Decaro Leads Mudbugs Over RiverKings With 40 Saves

November 19, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs News Release


BOSSIER CITY, LA - John DeCaro made 40 saves to earn his fifth victory of the season as the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs topped the Mississippi RiverKings 2-1 Thursday night at the CenturyTel Center. The 'Bugs have now won back-to-back games for the first time this season and evened their record at 6-6-0 for the year.

Brett Smith and Travis Clayton scored for the Mudbugs, who were outshot 41-24 in the contest. Mark Johnson also chipped in two assist as Bossier-Shreveport took a 2-1 lead in the season series with the 'Kings.

The Mudbugs' penalty killing unit came up big in the first period, holding the RiverKings off the scoreboard during 1:07 of 5-on-3 powerplay time and then killing off another two minutes of 5-on-4 time immediately after that. In all, Bossier-Shreveport killed off five Mississippi powerplays in the opening period and then took a lead into the locker room. With just 45 seconds left in the first, Brett Smith picked up the rebound of a Matt Cook shot and slipped it past Ray Jean to put the 'Bugs on top 1-0 after one.

The 'Bugs added to the lead in the second period with their second powerplay goal in as many games. With Dave Pszenyczny winding up a long shot from the point, Travis Clayton made a perfect deflection to get the puck past Jean and put the Mudbugs on top 2-0 at 7:07. Mississippi got on the scoreboard late in the period when Ryan Held picked up a sharp angle rebound and roofed it past DeCaro for a powerplay goal that made it 2-1 for the Mudbugs after 40 minutes of play.

After holding a 17-6 shot advantage in the second, the RiverKings kept coming in the third period, outshooting the 'Bugs 13-7. DeCaro made a number of tough saves and the Mudbugs held the 'Kings off the scoreboard into the final moments. Neil Clark then sealed the victory by scoring into an empty net and finishing off the 3-1 win.

DeCaro improves to 5-3 for the season after making a season-high 40 saves. Ray Jean stopped 21 shots, but drops to 7-6 in defeat. The Mudbugs were 1 for 5 on the powerplay, while holding Mississippi to one goal in eight chances.

The teams will now hit the road for the second game of this week's home-and-home series tomorrow night in Southaven, Mississippi. Opening puck drop is set for 7:05 pm as the Mudbugs start a three-game road swing that will continue into next week. The game can be heard live on AM 1130 KWKH with pregame coverage starting at 6:45 pm and will also be shown online on CHL TV.



Central Hockey League Stories from November 19, 2009


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