Brahmas Edge Mudbugs in a Close One

March 14, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Fort Worth Brahmas News Release


BOSSIER CITY, LA - Tyler Skworchinski scored with just 33 seconds left in regulation to break a 3-3 tie and propel the Texas Brahmas to a 4-3 victory over the Mudbugs in a tight game Friday night at CenturyTel Center. Brett Jaeger was huge for the Brahmas in net, stopping 43 shots and holding Bossier-Shreveport scoreless on eight powerplay opportunities, including three two-man advantages.

The Bugs had taken the lead earlier in the third on a Chris Brassard goal, but lost it when Kevin McLeod tied the game just 37 seconds later. Thanks to a Laredo loss in Youngstown on Friday, the Mudbugs still hold a six point lead for the Governor's Cup with a game in hand. Bossier-Shreveport still needs one more point to clinch the Northern Conference over Colorado, who defeated New Mexico Friday.

The first period started with the Mudbugs buzzing and getting 11 shots in the first eight minutes. Jaeger allowed his team to get going by holding down the Brahmas' back end and keeping the Bugs off the board. The period turned mostly into a goaltenders duel after that, with Ken Carroll and Jaeger both making key saves to keep the game scoreless. Scott Sheppard changed that with a quick shot from the high slot that beat Carroll with 1:37 left in the first to put Texas up 1-0 after twenty minutes.

Bossier-Shreveport quickly tied it in the second when Kevin Cooper's shot bounced off the skate of Justin Aikins and into the net to make it 1-1. The Bugs first lead of the game followed shortly after when Jason "Soupy" Campbell scored on a semi-breakaway after taking a feed from Karlis Zirnis. Despite missing on two 5-on-3 powerplays in the middle period, the Mudbugs still led 2-1 after two, outshooting the Brahmas 22-9 in the second.

Texas got even at 7:32 of the third with a powerplay goal by Jordan Cameron that made it 2-2. The Bugs took the lead right back though, as Chris Brassard fired a beautiful top-shelf wrist shot from the slot for his 28th goal of the year. Assisting on the goal was newly signed defenseman Greg Foster, a former Mudbug from the 01-02 season and three games during 04-05 who was signed Friday to help out the shorthanded Mudbugs defensive corps. The lead didn't last long though, as Brahmas defenseman Kevin McLeod beat Carroll only 37 seconds after Brassard's goal it tie it up once again. It stayed 3-3 until a late penalty on Zirnis gave Texas a powerplay late in the third. That man advantage led to the rush that ended with Skworchinski's game-winner from the low slot off a Cameron pass with just 33 seconds to go.

The Mudbugs fired 46 pucks on net in the contest, compared to the Brahmas' 27. Texas scored twice on the powerplay while the Bugs were 0 for 8.

Another home game comes up on Saturday for Bossier-Shreveport, who will host Mississippi in the first game of a home-and-home series that will end with a Sunday evening game in Southaven . The Mudbugs and RiverKings will meet for the 11th time this year on Saturday night to break a 5-5 tie in the season series so far. The Bugs will be wearing their specialty St. Patrick's Day jerseys in the game to be auctioned off to the fans afterward. Saturday is also the first of three giveaway nights for this year's Boomtown Mudbugs trading cards. The puck will drop at 7:05 between the Mudbugs and RiverKings, with five dollar upper level tickets on sale for just the second time this year! Individual seats can be purchased through Ticketmaster at 318-741-9700 and group tickets are on sale through the Mudbugs office at 318-752-BUGS.



Central Hockey League Stories from March 14, 2008


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