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Bucks Step On Mudbugs 4-2 For Third Straight Win

March 8, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Laredo Bucks News Release


LAREDO, TX- The Laredo Bucks of the Central Hockey League beat the Bossier Shreveport Mudbugs 4-2 Saturday night, in front of 5,130 fans at the Laredo Entertainment Center. With the win the Bucks finish their season-high five-game home stand 4-1, including winning their last three. Laredo's magic number to clinch the Southern Conference is now three points.

For the moment the Bucks moved to within four points of the Mudbugs in the race for the Governor's Cup. Bossier has 85 points to Laredo's 81, the Mudbugs however will play two more games than Laredo down the stretch.

Dustin Traylen picked up his 23rd win in net as he set aside 36 of 38 Mudbug's shots. Traylen passed Marco Emond in the Bucks record books for third place all-time in regular season wins.

Jeff Bes had a big night, scoring the game winning goal, and dishing out three assists to reach 100 points in a season for the second time in his pro career. Bes scored 117 points in his MVP season in 2003-04.

With the game tied at one going into the third period, Laredo (23-7-1 at home) would take the lead 5:36 into the final period, when James Hiebert took a pass from Bes and broke free past the Mudbugs defense on a break-away to send the puck by Mudbugs goaltender Ken Carroll. It was Hiebert's 25th goal of the season.

Bossier (40-12-5, 85 points) would come right back and tie the game up a 2-2 less than a minute later. Elias Godoy took a pass at the left side of the crease to beat Traylen.

Laredo would take the lead for good on an outstanding goal by Bes.

With the Bucks short-handed, Bes hustled after a loose puck at the left circle. Carroll came way out of his net and dove at the puck to try and smother it, Bes lifted the puck over Carrol and into the net to give the Bucks a 3-2 lead. It was Bes' 43rd tally of the year. The goal was Laredo's league leading 19th short handed tally of the year.

Andrew Desjardins would add an empty net goal with 14 seconds left to give Laredo a 4-2 lead, with Bes picking up the assist.

Laredo won despite being outshot by Bossier 38-28, with Carroll taking the loss in the Mudbug net stopping 25 of 28 Bucks shots. The Mudbugs jumped out in front of the Bucks 8:33 into the first period. Tyrel Lucas swept around the back of the Laredo net, and whipped a shot from the bottom of the left circle past Bucks goaltender Dustin Traylen. It was Lucas' 21st goal of the season.

The Bucks came back and tied the game at 1-1 at the with just 5:14 left in the opening period when they struck on the power-play. Steve Weidlich scored his first goal of the season when he sent a laser slap shot from the the left point past Mudbugs goaltender Ken Carroll. Immediately after the goal James Hiebert and Chris Brassard dropped the gloves and got into a tussle. Hiebert took Brassard down to the ice as the Bucks were celebrating the goal.

Both goaltender's showed flashes of brilliance in the first period, as both Traylen and Carroll made several tough glove saves.

The Mudbugs outshot the Bucks in the first period 18-10.

The second period was scoreless as neither team lit the lamp, with the Bucks being outshot by the Mudbugs 13-7.

The Bucks will head north for a three game series with the Youngstown Steelhounds next Friday thru Sunday. The team will fly to Youngstown Wednesday, before practicing at the Chevrelet Centre Thursday.

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