

Scoring Slowed

Since posting a season-most seven goals last Wednesday vs. Rio, the 'Bugs have mustered only three goals in their past two games. The Mudbugs were held to one goal in Allen Saturday for just the second time in their past 28 contests, after being limited to just one score in five of their first ten. Bossier-Shreveport had scored at least three goals in ten consecutive games prior to Thursday's 2-1 win over Wichita. The 'Bugs rank 10th in the CHL this year with an average of 3.08 goals per game.

Powerplay Streak Snapped

Saturday's loss to Allen snapped a streak of seven consecutive games in which the Mudbugs had scored at least one powerplay goal, their longest such streak of the year. The 'Bugs went 0 for 7 against the Americans, including two 5-on-3's lasting about one minute apiece. Prior to that effort, Bossier-Shreveport had improved its powerplay to 17.2%, good for fifth in the CHL. The Mudbugs also surrendered one powerplay goal against Allen, snapping a streak of two straight games in which the 'Bugs did not surrender a goal while shorthanded.

Milestone Watch

A few Mudbugs are closing in on career statistical milestones. Here is a rundown of the players and the achievements they are nearing:

G Ken Carroll: 1 win away from 200

F Shawn Limpright: 1 point away from 300

D Clay Plume: 3 points away from 100

D Chris St. Croix: 4 assists away from 200

Loose Pucks

The 'Bugs are a perfect 11-0 this year when they do not allow a powerplay goal... F David Rutherford brings a four-game point streak (2g, 4a) into this week... F Tyrel Lucas left Saturday's game with an injury in the first period, snapping his stretch of three straight multi-point games (4g, 2a)... F Shawn Limpright (2g, 6a) had a five-game streak snapped on Saturday... F Travis Clayton, F Joe Blaznek and D Simon Mangos all played their 100th games with the Mudbugs last week... The Mudbugs are 6-1-1 in mid-week games this year.

TICKET INFORMATION:

Mini-plans and group ticket packages for the 2009-10 season of Mudbugs hockey are available at the team office: 2000 CenturyTel Center Drive, Bossier City, LA 71112. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. Individual game tickets can be purchased at the CenturyTel Center box office between 9:30 am and 4:30 pm Monday - Friday, by calling Ticketmaster at (318) 741-9700, or online at Ticketmaster.com. For more information, visit www.mudbugshockey.com or call the team office at (318) 752-2847.

MUDBUGS RADIO:

Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs games, both home and away, are broadcast live on "The Home of the Legends" AM 1130 KWKH and News Radio 710 AM KEEL in Shreveport. Both stations provide free online streaming online at www.kwkhonline.com and www.710keel.com.

CHL TV:

New for 2009-10 is the latest version of CHL-TV, powered by Insinc Netcasting. Fans will have the chance to watch all 480 games on the CHL's regular season schedule for a small pay-per-view price. Packages are available as well that give fans the chance to order a month at a time or the entire season. All game archives are offered to catch up on the games you missed for just $3.95. Visit http://chltv.insinc.com for more information.

Season and group tickets are on sale by calling 318-752-BUGS (2847) or by visiting our website at www.mudbugshockey.com.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Central Hockey League Stories from January 25, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central