Cooper, DeCaro Lead Mudbugs to Another Win

December 26, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release


BOSSIER CITY, LA - John DeCaro recorded his CHL best fifth shutout and Kevin Cooper scored two goals for the second straight game as Bossier-Shreveport defeated Texas 3-0 on Wednesday night at the CenturyTel Center. The Mudbugs are now tied with Youngstown for second place in the Northeast Division standings with 35 points.

The 'Bugs have now won a season-high six consecutive games and tied the fourth longest home win streak in franchise history with 11 straight wins at CenturyTel.

In their third meeting of the season with the Brahmas, the Mudbugs started off well carried the play early on. Bossier-Shreveport took the lead on a great hustle play from Brett Smith and Karlis Zirnis. As the Mudbugs dumped the puck into the offensive zone, Smith hit the Texas defender, forcing him to send the puck around the boards, where Zirnis intercepted it and sent it in front to Smith, who had beaten the defenseman to the crease and redirected the puck in for his eighth goal of the year.

Already leading 1-0, the Mudbugs dominated the puck in the second period, outshooting the Brahmas 15-3 and forcing Texas goaltender David Cacciola to make a number of tough saves. Cacciola made the stops though, keeping it a one-goal game after two.

That would change early on in the third. On the first shift of the period, Kevin Cooper carried the puck out of his own zone and around a Brahma defenseman, cutting in on goal before stuffing in his seventh of the year to extend the lead to 2-0. The Brahmas then picked up the offense in the third, getting total shots in the period that were all thwarted by DeCaro. Later in the period, Cooper got his second of the night on a second chance opportunity from a rush up the ice with Joe Ori and Daniel Pegoraro to make it 3-0 Mudbugs.

John DeCaro made 21 total saves to earn his tenth win and league-leading fifth shutout of the season. Now, less than halfway through the year, DeCaro is just three shutouts shy of the Central Hockey League record of eight shutouts in a season, which is shared by four different goaltenders. Two more shutouts by Ken Carroll put Bossier-Shreveport's season total at seven shutouts this year, which is also just three behind the CHL record of 10 team shutouts in a season. That record is shared by the 2004-05 Colorado Eagles and the 2000-2001 Odessa Jackalopes.

The Mudbugs outshot the Brahmas 33-21 in the contest, which saw just three powerplay opportunities. Bossier-Shreveport was 0 for 2 while Texas missed on one man-advantage.

The two teams will play one another again at the CenturyTel Center on Saturday night in the second of three consecutive games against the Brahmas for the 'Bugs. Texas will have a home game against Odessa on Friday night before returning to Bossier City . The Brahmas an Mudbugs will tangle again at 7:05 on Saturday night at the CenturyTel Center . Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or by calling the Mudbugs office at 318-752-BUGS.



Central Hockey League Stories from December 26, 2007


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