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'Bugs Keep Rolling, Top Brahmas

February 7, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release


BOSSIER CITY, LA - The Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs ended a six-game losing streak against the rival Texas Brahmas on Saturday night, winning 4-1 in front of 4,924 fans at the CenturyTel Center. The win extended Bossier-Shreveport's winning streak to a CHL-best seven consecutive games and, paired with an Oklahoma City loss, stretched their Northeast Division lead to five points.

Travis Clayton assisted on a late empty-net goal to help seal the win and with that point surpassed Doug Lawrence as the second-leading scorer in CHL history with 876 career points. Joe Blaznek led the way for the Mudbugs with two goals and one assist in the game, while Dale Lupul added a goal and an assist and Jon Horrell made 30 saves for his seventh victory of the season.

The teams played an entertaining first period marked by unsuccessful powerplays, with both teams finishing the period 0 for 3. The Brahmas outshot the Mudbugs 11-9 in the period, which ended scoreless.

The ‘Bugs took the lead on the powerplay early in the second period. Joe Blaznek's shot from the point was stopped by Brett Jaeger, but J.J. Martin was there to put home the rebound and open the scoring for Bossier-Shreveport. Later in the second, the Mudbugs killed off 1:30 of 5-on-3 powerplay time for Texas to preserve the 1-0 lead through the end of the second period.

The Mudbugs' penalty killers again had to step up early in the third period, shutting down another minute of two-man advantage time for the Brahmas to hang on to the one-goal lead. Bossier-Shreveport finally got some breathing room when Blaznek picked up a loose puck along the boards in the Brahmas' zone and fired a low shot through Brett Jaeger's five-hole to make it 2-0 ‘Bugs at 7:32. Just over two minutes later though, Texas got on the board with a shorthanded goal when Eric Lundberg tipped in a long shot by Travis Banga to make it 2-1. Then with just 2:32 remaining, Mark Johnson was called for tripping Craig Minard to put the Brahmas on a late powerplay chance. With the net empty and a 6-on-4 manpower edge for Texas, Dale Lupul got the puck in his own zone, banked it off the boards and into the net to make it a 3-1 lead with 1:13 left. The Brahmas kept their goaltender on the bench and Blaznek then finished it off with another empty-netter on an assist from Clayton, who broke a tie with Lawrence to become the CHL's second-leading scorer behind Joe Burton.

Bossier-Shreveport's penalty killing came up huge, shutting down all ten Texas powerplays they faced, including approximately 2:30 of 5-on-3 time. The Mudbugs finished 1 for 7 on their own powerplay and outshot the Brahmas 36-31 in total. Horrell improves to 7-1-1 on the year with the win, while Brett Jaeger falls to 22-6-4 after making 32 saves in defeat.

The Mudbugs will continue their seven-game homestand on Tuesday night, hosting the Corpus Christi IceRays at 7:05 pm. Bossier-Shreveport and Corpus Christi have developed quite the rivalry this year after an all-out brawl between the two teams during the ‘Bugs 5-1 win over the IceRays back in late December. Individual tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster at 318-741-9700 and group ticket packages are available in the Mudbugs office at 318-752-BUGS.

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